OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Free Up Space Not Working in Subfolders

Partner Editor Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the OneDrive 'Free up space' command applied to a parent folder fails to make files in nested subfolders online-only.

How to Fix OneDrive Free Up Space Not Working in Subfolders

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to free up local disk space by applying the 'Free up space' command to a top-level OneDrive folder.
Observed behavior: Files within nested subfolders remain stored locally on the device (keeping the green checkmark) instead of becoming online-only, requiring the action to be repeated manually for each subfolder.

Before you start

Ensure your device has a stable internet connection so OneDrive can communicate with the cloud, and verify that none of the files in the affected subfolders are currently open in any applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset the OneDrive Client

Resetting the OneDrive app clears its cache and restores default sync settings, which often resolves folder-level sync commands that fail to propagate.

A client reset does not delete any of your files, but it forces OneDrive to re-sync all data. This is the most effective way to fix subfolder synchronization bugs.

Open the Run dialog

Press the Windows key + R simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Execute the reset command

Type '%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset' (without quotes) and press Enter.

Restart OneDrive

Wait for the OneDrive cloud icon to disappear from the system tray and reappear. If it does not reappear after a few minutes, launch Microsoft OneDrive manually from the Start menu.

Test the Free up space command

Right-click the parent folder again, select 'Free up space', and check if the green checkmarks in the subfolders successfully disappear.

Command Variation: If the standard reset command returns a 'Windows cannot find' error, try using 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset' instead.

Solution 2

Unlink and Reconnect Your Account

Disconnecting and reconnecting your Microsoft account forces OneDrive to re-evaluate the local and cloud status of all folders.

Solution 3

Update or Reinstall OneDrive

Using an outdated or corrupted version of OneDrive can prevent commands like 'Free up space' from applying correctly to nested directories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some files in my OneDrive subfolders keep the solid green checkmark?

A solid green checkmark means the file was explicitly set to 'Always keep on this device'. When a parent folder is set to 'Free up space', Windows sometimes ignores items that have this forced offline status. You must select the specific subfolder, right-click, and choose 'Free up space' to override the setting.

Does 'Free up space' delete my files from the OneDrive cloud?

No. Selecting 'Free up space' only removes the local copy from your device's hard drive to save space. The file remains safely stored in your OneDrive cloud and will appear in File Explorer with a blue cloud icon, meaning it is available to download when you open it.

How can I check if my OneDrive files are actually taking up local storage space?

Open File Explorer, navigate to your OneDrive folder, and look at the 'Status' column. A green checkmark (either solid or hollow) indicates the file is stored locally and consuming disk space. A blue cloud icon indicates the file is online-only and not taking up any local storage.

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