How to Check OneDrive Storage (and What's Using It)

OneDrive storage has a habit of running out at the worst moment, usually with an email saying your OneDrive is full and files that suddenly won't save. Checking it takes seconds, and seeing what's taking up the space takes a minute more. Here's where to look and what to do about it.

How to check OneDrive storage on Windows

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area at the bottom right of the taskbar.
2. Click the Help and Settings icon, then Settings.
3. The storage bar shows how much you've used out of your total.
4. Click Manage storage to open a list of every file in your OneDrive, sorted by size.

How to check OneDrive storage on the website

Sign in at OneDrive.com and look at the bottom of the left menu, where your storage use is shown. Click it to see your largest files. On a work or school account it's labelled storage used, and clicking it takes you straight to the largest files page.

How to check on your phone

In the OneDrive app, tap your profile or the Me icon. Your storage use shows on that screen, along with the account it belongs to.

What counts towards your OneDrive storage

Counts	Doesn't count the way you'd think
Files and photos you upload or sync	Making a file online-only frees your computer, not your cloud storage
Files in the OneDrive recycle bin	Deleting a file doesn't free space until the recycle bin is emptied
Folders you've backed up, like Desktop and Documents	Files shared with you live in the owner's storage
Outlook.com attachments on personal accounts	Space on your computer's hard drive is separate

The catch: deleting files doesn't free space straight away

This trips up almost everyone. Microsoft says that after you delete items, you must also permanently delete them from the recycle bin to free up space. So you can spend half an hour deleting old videos and see no change in your storage bar. Open the Recycle bin on OneDrive.com and empty it, or delete the specific large files there, and the space comes back.

The opposite mistake is just as common. Right-clicking a file and choosing Free up space makes it online-only, which saves room on your computer's hard drive, but it's still in OneDrive, so your cloud storage doesn't change at all.

What happens when OneDrive is full

• You get an email, and the OneDrive icon shows a warning.
• Microsoft says your files become read-only while you're over your limit. You can still open, download and delete them, but you can't add or edit.
• On a personal account, Outlook.com email can stop sending and receiving, because attachments share the same storage.
• Files stop syncing from your computer.

How to free up OneDrive space quickly

1. Open Manage storage and start with the biggest files at the top of the list.
2. Delete videos, old backups and zip files you no longer need.
3. Download anything you want to keep but don't need in the cloud to a drive outside OneDrive, then delete it from OneDrive.
4. Empty the OneDrive recycle bin.
5. Check whether folder backup is syncing big folders, like Videos, that you don't need in the cloud.
6. For Outlook.com, delete emails with large attachments and empty the Deleted Items folder.

If photos are the problem, my guide to deleting iPhone photos in bulk helps you clear the source before it syncs again.

Why your storage changed without you doing anything

Microsoft lists a few reasons a personal OneDrive can suddenly be over its limit: a folder someone shared with you has been added to your OneDrive, or a promotion that gave you extra storage has ended. Check both before you start deleting your own files.

Checking storage on a Mac

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen, open the menu and choose Preferences or Settings. The Account tab shows how much storage each signed-in account has used. If you have a personal and a work account, check both: they have separate allowances, and it's easy to be looking at the wrong one.

Keeping on top of it

Make checking your storage a monthly habit, especially if camera upload is on. A quick look at Manage storage once a month catches a runaway video folder long before OneDrive emails you to say it's full.

My verdict

Checking OneDrive storage takes a click on the cloud icon and Settings, and Manage storage shows you exactly what's eating it. The two things to remember are that deleted files still count until the recycle bin is emptied, and that Free up space only helps your hard drive, not your cloud allowance. Clear the biggest files first and you'll usually solve it in ten minutes. If you're comparing storage providers, see my Dropbox alternatives guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check OneDrive storage on a Mac?

Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar, open Preferences or Settings and look at the Account tab.

How do I see what's using my OneDrive storage?

Open OneDrive Settings from the cloud icon and click Manage storage to see files sorted by size.

Why didn't deleting files free up OneDrive space?

Deleted files stay in the recycle bin and still count. Empty the recycle bin to free the space.

Does Free up space reduce my OneDrive storage?

No. It only frees space on your computer by making files online-only.

What happens when my OneDrive is full?

Your files become read-only, syncing stops, and on personal accounts Outlook.com email can stop working.

Do Outlook.com attachments use OneDrive storage?

On personal Microsoft accounts, yes. Mailbox attachments share the same Microsoft storage.