Fix SharePoint Out of Memory Error When Uploading Large Files
Question details
Users experience an out-of-memory error when attempting to upload single files or batches of files larger than 1 GB to a SharePoint site.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Transferring large documents or bulk files into a SharePoint document library via the web interface.
- Observed behavior
- The system throws an out-of-memory error and the upload fails, even if the target SharePoint site appears to have substantial available storage space.
Check your local machine's available RAM and ensure you have a stable network connection before attempting to upload large batches of files to SharePoint.
Verify Storage Limits in SharePoint Admin Center
Ask your SharePoint administrator to ensure the site's actual storage quota hasn't been exhausted by hidden versions or recycle bin items.
Even if a site appears to have space, underlying storage quotas might be fully consumed by file version histories or deleted items in the second-stage recycle bin.
Have a user with admin privileges log into the Microsoft 365 admin center and navigate to the SharePoint admin center.
In the left-hand navigation pane, expand 'Sites' and click on 'Active sites'.
Locate the affected SharePoint site and check the 'Storage used' column to verify if it is approaching its maximum limit.
If the storage is full, delete unnecessary files from the document libraries and permanently empty both the first-stage and second-stage recycle bins.
Use OneDrive Sync Client for Large File Uploads
Bypass web browser memory limitations by syncing the SharePoint library to your local computer.
Manage Large Documents Offline with WPS Office
If you frequently work with large documents that cause upload errors in SharePoint, consider using WPS Office. As a free, lightweight Microsoft Office alternative, it handles massive files smoothly and offers built-in tools to compress your documents before uploading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint throw an out-of-memory error even when the site has available storage?
This error frequently occurs because of browser-based memory limitations when handling massive file chunks (over 1 GB) in a single session, rather than actual server storage limits.
What is the maximum file size limit for SharePoint online?
Currently, SharePoint Online supports uploading single files up to 250 GB. However, uploading very large files via a standard web browser can cause timeouts or local memory issues, which is why using the OneDrive desktop sync app is recommended.
Does clearing the SharePoint recycle bin immediately free up storage space?
Yes, permanently deleting items from the second-stage (Site Collection) recycle bin will immediately free up the storage quota allocated to that specific SharePoint site.
Can I upload a 1 GB file in pieces to avoid this error?
Instead of manually splitting the file into smaller archives, use the OneDrive desktop sync client. It automatically uploads large files in smaller chunks in the background, preventing browser out-of-memory errors.
