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Understanding Microsoft Free Cloud and Outlook Email Storage Limits
Question details
Users need clarification on how Microsoft allocates free storage between OneDrive and Outlook.com, and why their cloud storage fills up quickly.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing free Microsoft account storage limits and troubleshooting full OneDrive or Outlook mailbox alerts.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive storage becomes full even when Outlook.com mailbox storage appears to have available space, because email attachments count towards both the shared 5 GB cloud limit and the 15 GB email limit.
Log in to your Microsoft account online and navigate to your storage settings to check your current usage for both Microsoft Storage (cloud) and Email Storage.
Free up space by deleting large files and email attachments
Identify and remove heavy email attachments and large OneDrive files that consume your shared 5 GB cloud limit.
Because Outlook.com attachments count against both your 15 GB email limit and your 5 GB shared cloud limit, clearing out old emails with large attachments is the most effective way to regain OneDrive space.
Log into Outlook.com, click the Settings gear icon in the top right, and navigate to General > Storage.
Look at the two separate storage meters: 'Microsoft storage' (your 5 GB limit) and 'Email storage' (your 15 GB limit).
Under the Microsoft storage section, locate 'Outlook (Attachments)' and click 'Empty' or 'Free up space' to delete large files and quickly free up shared cloud space.
Open OneDrive.com, sort your files by size, and permanently delete large documents, videos, or photos that you no longer need.
Upgrade to a Microsoft 365 subscription
Increase your overall storage capacity if you frequently hit the 5 GB free cloud limit.
Switch to WPS Office to Manage Your Documents Freely
If Microsoft's 5 GB storage limit is restricting your document workflow, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. You can easily save documents locally to your computer to avoid restrictive cloud limits altogether.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free desktop application.
- 2. Open existing files: Open your existing .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files directly in WPS Office without losing any formatting.
- 3. Save locally: Bypass shared cloud limits by saving your large documents and presentations directly to your computer's hard drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my OneDrive full but my Outlook still has space?
Free Microsoft accounts provide 15 GB of email storage but only 5 GB of shared cloud storage. Since email attachments consume your 5 GB cloud limit, receiving large files can fill up your cloud storage much faster than your email storage.
Do Outlook email attachments count twice towards my Microsoft storage limits?
Yes. Email attachments count against your 15 GB Outlook.com email storage limit and simultaneously count against your shared 5 GB Microsoft cloud storage limit.
What happens if my 5 GB Microsoft cloud storage limit is exceeded?
If your shared Microsoft cloud storage is full, you will be blocked from sending or receiving new emails in Outlook.com, and you will not be able to upload, edit, or sync files in OneDrive.
Can I increase my Microsoft storage without buying Office apps?
Yes. You can subscribe to Microsoft 365 Basic, which provides 100 GB of cloud storage and an ad-free Outlook experience without paying the higher cost for the full premium desktop Office applications.
