File size shown on OnDrive is larger than the actual size.

Question

File size shown on OnDrive is larger than the actual size.

Anonymous

When I checked the size of a folder on the OneDrive website, I found it very large. So, I opened the folder and checked the file size in the folder, and I found that the size of the files was very small. The summation of all files is around 5 MB, whereas it is showing 1.15 GB in the detailed tab. Kindly tell me how to fix this issue.

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Answer 1

Hi Mohd,

Thank you for reaching out. My name is Furkaan, a user just like you. I’d be happy to help you with your concerns. The discrepancy between the folder size shown on OneDrive and the sum of the file sizes listed within the folder can be caused by a couple of things:

Files On-Demand: OneDrive Files On-Demand is a feature that allows you to see all your files in the cloud without having to download them to your device. This can be a great way to save space on your device, but it can also make it look like your OneDrive folders are larger than they actually are. In the image you sent, it appears that you are viewing the folder on the OneDrive website, so Files On-Demand wouldn't apply in this case. However, it's a good thing to keep in mind if you're ever looking at folder sizes on your local machine.

Hidden files and versions: OneDrive might be including hidden files and previous versions of files in its calculation of the folder size. These files wouldn't be visible in the default view of your OneDrive folder, but they would still be taking up space. Here are two things you can try to troubleshoot the discrepancy:

Show hidden files: Most file browsers allow you to view hidden files. By making hidden files visible, you can see if there are any large files that are contributing to the folder size.

Turn off version history: OneDrive keeps track of changes made to files and allows you to revert to previous versions. This can be a handy feature, but it can also use up storage space. If you're sure you don't need version history, you can turn it off.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below. Best Regards, Furkaan