what happens when a SharePoint online list/library exceed 30 million items/documents

Question

I am reading the SharePoint online limitations @ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/sharepoint-online-service-description/sharepoint-online-limits but i am not sure what will happen when a SharePoint online list/library exceed 30 million items/documents? will it raise a warning that the list/library no more accept new items/lists or it will stop opening even in read only view?

Answer 1

Hi @john john ，
Technically, you can load over 30 million documents into sharepoint and not raise a warning. However, the speed will be significantly reduced. And we don't recommend you do it. Some unforeseen errors may occur.
One document can have up to 30 million files and folders. One file must be less than 15 GB. And list view threshold is 5000.
Note: When a list, library, or folder contains more than 100,000 items, you can't break permissions inheritance on the list, library, or folder.
Others have had questions about the SharePoint 5000 item limit threshold, and if you also have questions, you can read this thread (hope it helps): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1007253/sharepoint-online-5000-file-limit.html

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