I am not able to copy a very large folder from the OneDrive folder on my local C: to an external USB hard drive

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I am not able to copy a very large folder from the OneDrive folder on my local C: to an external USB hard drive

Dave Underwood 5

Hello,

I am using Windows 11 Home 25H2 64-bit (OS build 26200.8037) and OneDrive version: Build 26.045.0308.0003 (64-bit).

My local C: is 474 GB large and I have 3.42 GB free. I have 1 TB of OneDrive storage and I am using 113.8 GB of it. My external hard drive has 3.61 TB total space and 2.48 TB free space.

When I select & copy a very large folder in my local OneDrive folder that is 53.6 GB total size on my C:, and then paste that folder into my external USB hard drive I get this system message:

"There is not enough space on Dave - Personal. You need an additional 50.2 GB to copy these files"

Screenshot 2026-04-06 150245

Yes, as long as I copy folders (from my local OneDrive folder on my C:) that are less than 3.42 GB total size, I am able to copy folders across...

But not folders that are bigger than the free space on my local C:.

If I want to copy a folder (from my local OneDrive folder on my C:) that is 53 GB total size to my removable hard drive, is the only option to free up 53 GB of free space on my local C:?

Thanks.

PS: I have previously chosen to 'Download all files' under Files On-Demand in OneDrive settings. My folders have the following OneDrive setting: 'Always keep on this device'.

PPS: I would like to be able to copy & paste as shown in this video but that no longer seems possible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exIZRnL9Bts

PPPS: I can still copy large folders, e.g. over 5 GB in total size, from on my local C: OUTSIDE my OneDrive folder to my removable hard drive, I just can't do it with large folders from WITHIN my OneDrive folder.

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Dave Underwood 5

I just wanted to report back that I ended up solving my problem.

Fundamentally the issue was a user issue: I was trying to do something I hadn't done before thinking it was something I had done before.

What I have realised is that on my computer, the local OneDrive folder lives in the following location:

C:\dave\OneDrive

What I had been doing historically was copying the entire C:\dave folder which, because I have OneDrive set to download all files, meant I was able to back up the whole of my local OneDrive folder to my external hard drive.

The difference this time was I was trying to copy specific folders from within the OneDrive folder. Which is why I was running into a OneDrive message that I thought I shouldn't have been getting but was actually OneDrive operating like it has always operated.

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Viorel 127K

On which disk is there not enough space?

Dave Underwood 5 Reputation points

2026-04-06T14:15:48.14+00:00

Hi Viorel,

Thank you for your reply.

I have updated my original post to hopefully provide you more information.

I'm not really sure how to answer your question. What OneDrive as saying is that to copy from within the OneDrive folder on my local C:, I have to have free space equal to the size of the folder I am trying to copy out of it. Does this make sense? It makes me feel like I'm crazy just describing it! It's not a problem I have ever encountered before…

Thanks,
Dave
Viorel 127K Reputation points

2026-04-06T17:10:17.13+00:00

I think the system must first download the files from OneDrive and place them on disk C before performing operations, such as copying to an external disk. It seems that disk C does not have enough space, and the “Always keep on this device” option cannot be accomplished. Space unrelated to OneDrive should be freed. The Disk Cleanup tool can be tried, which can be found in the Start menu or Search box. It can also delete some Windows backup files or previous versions if they are certainly not needed.

If all data is definitely on OneDrive (this can be checked on the web version onedrive.live.com) then maybe “Always keep on this device” option can be temporarily unchecked. The Settings dialog of OneDrive also contains the “Free up disk space” button.
Dave Underwood 5 Reputation points

2026-04-08T15:27:14.9466667+00:00

Hi Viorel,

Thank you for your reply.

I have run Disc Cleanup (including 'Clean up system files') & moved some large files off my local C: and onto my external hard drive so now I have 9.54 GB free on my local C:.

However as the folder I am trying to copy to my external hard drive is 53.6 GB total size I am still getting the system message: "There is not enough space on Dave - Personal. You need an additional 44.1 GB to copy these files".

I have clicked the button in OneDrive Advanced settings to 'Download all files'. I take your point regarding using the 'Free up disk space' button but I am reluctant to use that as I would prefer to keep all my files on my local C: and then have them backed up to OneDrive.

It sounds like what I'm trying to do (copy a very large folder from the OneDrive folder on my local C: to an external USB hard drive) is no longer possible if the folder I'm trying to copy exceeds the total free space on the local disk?

Thanks,

Dave
Viorel 127K Reputation points

2026-04-08T23:29:08.48+00:00
Yes, I think that under these circumstances the operation is not possible.

There is also another sensitive method: to temporarily move the OneDrive folder to the external drive:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-the-location-of-your-onedrive-folder-f386fb81-1461-40a7-be2c-712676b2c4ae

If the “Always keep on this device” option is enabled, then all the content should appear on the external drive after the synchronization is complete. Afterwards, the location can be moved back to C.
Dave Underwood 5 Reputation points

2026-04-14T12:52:42.8133333+00:00

Hi Viorel,

I just wanted to report back that I ended up solving my problem.

Fundamentally the issue was a user issue: I was trying to do something I hadn't done before thinking it was something I had done before.

What I have realised is that on my computer, the local OneDrive folder lives in the following location:

C:\dave\OneDrive

What I had been doing historically was copying the entire C:\dave folder which, because I have OneDrive set to download all files, meant I was able to back up the whole of my local OneDrive folder to my external hard drive.

The difference this time was I was trying to copy specific folders from within the OneDrive folder. Which is why I was running into a OneDrive message that I thought I shouldn't have been getting but was actually OneDrive operating like it has always operated.

I hope this makes sense and thanks for your help.

Cheers,

Dave

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I am not able to copy a very large folder from the OneDrive folder on my local C: to an external USB hard drive

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