How to delete files from Microsoft OneDrive

To free up space in your Microsoft cloud storage, you delete files the same way you would on your computer — select them and move them to trash. In OneDrive, deleted files go to a recycle bin first, where they stay for 93 days before Microsoft removes them permanently. Until then, they still count toward your storage limit.

The fastest way to delete multiple files at once is to open OneDrive in a web browser, check the box next to each file you want to remove, then click the delete button at the top. You can also delete files one at a time by right-clicking a single file and selecting delete from the menu. On a phone or tablet, press and hold a file to select it, then tap the trash icon.

If you change your mind within 93 days, you can restore deleted files from the recycle bin. Open OneDrive, click the recycle bin folder on the left side, find the file you want back, right-click it, and select restore. After 93 days, Microsoft deletes the files permanently and you cannot get them back.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted files move to a recycle bin and stay there for 93 days, still using your storage space, before Microsoft removes them permanently.
  • You can restore any deleted file within 93 days by opening the recycle bin in OneDrive and selecting restore.
  • To truly free up space, you must empty the recycle bin after deleting files, which permanently removes them.
  • Shared files and files in shared folders may have different deletion rules depending on who owns the folder.

Empty your recycle bin to actually free up storage

Deleting a file does not when ready free up your storage space — it only moves the file to the recycle bin. Your storage meter still shows the same amount used. To actually reclaim that space, you must empty the recycle bin.

In the OneDrive web version, click the recycle bin on the left sidebar, then click "Empty recycle bin" at the top of the page. Microsoft will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, those files are gone permanently and cannot be restored. On a phone or tablet, open the recycle bin, tap the three dots at the top, and select empty recycle bin.

If you want to keep some deleted files but permanently remove others, you can select individual files in the recycle bin and delete them one at a time instead of emptying the whole bin. This gives you more control over what stays recoverable and what disappears.

Find and remove large files taking up the most space

If you are not sure what to delete, start by finding your largest files. In the OneDrive web version, click the settings gear icon at the top right, then select "Storage" from the menu. OneDrive shows you a breakdown of how much space different file types are using — documents, photos, videos, and so on.

Click on any category to see the individual files within it, sorted by size. Videos and high-resolution photos usually take up the most room. You can delete files directly from this view by selecting them and clicking delete. This approach helps you make smarter choices about what to remove instead of deleting randomly.

Another option is to look for duplicate files or old versions of documents you no longer need. If you have multiple copies of the same photo or several versions of a spreadsheet, keeping only the newest one can free up significant space without losing anything important.

Understand storage limits and how shared files count

Microsoft gives most personal OneDrive accounts 5 GB of free storage. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you get 1 TB (1,000 GB) instead. Both limits count all files you own, including files in shared folders where you are the owner.

Files that other people shared with you do not count toward your storage limit — they count toward the owner's limit instead. So if a coworker shares a 500 MB file with you, it does not reduce your available space. However, if you upload a file to a shared folder that you own, it does count against your limit.

If you are near your storage limit, deleting files you own will free up space when ready after you empty the recycle bin. Deleting files that someone else owns will not help, because those files count toward their storage, not yours.

Manage OneDrive storage on your phone or computer

If you have OneDrive installed on your Windows computer or Mac, you can delete files directly from the OneDrive folder on your hard drive. Right-click a file and select delete, just as you would with any other folder. The file moves to your computer's recycle bin first, not OneDrive's recycle bin.

To move the file to OneDrive's recycle bin instead, delete it through the OneDrive website or app. This matters because your computer's recycle bin and OneDrive's recycle bin are separate — emptying one does not affect the other.

On a phone, open the OneDrive app, find the file you want to delete, press and hold it until a menu appears, then tap delete. The file goes to OneDrive's recycle bin. You can restore it from there within 93 days, or empty the recycle bin to free up space permanently.

What happens when you reach your storage limit

If you use all your available storage, you cannot upload new files to OneDrive until you delete something. Microsoft will show you a message saying your storage is full. You can still view and read files you already have, but you cannot add anything new.

To get more space without deleting files, you can buy additional storage through Microsoft 365. A Microsoft 365 Personal subscription includes 1 TB of storage and costs money each month or year. You can also buy extra storage separately in smaller amounts — 100 GB or 200 GB — if you do not want a full subscription.

Before you buy more storage, delete your recycle bin and look for files you no longer need. Many people find they have enough space once they remove old backups, duplicate photos, or files they meant to delete months ago.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a file after I empty the recycle bin?

No. Once you empty the recycle bin, the files are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If you are not certain you want to delete something, leave it in the recycle bin for a while — it will stay there for 93 days before Microsoft removes it automatically.

Do shared files count toward my storage limit?

Only if you own them. Files that other people shared with you count toward their storage, not yours. If you own a shared folder, all files in it count toward your limit, even if other people uploaded them.

How do I see how much storage I am using?

In the OneDrive web version, click the settings gear at the top right and select "Storage." You will see a bar showing how much space you have used and how much is left. You can also click on file type categories to see which ones are taking up the most room.

What is the difference between deleting on my computer and deleting in OneDrive?

If you delete a file from the OneDrive folder on your computer, it goes to your computer's recycle bin. If you delete it through the OneDrive website or app, it goes to OneDrive's recycle bin. The two are separate, so you need to empty the right one to free up OneDrive storage.

Will deleting files from OneDrive remove them from my computer too?

If you delete a file through the OneDrive website or app, it will not automatically delete from your computer. If you delete it from the OneDrive folder on your computer, it stays in OneDrive unless you have syncing turned off. Check your sync settings if you want to keep files in only one place.