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Computer is Out of Memory I need to Move Files to External Drive

Julliann Lash 0 Reputation points
2026-03-12T06:29:49.73+00:00

I have many photos and documents on my PC. I would like to transfer them to an external drive. They are also in OneDrive. How do I do this?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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  1. Quinn.HP 7,950 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-12T07:22:38.8866667+00:00

    Hello, I'm Quinn and here to help!

    The most straightforward solution is to copy the files to your external drive:

    1. Connect the external drive to the computer.
    2. Open File Explorer.
    3. Open the OneDrive folder or the Pictures/Documents folders where your photos and documents are stored.
    4. Select the photos or documents you want to move (you can press Ctrl + A to select all).
    5. Right-click and choose Copy, or press Ctrl + C.
    6. Open the external drive in File Explorer, then click inside the drive so it is selected.
    7. Right-click and choose Paste, or press Ctrl + V.

    If you have many files, the transfer may take some time. After the transfer is complete, make sure the files are on the external drive. Once confirmed, you can free up space on your PC if needed, and you will also have a backup of your files.

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  2. Craig Long 17,705 Reputation points
    2026-03-12T07:34:52.1466667+00:00

    If you want to keep the files in your OneDrive at onedrive.com, use the Files On-Demand feature to free up space on your computer. If you remove files from your OneDrive folder, those same files will be deleted online.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzIA9uykIhE&t=43s

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