Running out of SharePoint storage? Before you buy more, there are smarter ways to increase available space. Here’s how to expand your capacity without overspending.
Method 1: Clean up inactive sites and files
Many organizations have SharePoint sites that haven’t been accessed in months - or even years. These sites still consume storage, even if they’re no longer in use.
Use tools like SProbot to:
🧹 Tip: Archiving old sites can free up gigabytes of storage instantly
Method 2: Trim document version history
SharePoint stores multiple versions of each document by default - sometimes up to 500 versions.
To reduce storage usage:
- Limit version retention to 50 or fewer
- Apply versioning policies across libraries
- Use SProbot to identify version-heavy files
This simple change can significantly reduce your storage footprint.
Method 3: Delete large unused files
Oversized files often go unnoticed. Run reports to find:
- Files over 100 MB
- Files not accessed in the last 6–12 months
- Duplicate or test files
Final action: Purchase additional storage
If cleanup isn’t enough, you can buy more storage:
But always optimize first - many organizations reclaim 20–40% of their space with basic cleanup.
🔗 Related reading: Proven ways to reclaim SharePoint storage
Conclusion
Increasing SharePoint storage doesn’t have to mean spending more. With smart cleanup and archiving, you can expand your available space and keep costs down.
