File size different in storage metrics than original even though file has only one version. Why so ?

Question

Hi,

I have checked the storage metrics for a particular file and I am seeing as below
In Storage metrics :

Version History:

Original File size :

Why there is a difference in sizes ?

Regards,

Nebu Thomas Mathew

Answer 1

Dear Nebu,

Thanks for sharing updates with us and I really appreciate your effort and your precious time doing those tests. 

Generally, to render preview/fly-outs when hovered over the file when in library we add high resolution thumbnails in the background, it’s By-Design behavior to show files bigger in size than actual when looking at the SharePoint storage metrics page.

If the files have many images, then we generate a larger thumbnail in the background which makes the file even bigger.

The storage metrics page shows the true storage value being used as a number of micro services run after upload to create thumbnail, previews, etc., which causes the increase in the storage used.

As confirmed from test environment, the file size increases in Storage metrics page irrespective of the versions sizes not adding up to the storage reflecting in the storage metrics page. 
Also, as observed the PowerPoint files did not have any versions, so even if versions are not there, there are other variables with the microservices running against the files.

This is by design and there is no way to predict how much space will be used after a document is uploaded. We can only say that the numbers shown in Storage Metrics do reflect the space being used by those documents.

Below attached are our test steps for your reference:

We create a new PowerPoint file that contains many pictures in desktop and upload it to SharePoint, the size of the file size is 47.6kb, and the size on disk is 48kb

When uploaded to the SharePoint site, the size of the file in SharePoint library is 53.7 KB with only one version existed, and the size of file in Storage Metrics is 308.6 KB as shown below.

Hope above information can help you!

If the scenario above is not consistent with yours, you can also post back and point that.

Your patience and understanding are highly appreciated. I hope that you are keeping safe and well!

Sincerely,

Rhoda| Microsoft Community Moderator

Answer 2

Hi,

Thanks for the response.

But as mentioned before, this file only has one version in version history having 3.3MB but still the total file size is 8MB.

How is that possible despite having only one version ?

Regards,

Nebu Thomas Mathew

Answer 3

Dear Nebu,

Greetings! Thank you for posting in Microsoft forum.

The Total Size value that's reported on the Storage Metrics page always shows the full file size for each version. For example, suppose that you just added a 100-MB file to your document library with versioning enabled. You then edit the document properties and make a change to the title. The total size that's reported by storage metrics will now be 200 MB.

The storage metrics page will show the combine size of a file including the size of each version whereas when you check the size in the respective app, it shows the size of current version only.

You can check the article: Versioning in SharePoint | Microsoft Learn

If you have any questions or doubts, please feel free to post back. I will be happy to assist. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Sincerely,

Neha Singh | Microsoft Community Moderator