Loading ...

OneDrive Cleanup Tips | IT Services | Seneca Students

Home » it services » Wiki » Microsoft Office 365 » Microsoft OneDrive » OneDrive Cleanup Tips
IT Services  Wiki
Public Space  ·  Information Technology Services
Activity Stream Content
Version 1

OneDrive Cleanup Tips

0 
 /5
0 (0votes)

 

IMPORTANT

As of Dec. 20, 2024 your OneDrive storage was reduced to 1GB as mentioned in the announcement on Dec. 5, 2024. 

  Step 1   Stop Sync in OneDrive / Unlink the PC 

To proceed with your clean up, you must stop the OneDrive sync or unlink your OneDrive from the computer.

To Stop Sync in OneDrive: 

  1. Right-click (or CTRL-click in Mac) the OneDrive icon on the taskbar. 
  2. Select Pause syncing  
  3. Select Quit OneDrive

To Unlink a PC from OneDrive:

  1. Right-click (or CTRL-click in Mac) the OneDrive icon on the taskbar. 
  2. Select the gear icon
  3. Select Settings

  4. Go to the Account tab.

  5. Select Unlink this PC

  6. Select Unlink account

  Step 2   Logging into OneDrive from the Web

  1. Go to your OneDrive and sign in with your Seneca credentials.

  Step 3   Check Storage

Once you confirm that your OneDrive storage is less than 1GB, proceed to step 4 else send an email to the Service Desk. Upon receiving a detailed response from Service Desk you will be given 48-hours to purge your files to 1GB or lower then proceed to Step 4. 

  Step 4   Transfer Personal Files to a Designated Personal Storage Location 

OneDrive is intended for Seneca business use. It is suggested to avoid storing personal files on your Seneca OneDrive for the following reasons:

  • Save allocated storage space.
  • Prevent losing files.

For semi-private files (e.g., CVs or payslips) stored on Seneca OneDrive, you can do the following:

  • Create a top-level folder named "Personal".
  • Simplifies copying files when needed.
  • Helps track the space these files occupy.

Suggested personal storage:

  • Microsoft Personal Storage
  • External hard drive
  • USB flash drive

  Step 5  Archive or Delete Obsolete Files from OneDrive

You can delete individual files or photos, or entire folders with all their contents, from Microsoft OneDrive. If needed, you can restore deleted files from the OneDrive recycle bin. You can archive or delete old files by:

  Step 6   Empty the Recycle Bin

In OneDrive, there are two folders where deleted items go the Recycle Bin and Second stage recycle bin. When files are deleted from OneDrive, it goes to the Recycle Bin and stays there before being removed. During this time, you can restore the files to their original location or delete them permanently to free up space.

    • Clear the Recycle Bin monthly.
    • Deleted items can be retrieved within 30 days, if needed.
    • An empty Recycle Bin makes it easier to locate accidentally deleted items.

Recycle bin




Second stage recycle bin


Perform Annual Cleanup

  • File maintenance should be an ongoing practice, not a one-time task.
  • Schedule regular file reviews, ideally once a year.
  • Delete outdated drafts and unnecessary versions to keep files up to date.

Resources

Wiki Index

Pages