Outlook saying I need more storage.

Anonymous
2023-02-17T14:48:45+00:00

Hi there,

I've used a live.com account for years, and have always logged in through my browser to view emails. Today, the page loaded with a thin red notification at the top stating "From February 1, you'll need more storage to send or receive email."

Obviously, for a start, it's 16 days past February 1 which is weird, and my email is all working fine at the moment.

Clicking on "Manage Storage" opens a window, which states that my total used for my Microsoft Storage (things backed up from a laptop I hardly use, didn't even realise that they were being backed up to be honest) is 7.8GB out of a 5GB limit. I tried unsyncing my desktop on said laptop, but all it's done is remove everything from that laptop, which is pretty frustrating as I just wanted to leave the data on there and just free up some space on the Microsoft storage.

Anyway, I'm not overly bothered by that by now, as I'm more worried about my emails not working. Separate to the Microsoft storage, it lists my "Email Storage", which is 7.6GB out of 15GB. Does anyone know why I'm getting notified that I'm in danger of losing my email and pushed to buy a ridiculously expensive price plan?

Thanks in advance

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

165 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2023-04-11T20:19:32+00:00

    Hi VK

    Well done for posting a solution. I'll try it. Microhard relies on the average person's lack of tech knowledge to push their dollar-driven changes to our account, so your post is useful. Unfortunately it doesn't hold Microhard to account, but we'll see.

    All the best, Jonathan

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-04-11T20:14:21+00:00

    Hi Felicia

    So sorry you've had it so bad. Microsoft is a company completely without conscience. Let's hope they are held to account.

    Best wishes, Jonathan.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-04-11T20:10:02+00:00

    Hi Felicia

    What you say is really very interesting and concisely described, because I am having exactly the same experience, as it appears do many others, who are presumably a mere snapshot of the true numbers of Hotmail users who don't post, I think what you say is exactly what is happening. I am looking to see if what they are doing is legal. Certainly it is unethical. The only body that has any chance of holding Microsoft to account is the regulator, and I will be contacting them next week.

    All the best, Jonathan.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-04-10T23:36:57+00:00

    You hit it RIGHT ON THE NOSE!! I've had same email address since 2003. It was so strange how suddenly, I was no longer able to send/receive emails from Outlook since 3/31/23. Said storage full. I panicked, researched like crazy and even deleted 30,000 emails from eons ago. I emptied the trash, recycle bin...you name it, I tried it. Everything I did still didn't reduce the storage. Verizon Tech Support troubleshooted for days and days...they couldn't figure it out. We even checked incoming/outgoing Port settings...uninstalled email, then reinstalled. I even had 2 factory resets done in one week...no luck. I TRIED to contact Microsoft directly from my microsoft acct...no response multiple x's. I was stressed out of my mind. Called a number online that was supposedly Microsoft Tech Support. He sounded so legit. He was "happy to help." Then he wanted to remote access my laptop. He said "see... look at the screen what I found on the scan...people are using your information to buy porn/child porn...and we'll investigate b/c child **** a Federal Crime and you'll need to prove it wasn't you...so log into your bank account so I can show you how smart they are, they hide the charges." He was LYING...as I know he typed that porn **** in there to scare me when he put me on hold. I DID NOT log into my bank acct! I told him I don't remember my bank log in info lol. He tried to tell me to do "forgot user name and p/w. I said I'll do it later lol. He then said "the FBI will be contacting you, b/c you're making excuses." I told him "send the FBI then." SO now I have to PAY $ to take my laptop to an IT shop to see what virus or whatever the Microsoft Tech Support SCAMMER put on my laptop as he was angry that he couldn't get my bank account like he wanted. He would've gotten a WHOPPING $18.12 !! LOL. So fast forward to 4/9/23....I paid the $1.99 to Microsoft just to see what was going to happen. WELL...WELL...NOW, I can send/receive emails again!! So, it said $1.99 +tax will be deducted from my bank account MONTHLY. All those days of unbelievable STRESS!!! So...looks like other email providers are doing the same...CHARGING eventually if not already. I thought about creating another email to forward my emails too. But Microsoft has made all that difficult/impossible just to get that $1.99/mo for the REST OF OUR LIFE...IF we want to keep using email. What an experience!! I did report that Tech Support SCAMMER to the FBI Cybercrime unit. I gave FBI the number I called from online, his FAKE American name...w/ Indian accent AND his personal ph # he called me back on!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-04-07T21:59:16+00:00

    This may help:

    My laptop updated to Windows 11 without my consent. It is a mess with way too many annoying "upgrades". For instance, to rename a photo, you have to right click then right click at the bottom to find rename...

    So I cleaned up my email the other day and storage went down to below 5GB. The next day, storage was over 5G. Seems Microsoft sneakily added a "sync with Onedrive" feature. If you go to Settings>System, you will see "OneDrive" on the top right, just below is "back up files".

    Click on OneDrive and uncheck the 3 boxes. Voila! Storage issue is gone. Somehow, it was storing my computer files (photos, documents, downloads) to a backup file in OneDrive. Be SURE ALL 3 BOXES ARE UNCHECKED before closing the window.

    If you do want to back up your files, you will probably have to pay.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments