storage on outlook mail account full

You cannot detach OneDrive from your Microsoft account’s 5 GB cloud-storage allowance; to clear the “storage full” condition, delete unneeded OneDrive files and then permanently empty the OneDrive Recycle Bin.

Your 15 GB Outlook.com mailbox allowance is separate. The 5 GB cloud allowance is shared by OneDrive files and photos, Outlook.com attachments and inline images, and certain Microsoft 365 app content.^1^ Uninstalling or unlinking the OneDrive app does not remove its cloud files or free that storage.^2^

Free the space on iPhone or iPad

Warning: Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently deletes those files. Save anything needed elsewhere first.

1. Open the OneDrive app and sign in with the same Microsoft account used by Outlook.
2. Review the files and photos, especially large videos or camera uploads.
3. To delete an item:
   • Touch and hold the file.
   • Select any additional files.
   • Tap More and then Delete.
   • Confirm Delete.
4. Permanently remove the deleted files:
   • Tap the Me/profile icon in the upper-left corner.
   • Tap the applicable account.
   • Select Recycle Bin.
   • Select the files and tap Delete.^3^

The iOS app can select only 20 files at a time. For a large cleanup, use the OneDrive website instead:

1. Open the OneDrive website and sign in.
2. Select the files or folders under My files, then choose Delete.
3. Open Recycle bin from the left navigation.
4. Select the deleted items and choose Delete to remove them permanently.^3^

There can be a short delay before the recovered capacity appears.

If you want to erase the entire OneDrive

Microsoft documents a full-purge procedure, but it permanently removes all OneDrive files and makes shared content unavailable to other people:

1. Stop or unlink OneDrive synchronization on any computers so files are not uploaded again.
2. Sign in to OneDrive online and open My files.
3. Select all files, excluding anything you intend to retain.
4. Select Delete.
5. Open the OneDrive Recycle bin and select Empty Recycle bin.^4^

Even after this purge, OneDrive remains an available service associated with the Microsoft account; its storage usage should simply fall close to zero.

If Outlook still reports full storage

Check Outlook.com → Settings → Account → Storage. Outlook attachments and inline images also count toward the 5 GB cloud quota, even though the mailbox itself is using only 634 MB.^5^

If cloud storage exceeds its limit, Outlook.com may be unable to send or receive messages despite remaining below the separate 15 GB mailbox limit. Messages sent to the account while it is over quota can be returned to the sender and must be resent after storage is available.^1^

References

1. Storage limits in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
2. OneDrive data storage in Microsoft account - Microsoft Q&A
3. [iOS](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/delete-files-or-folders-in-onedrive#empty-the-recycle-bin-on-ios)
4. Permanently delete your entire OneDrive | Microsoft Support
5. Microsoft storage FAQs