How to Increase the File Upload Size Limit in SharePoint Online
Question details
Users are unable to upload large files to SharePoint Online and need to understand how to increase or manage file upload size limits to successfully share documents.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to upload large files or documents to a SharePoint document library.
- Observed behavior
- File uploads fail because the files exceed the current service upload limits or the site's available storage quota.
Ensure you have Microsoft 365 or SharePoint Administrator privileges, as standard users cannot modify tenant-level or site-level storage quotas and limits.
Verify and Manage SharePoint Storage Quotas
While SharePoint Online has a hard maximum file upload limit of 250 GB per file, upload failures often occur because the specific site has reached its storage quota. Administrators can verify and increase this quota.
Microsoft enforces a strict 250 GB limit per file across SharePoint Online. You cannot increase this maximum threshold. However, if your file is under 250 GB and still fails, the site's storage quota is likely exhausted.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center with an administrator account, then navigate to the SharePoint Admin Center.
In the left pane, click on 'Sites' and then select 'Active sites' to view all site collections.
Locate the SharePoint site where the upload failed and click on it to open the details panel.
Click the 'Storage limit' option, enter a higher maximum storage value (in GB), and click 'Save' to ensure there is enough space for the new large files.
Use the OneDrive Sync App for Large Files
Uploading massive files via a web browser can lead to timeouts. Using the OneDrive desktop sync app provides a stable upload process.
Reduce Document Sizes with WPS Office Before Uploading
Since SharePoint Online limits are strictly controlled by Microsoft, shrinking your file size is often the most practical solution. WPS Office allows you to easily compress large documents, spreadsheets, and presentations before uploading. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the oversized document, spreadsheet, or presentation.
- 2. Compress the File: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab and select 'File Compressor' to reduce the overall file size.
- 3. Save and Upload: Save the optimized file in the standard Microsoft format (.docx, .xlsx, or .pptx) and easily upload it to SharePoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute maximum file upload size for SharePoint Online?
Currently, the maximum file upload size in SharePoint Online is 250 GB per file. If your single file exceeds this size, it must be split into smaller parts before uploading.
Why am I getting an error when uploading a file smaller than 250 GB?
Upload errors for smaller files are typically caused by your specific SharePoint site reaching its storage quota, a poor internet connection causing a browser timeout, or file path lengths exceeding the 400-character limit.
Can standard users increase the SharePoint upload limit?
No. Site storage quotas and upload configurations can only be managed by users with Microsoft 365 Administrator or SharePoint Administrator privileges.
