Where Are Microsoft Stream Video Files Stored? Explained
Question details
Organizations need to clarify the exact storage locations, licensing requirements, and platform dependencies for videos uploaded to Microsoft Stream.
- Product
- Microsoft Stream
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Administrators and users want to manage video storage quotas and understand data allocation across Microsoft 365 services.
- Observed behavior
- Users are unsure whether their uploaded videos consume dedicated Microsoft Azure storage or rely on existing SharePoint Online and OneDrive capacities.
Verify which version of Microsoft Stream your organization is currently using, as storage behaviors and quota usage differ significantly between Stream (Classic) and Stream (on SharePoint).
Identify Your Microsoft Stream Version and Storage Location
The exact storage location depends entirely on whether you are uploading to Stream (Classic) or the modern Stream (on SharePoint).
Microsoft provides two distinct video platforms under the Stream brand. The classic version operates independently, while the modern version integrates directly into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
If you access Stream via the web browser at web.microsoftstream.com, you are using Stream (Classic). Videos uploaded here are stored in dedicated Azure-based storage provided by Microsoft, which is separate from your standard SharePoint or OneDrive storage quotas.
If your videos open directly within Microsoft 365 apps, you are using Stream on SharePoint. Videos uploaded here are stored directly in the Microsoft 365 location where they are uploaded, such as a user's OneDrive, a SharePoint site, a Teams channel, or Yammer.
Because Stream on SharePoint utilizes the standard Microsoft 365 infrastructure, uploading videos to these services uses their associated SharePoint or OneDrive storage quotas and follows the exact same file permissions model.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I am using Stream (Classic) or Stream (on SharePoint)?
If your Stream URL is web.microsoftstream.com, you are using the classic version. If your videos are accessed or uploaded directly via SharePoint libraries, OneDrive web players, or the Microsoft 365 app launcher, you are using Stream on SharePoint.
Do Stream on SharePoint videos count against my tenant's storage limits?
Yes. Because Stream on SharePoint stores video files as standard files inside SharePoint, Teams, or OneDrive, they will count against your existing Microsoft 365 storage quotas.
What happens to my videos when Stream (Classic) is retired?
Microsoft is actively retiring Stream (Classic) in favor of Stream on SharePoint. Administrators must use the official Stream migration tool to move existing Azure-hosted videos into SharePoint or OneDrive environments to prevent data loss.
Can I upload a video to a Teams channel without it saving to SharePoint?
No. Any file, including video content, uploaded directly into a Microsoft Teams channel's files tab or chat is automatically saved to the underlying SharePoint site document library connected to that specific team.
