Confusing storage allowance

Question

Hi all,

Basically I am confused about storage allowance in one drive and outlook. Here are the screenshots:

First one is my one drive:
and here is my outlook:

What I don't understand is, how come my one drive storage have my outlook files, and how I can use outlook 15GB if as soon as my outlook is full ( 5GB) my outlook is blocked?

I don't know it this make sense, but how I can fit outlook 15GB in one drive 5GB?

I am extremely confused how does it work.

Thanks for explanation.

Answer 1

AgnieszkaBA, it is by default. We have no control of Outlook storage usage, but your Outlook.com attachments utilises both OneDrive and Outlook email storage.

Answer 2

That means I can use 15GB outlook storage just for emails without attached files?

Answer 3

Hello AgnieszkaBA,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I am a Microsoft user just like you, I hope you are doing well?

I am sorry for the confusion. I will do my best to share information that will hopefully clarify your Microsoft OneDrive and Outlook.com storage usage.

You cannot use your 15GB Outlook.com storage as OneDrive storage.

You have 5 GB of free cloud storage with your Microsoft account shared across your files and photos in OneDrive, attachments in Outlook.com and your Microsoft 365 apps. You also get 15 GB of free Outlook.com email storage which is separate from your Microsoft cloud storage.

Why are Outlook.com attachments in both Microsoft storage & Email storage lists?

Microsoft storage includes all your documents, files, photos and videos stored across free Microsoft 365 apps and services, including Outlook.com attachments.

Microsoft will still allow Outlook.com users to keep their existing free 15GB email storage limit that they can use in Outlook.com only. Microsoft didn’t want to reduce that limit for users.

Additionally, Microsoft also wanted to minimize disruption to our existing Outlook.com customers by keeping that storage limit the same. Microsoft Storage provides a simple way for people to see how they're using storage across all the growing apps and experiences included in Microsoft 365.

Note: Your Microsoft storage quota applies to your personal Microsoft account and includes:

1. OneDrive files and photos, this includes items in your Recycle Bin.
2. Outlook.com attachments and email in-line images. (Calendar items, contacts, deleted messages included).
3. Microsoft Teams message attachments & recordings.

If you exceed your Microsoft storage, you will not be able to send or receive email in Outlook.com, even if you have not exceeded your email storage quota.

If you exceed your email storage, you will not be able to send or receive email in Outlook.com

Source: https://support.microsoft.com/office/2a261b34-421c-4a47-9901-74ef5bd0c426">https://support.microsoft.com/office/2a261b34-421c-4a47-9901-74ef5bd0c426

https://support.microsoft.com/office/2a261b34-421c-4a47-9901-74ef5bd0c426

Please let me know if you need more assistance.

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Warm Regards