How to Free Up Space in OneDrive (Windows)

Running low on disk space? If you use OneDrive on Windows, you can easily free up space by storing files in the cloud while removing them from your local device. Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open File Explorer:

Click the File Explorer icon (a yellow folder) in your taskbar — usually pinned at the bottom of your screen. Can’t find it? Click the Windows icon, then type File Explorer and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to OneDrive:

In the File Explorer window, look to the left-hand sidebar. Find and click on the OneDrive tab (it has a little cloud icon next to it). This opens your OneDrive folder, where all cloud-synced files live.

3. Right-Click a File or Folder:

Browse to the file or folder you want to move to the cloud. Right-click on the file name (not the icon) to open the context menu.

4. Select “Free up space”

From the menu that appears, click “Free up space.” This removes the file from your device, but it stays safely stored in your OneDrive cloud account.

Tip: You’ll still see the file listed, but with a cloud icon. It will download again automatically when you open it.

Why Use “Free up space”?

• Saves local disk space

• Keeps files accessible from any device

• Works great for large photos, videos, and archived folders