Attachment Issues

How to Delete Email Attachments to Free Up OneDrive Storage

Olivia Miller Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to free up Microsoft OneDrive storage space by deleting email attachments, but finds that attempting to delete items directly from the attachments folder does not work.

How to Delete Email Attachments and Free Up OneDrive Storage

Product: Microsoft Outlook / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing mailbox and cloud storage space to avoid exceeding storage quotas due to large email attachments.
Observed behavior: Files in the email attachments folder cannot be independently deleted because they are linked to the original messages; the user must delete the source emails and empty all trash bins to release storage.

Before you start

Before deleting emails containing large attachments, ensure you have downloaded and saved any important documents locally, as emptying the trash and recycle bins will permanently erase them from your Microsoft account.

Solution 1Recommended

Delete Source Emails and Empty Trash Folders

Delete the original emails containing the heavy attachments from your mailbox, and then permanently empty the deleted items to free up storage space.

The attachments folder in Outlook is simply a filtered view of files attached to your emails. Because they are not independent files, you cannot delete them directly from this view. You must find and remove the actual email message that contains the file.

Locate the source email

Navigate to your Inbox, Sent Items, or custom folders to find the specific emails that contain the large attachments you wish to remove.

Delete the email messages

Select the emails containing the large attachments and click the 'Delete' button to move them to the Deleted Items folder.

Empty Deleted Items and Junk folders

Right-click on the 'Deleted Items' folder and select 'Empty folder'. Do the same for the 'Junk Email' folder to ensure the files are removed from the mailbox.

Clear the OneDrive Recycle Bin

Log into your OneDrive account online, navigate to the 'Recycle bin' on the left-hand menu, and click 'Empty recycle bin' to permanently release your Microsoft storage space.

Delete Source Emails and Empty Trash Folders

Check Sent Items: Don't forget to check your 'Sent Items' folder. Emails you have sent with large attachments also consume your Microsoft storage quota.

Solution 2

Review Storage Settings to Identify Large Items

Use the built-in Microsoft storage management dashboard to easily identify and delete the largest files and emails taking up your space.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Your Downloaded Attachments Locally with WPS Office

If you are constantly battling Microsoft cloud storage limits, you can download your email attachments and manage them locally using WPS Office. As a powerful, free alternative to Microsoft Office, WPS allows you to open, edit, and save all your documents on your device without relying on restrictive cloud storage quotas.

1. Download your attachments: Open your email in Outlook and download the important Word, Excel, or PowerPoint attachments directly to your computer's local drive.
2. Open with WPS Office: Right-click the downloaded file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office to view and edit the document seamlessly.
3. Save locally: Edit your document and click 'Save' to keep it safely on your local hard drive, freeing up your cloud storage for other needs.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.Lightweight application size saves valuable local device storage space.Save and manage your email attachments locally without forced cloud sync.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface for seamless migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I delete attachments directly from the Outlook attachments folder?

The attachments folder in Outlook is not a physical storage location; it is merely a filtered view displaying files linked to your existing emails. To remove an attachment, you must delete the original email message it is attached to.

How long does it take for my OneDrive storage to update after deleting emails?

After you delete emails with large attachments and empty your Deleted Items and Recycle Bin, it can take up to 24 hours for Microsoft's servers to update your storage quota and reflect the newly freed space.

Will deleting sent emails with attachments free up my Microsoft storage?

Yes, any email you send with an attachment is stored in your Sent Items folder and counts against your Microsoft and mailbox storage limits. Deleting these sent emails and emptying the trash will successfully release storage space.

Outlook & Email Problems