Top 4 Fixes to Resolve OneDrive Not Enough Free Space Issue
Summary: OneDrive for business is used to store different types of files such as photos, videos, documents, and others as well. However, due to the excessive use of OneDrive for business, a problem occurs: OneDrive not enough free space. So, in this article, you will find the top 4 methods to come out of this error.
OneDrive is a cloud solution to store multiple files. Due to its variety of supporting file formats, it is used to store videos, audio, images, documents, and other files. The storage of OneDrive depends upon the subscribed Office 365 plan. The basic plan provides 1TB of storage per user. But as time flies users need to store more data in OneDrive. But because of the limited storage in OneDrive, it starts showing “OneDrive not have enough free space”. Now how to resolve this issue? This can be resolved using the different approaches which are mentioned in the article. But before jumping to the methods, let’s find the storage of the OneDrive.
Table of Content
How to Find Out OneDrive for Business Storage Capacity?
Before going to free up OneDrive space, you should check the OneDrive storage status. So, execute the below steps to find the current storage status of OneDrive:-
- Step 1. Sign in to the Office 365 account with the correct email and password.
- Step 2. Go to the Office 365 icon in the upper left corner.
- Step 3. Select the option of OneDrive and hit the gear icon.
- Step 4. Now select OneDrive settings and then More settings.
- Step 5. Open the Storage metrics.
Through these steps, you can check the storage of the OneDrive and verify whether it is full or not.
How is Storage Distributed in OneDrive?
Below are the major components of OneDrive that cover most of the storage.
- OneDrive offers a feature of Shared Folders through which files and folders can be shared with others. These folders cover the storage of OneDrive.
- Managing version history in OneDrive plays an important role in consuming the storage.
- If you are using Outlook.com, then the attachments shared with the emails also utilize the OneDrive storage.
- Deleted files and folders are not just directly removed from the OneDrive. They are stored in the recycle bin and hold the OneDrive storage.
Because of these components, the OneDrive not enough free space issues persists. Now, let’s find the impact of the filled-up OneDrive storage.
Demerits of OneDrive is Getting Full
- When the OneDrive storage gets full, then you cannot add new files.
- Microsoft OneDrive also stopped responding and affecting the syncing process.
- It’s also difficult to edit the uploaded documents.
- Several challenges occur while you try to backup the OneDrive files to the local system.
Different Methods to Resolve OneDrive Doesn’t Have Enough Storage Issue
There are 4 different methods through which you can resolve the issue and these are:-
- Removal of Duplicate Files
- Clean OneDrive Recycle Bin
- Upgrade Plan
- Move OneDrive data to another Account
All of the methods will be presented in detail in the upcoming sections.
Method 1. Remove the Duplicate Files to Free up OneDrive Space
Duplicate files are the ones that create the inconsistency in OneDrive. They consume a lot of space in OneDrive and for no use. So, let’s explore the steps through which you can remove the duplicate files from OneDrive.
- Step 1. Login to the OneDrive web with the credentials.
- Step 2. Click on My Drive and hit on the Sort option.
- Step 3. Choose the option of file size for sort.
- Step 4. Find the duplicate files based on file name and size. Then Delete them to resolve the OneDrive not enough free space issue.
Method 2. Empty the Recycle Bin
A recycle bin is used to store the deleted items. According to the OneDrive feature, all the deleted items will stay in the Recycle bin and take OneDrive storage for 30 days. So, if the files are of no use, delete them from the OneDrive recycle bin. Follow the below steps to free up OneDrive space:-
- Step 1. Move to the OneDrive account as per the required credentials.
- Step 2. Open the “Recycle bin” folder.
- Step 3. Select the option of Empty Recycle bin from the top right corner.
[Note: All the deleted files from the Recycle bin cannot be restored]
- Step 4. Now the Recycle bin folder becomes empty.
Method 3. Purchase More Storage
If after trying both of the methods still, OneDrive not enough free space. Then you can upgrade to the Office 365 plan and get more OneDrive for business storage.
If you are using Microsoft Business Plan 1 then you can switch to Microsoft Business Basic and Standard as per the requirement to get more OneDrive storage. It depends upon you to choose the right plan for you that can meet your OneDrive storage requirements.
Method 4. Shift OneDrive Files to Another OneDrive Account
You can also move OneDrive files to another OneDrive account to free up OneDrive space. Due to this, your Source OneDrive has more space and is ready to store other data.
This method is possible with the most reliable OneDrive Migration Tool. This is the most demanding tool that can solve the issue of OneDrive not having enough free space by migrating OneDrive for business to another tenant.
This tool requires some basic steps to follow:-
- Step 1. Download and Run the tool. Apply Office 365 for both Source and Destination.
- Step 2. Tick the checkbox of the Document and use the Date filter to select the required data.
- Step 3. Enter the Source and Destination credentials to specify the location to shift OneDrive data.
- Step 4. Now get the users into the tool for whom you want to make space in the OneDrive account.
- Step 5. Finally, hit the Start Migration button to make free space in the respective OneDrive accounts.
Conclusion
Because of the popularity of the OneDrive and its features. Users store their files in it and it shows OneDrive not enough free space. Therefore, in this write-up, we have explained the top 4 solutions to resolve this issue. Now, it completely depends upon you to choose which method. However, moving all OneDrive files to another OneDrive account is the best solution for you because you do not need to delete your OneDrive files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How to delete the Recycle bin files to make storage in OneDrive for business?
Ans – For accessing and deleting the recycle bin files you need to execute the below steps:-
- Step 1. Navigate to the OneDrive account.
- Step 2. Open the “Recycle bin” folder.
- Step 3. Choose the option of Empty Recycle bin option.
Q2. How to remove duplicate files from OneDrive for business to free up OneDrive space?
Ans – Moving out the duplicate files from OneDrive for business is a great approach to creating space in OneDrive. This requires the below steps to complete the process.
- Step 1. Log in to the OneDrive web with the credentials.
- Step 2. Click on the My Drive option and then hit the Sort option.
- Step 3. Finalize the option of File size to apply sorting.
- Step 4. Evaluate the duplicate files based on file name and size and then Delete them.
Q3. What are the issues that occur after the OneDrive is full?
Ans – When the OneDrive does not have enough free space then it creates several issues. This includes syncing, editing, adding new files, etc.
Q4. How to check the OneDrive storage limit?
Ans – On the OneDrive web, you can find the storage in the My File section.