Do you like to separate your personal and work data? Do you backup your important files on multiple OneDrive accounts? If so, you might have often run across the low storage issue.
We understand how inconvenient it can be when you wish to upload some files but the upload process cannot be completed. It’s especially troublesome if you’re in the middle of an important project or a meeting.
So how do you free-up some storage without deleting any files or upgrading your account? There are several ways. One of the most important methods is to transfer some files from one OneDrive account to another.
Does Microsoft Allow Multiple OneDrive Accounts?
First things first, does Microsoft really allow multiple accounts?
According to OneDrive’s terms and conditions, you can create a personal and school or work account. Both these accounts are intended for different purposes. They could be used on a single machine. OneDrive users must comply with Microsoft’s terms and conditions to avoid suspension of their accounts.
Does OneDrive offer an in-house File Transfer Functionality?
OneDrive has no in-house functionality to transfer files from one account to another. This is why most people are hesitant to transfer their files.
Manually transferring files requires downloading all files, extracting them from an archive, and re-uploading them. As you can see, it’s a difficult and time-consuming task. Also, some files could be lost during the manual transfer.
Method 1: Automatically Move Files from OneDrive to OneDrive
Now, let us take a look at the easier method. You can use a cloud-based solution Easy Cloud Manager to automate onedrive to onedrive file transfer. It’s fast, simple and automated.
- Visit the web-based app Easy Cloud Manager and create a new account.
- Click on Add New Drive in the Home tab.
- Select OneDrive, click on Add New Drive.
- Sign-in to your OneDrive account and provide the required file access permissions.
- Click on Add New Drive icon again.
- Select the OneDrive option, and click on Add New Drive.
- Sign-in to your secondary OneDrive account you want to add.
- Provide the needed file access permissions.
- After adding both of your accounts, click on the Operations tab.
- Click on the Select Source button under the Data Transfer tab.
- Select the OneDrive account from where you want to transfer your data.
- Click on Load Drive.
- Similarly, click on Select Target and add your destination OneDrive account where you want to move the stuff.
- Use the checkboxes in the Source and Target accounts to specify which folders to transfer and where.
- Optional: Do you wish to filter files by their sizes or types?
ECM gives the options to exclude files above/ below specific size.
Similarly, you can move only documents, archives, music, videos, images, instead of all files. Other date-relevant options let you ignore files older than/ newer than a specific date.
- Finally, click on Transfer Now. Or, if you wish to schedule the transfer for a later time, click on Schedule Task.
Method 2: Using OneDrive Syncing App
There is yet another less-known method. It’s free, simple and secure.
- Fire up your web browser.
- Sign-in to the source OneDrive account from where you want to transfer your files.
- Click on the My Files section.
- Select the files you want to transfer.
- Click on the Download icon.
- While your files are being downloaded, open the OneDrive app already installed on your Windows 10/ 11 operating system.
- Sign-in to the destination OneDrive account where you want to store the transferred files.
- Open File Explorer.
- Click on the OneDrive icon on the left side panel.
- Open the folder where you want to store the transferred files.
- Drag and drop the files you just downloaded from your source OneDrive account to this folder.
- Your files will be available on the target account after OneDrive has finished syncing them. This may take some time.
Other Alternatives
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of transferring a large number of files from a OneDrive account to another, there are other ways as well.
- Delete duplicate files: Duplicate files are one of the key reasons why you run low on cloud storage. A web-based tool Cloud Duplicate Finder can be a great help to identify and remove OneDrive duplicate documents, photos, videos, music, and archives.
- Delete unnecessary files: Delete the files you don’t need. This will make room for new files. Unfortunately, deciding which files to keep and which ones to delete can often be a difficult and time-consuming task.
- Compress files to reduce size: If you’ve many large files on your OneDrive account, download them all to your PC. Use the free 7-Zip File Manager to compress your files, and reupload them again. Obviously, this will take longer as well.
Stop syncing User Files: By default, Windows 10 and Windows 11 automatically sync your Documents, Photos and Screenshots directories. Over time, these files can take up your storage. Open the OneDrive Settings and stop syncing your User files. Don’t worry, no data will be lost. Your files will be stored only locally.