How To Free Up Space On Microsoft Onedrive

Greetings! Are you interested in making more room on your Microsoft OneDrive? No worries, I’ve got your back. Being a frequent user of OneDrive, I know the challenge of keeping track of available storage. Fortunately, there are some techniques and advice you can utilize to maximize your OneDrive and utilize your storage effectively. Let’s get started!

Organize and Delete Unnecessary Files

The first step to freeing up space on your OneDrive is to take a closer look at your files and folders. Start by organizing your files into folders to keep things neat and tidy. This will make it easier to identify any unnecessary files that can be deleted.

Go through each folder and ask yourself: Do I really need this file? If the answer is no, it’s time to say goodbye. Select the file and hit the delete button. Don’t worry, the file will be moved to the Recycle Bin, and you can permanently delete it from there if you’re sure you don’t need it anymore.

Utilize the Files On-Demand Feature

If you’re using Windows 10, you can take advantage of the Files On-Demand feature in OneDrive. This nifty feature allows you to access all your files and folders without actually having to download them to your device. This can save you a ton of space, especially if you have a large number of files stored on OneDrive.

To enable Files On-Demand, right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select “Settings.” Under the Files On-Demand section, check the box that says “Save space and download files as you use them.” Once enabled, you’ll be able to see all your files and folders in File Explorer, but they’ll only take up space on your device when you open or edit them.

Clear the Recycle Bin

Remember those files you deleted earlier? Well, they’re still taking up space in your Recycle Bin. To completely free up that space, you’ll need to empty the Recycle Bin.

To do this, simply right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin.” Be aware that once you empty the Recycle Bin, those files will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Manage Version History

OneDrive keeps a version history of your files, which allows you to revert back to previous versions if needed. However, keeping a long version history can take up a significant amount of space in your OneDrive. If you don’t frequently need to access older versions of your files, you can free up space by managing the version history.

To do this, right-click on a file in OneDrive on the web and select “Version history.” From there, you can view and delete older versions of the file. Just keep in mind that once you delete a version, you won’t be able to restore it.

Conclusion

And there you have it! By organizing your files, utilizing the Files On-Demand feature, clearing the Recycle Bin, and managing version history, you can effectively free up space on your Microsoft OneDrive. Remember, the key is to regularly review and delete unnecessary files to keep your OneDrive storage optimized.

So go ahead and give these tips a try. Your OneDrive will thank you!