How to Delete Files From OneDrive (and Free Up Space)

Clearing out OneDrive is the quickest way to get under your storage limit, stop those nagging storage warnings and make your files much easier to find. The catch is that OneDrive syncs, so a deletion in one place happens everywhere, and deleted files don't vanish immediately. Here's how to delete files on the web, your computer and your phone, how long they hang around, and how to get the space back.

Delete files on OneDrive.com

1. Sign in at OneDrive.com.
2. Select the files or folders by ticking the circle next to each one.
3. Select Delete at the top.

Delete files from your computer

Open the OneDrive folder in File Explorer or Finder, select the files and press Delete, just like any other file. Microsoft explains that files deleted from your computer's OneDrive folder go to your computer's Recycle Bin or Trash, and the deletion syncs to OneDrive online. So deleting from your laptop also removes the file from OneDrive.com and your other devices.

Delete files on your phone

1. Open the OneDrive app.
2. Tap and hold a file, then tick any others you want to delete.
3. Tap Delete.

Microsoft notes a limit on Android: you can only delete 20 files at a time in the app. For a bigger clear-out, use OneDrive.com on a computer, where you can select far more at once and see file sizes clearly.

Where deleted files go, and for how long

Account type	How long deleted files are kept
Personal Microsoft account	30 days in the OneDrive recycle bin
Work or school account	93 days, unless your administrator changed it

Here's the quirk worth knowing: Microsoft says that if your recycle bin is full, the oldest items are deleted automatically after three days. So the 30-day safety net shrinks when you delete a lot at once.

Get the space back: empty the recycle bin

Deleted files sit in the recycle bin until they expire or you empty it. If you're deleting to free up storage, open Recycle bin in the left pane on OneDrive.com, select the items and delete them permanently, or empty the whole bin. On Android, Microsoft says you can tap Delete All in the Recycle Bin view to empty it in one go.

Before you empty it, remember Microsoft's warning: you can't restore files once they've been permanently deleted from the OneDrive recycle bin.

Two places to check for deleted files

This confuses people. Files you delete from the OneDrive folder on your computer go to your computer's Recycle Bin or Trash. Files you delete online, including files marked online-only, don't appear in your computer's Recycle Bin at all, according to Microsoft. They're only in the OneDrive recycle bin on the website. If a file seems to have vanished, check both.

Changed your mind? Restore a file

1. On OneDrive.com, select Recycle bin.
2. Tick the files or folders you want back.
3. Select Restore.

Microsoft says you can only restore files that were in your own OneDrive, not files someone else shared with you.

Delete from OneDrive but keep a copy on your computer

If you want a file off OneDrive but still on your laptop, don't just delete it from the OneDrive folder, because that deletes it everywhere. Move it out of the OneDrive folder to another folder on your computer first. Then it's no longer synced, and it stays safe locally. Just remember it's also no longer backed up, so make sure you have another copy somewhere if it matters to you.

Deleting shared files

Be thoughtful with folders you've shared. If you delete a shared folder from your OneDrive, the people you shared it with lose it too, because it lived in your storage. If a team still needs the files, hand them over or move them to a shared team space before deleting. And if someone shared a file with you, you can't restore it from your own recycle bin later, because it was never yours to begin with.

A sensible clear-out routine

• Sort by size and start with the biggest files, usually videos.
• Move anything you want to keep locally out of the OneDrive folder first.
• Delete in batches, then check the recycle bin before emptying it.
• Keep important shared folders; deleting them affects anyone you shared with.

If you also use Google Drive, my guide to freeing up space on Google Drive covers the same job there, and this piece on file sharing risks is worth a read before you reorganise a shared setup.

My verdict

Select and delete on OneDrive.com, your computer or the app, knowing the deletion syncs everywhere. Deleted files stay in the recycle bin for 30 days on personal accounts, or 93 on work accounts, so empty it if you need the space now. To keep a local copy, move the file out of the OneDrive folder instead of deleting it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete files from OneDrive?

Select them on OneDrive.com and choose Delete, or delete them from the OneDrive folder on your computer or in the app.

Does deleting a file on my computer delete it from OneDrive?

Yes. Deleting from your OneDrive folder syncs the deletion to OneDrive online.

How long does OneDrive keep deleted files?

Microsoft says 30 days for personal accounts and 93 days for work or school accounts, unless an administrator changed it.

Why hasn't deleting files freed up my OneDrive storage?

Deleted files sit in the recycle bin. Empty it on OneDrive.com to get the space back.

Can I delete a file from OneDrive but keep it on my PC?

Yes. Move it out of the OneDrive folder to another folder on your computer first.