How to Free Up Disk Space in Windows Explorer with SharePoint and OneDrive Files

How to Free Up Disk Space in Windows Explorer with SharePoint and OneDrive Files

Introduction

Managing disk space efficiently is crucial for maintaining optimal performance on your Windows device. SharePoint and OneDrive offer features that allow you to free up disk space by storing files in the cloud while keeping them accessible. This guide will walk you through the steps to manage your files and free up disk space using Windows Explorer.

Prerequisites

  • A Windows device with Windows 10 or later.
  • OneDrive and/or SharePoint set up and synced with your device.
  • An active internet connection.

Steps to Free Up Disk Space

1. Use OneDrive Files On-Demand

OneDrive Files On-Demand allows you to access all your files in OneDrive without having to download them and use storage space on your device.

  1. Enable Files On-Demand:

    • Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Settings.
    • Go to the Settings tab and check the box for Save space and download files as you use them.
    • Click OK to apply the changes.

  2. Free Up Space:

    • Open Windows Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive folder.
    • Right-click the files or folders you want to free up space for and select Free up space. This will remove the local copy of the file while keeping it available in the cloud.

2. Use SharePoint Online Files On-Demand

Similar to OneDrive, SharePoint Online allows you to manage files without using local storage.

  1. Sync SharePoint Library:

    • Open the SharePoint site in your web browser.
    • Navigate to the document library you want to sync.
    • Click the Sync button. This will open OneDrive and start syncing the library to your device.

  2. Free Up Space:

    • Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the synced SharePoint folder.
    • Right-click the files or folders you want to free up space for and select Free up space.

3. Manage Storage Sense Settings

Windows 10 and later versions include a feature called Storage Sense that can automatically free up space by making older, unused files available online-only.

  1. Enable Storage Sense:

    • Go to Settings > System > Storage.
    • Toggle the switch under Storage Sense to On.

  2. Configure Storage Sense:

    • Click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now.
    • Set your preferences for how often you want Storage Sense to run and what types of files you want it to manage.

Conclusion

By using OneDrive Files On-Demand, syncing SharePoint libraries, and configuring Storage Sense, you can effectively manage your disk space and keep your device running smoothly. These features allow you to keep your files accessible without taking up valuable local storage.


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