How to Check & Fix Disk Over Quota Issues in cPanel
This guide explains how to check disk usage in cPanel and fix “Disk Quota Exceeded” problems. If your hosting account is full, your website, email, backups, or uploads may stop working correctly.
Common Signs of Disk Quota Issues
Email Not Receiving
Mailboxes may stop receiving messages when storage limits are reached.
Website Errors
Your website may fail to upload files, cache content, or generate logs.
Backup Failures
Backups may fail if there is not enough free disk space available.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Login to cPanel
Access your hosting account and open cPanel.
Step 2: Open Disk Usage
Scroll to the Files section and click Disk Usage.
Step 3: Review Large Folders
Check which folders are using the most storage space. Common large folders include:
- mail/
- public_html/
- backup/
- tmp/
- logs/
Click folders to expand them and drill down deeper into subfolders.
On the right-hand side, cPanel displays the size of folders in MB or GB. Follow the largest folders until you identify what is using the most space.
Step 4: Remove Unneeded Files
Delete unnecessary backups, spam emails, old website files, cache files, or large archives that are no longer required.
Step 5: Confirm Free Space
Refresh Disk Usage and confirm your available disk space has increased.
Important
Be careful not to delete important website files, databases, or active email accounts. Always keep a backup before removing files.
WordPress Plugins That May Use Large Amounts of Disk Space
Some WordPress plugins can create large backup files, cache files, logs, or temporary data over time. These files are often stored inside your hosting account and may cause “Disk Quota Exceeded” errors.
Backup Plugins
Backup plugins commonly store multiple full website backups inside your account.
Examples:
- UpdraftPlus
- All-in-One WP Migration
- Duplicator
- BackupBuddy
Check for old backups stored inside:
/public_html/wp-content/
Cache Plugins
Cache plugins can generate large temporary cache folders over time.
Examples:
- LiteSpeed Cache
- WP Rocket
- W3 Total Cache
- WP Super Cache
Cache files are usually safe to clear from the plugin settings.
Security & Log Plugins
Security plugins may generate large log files, scans, or firewall data.
Examples:
- Wordfence
- iThemes Security
- Solid Security
Review scan logs and old reports regularly.
How to Identify Large Folders in cPanel Disk Usage
Expand Folder Paths
In the Disk Usage page, click folder paths to expand and drill down into subfolders.
Check the Right-Hand Size Column
cPanel shows the size of folders on the right-hand side in MB or GB. Large folders are usually easy to spot.
Follow the Largest Folders
Continue expanding the folders using the highest storage until you identify the files or directories using the most space.
Example
public_html/
└── wp-content/
└── updraft/
└── backup-files.zip
If the folder size shows several GB on the right-hand side, old backups may need removing.
Common High Disk Usage Locations
Email Accounts
Large inboxes, spam folders, and sent mail are common causes of quota problems.
Backups
Old backups stored inside the hosting account can quickly fill available disk space.
Cache Files
WordPress cache plugins may generate large temporary files over time.
Error Logs
Large error logs can grow rapidly if a website has recurring problems.
Common Issues & Fixes
Disk Usage Not Updating
Refresh cPanel or wait a few minutes for storage statistics to update.
Email Still Bouncing
Empty the Trash and Spam folders in webmail after deleting emails.
Cannot Delete Files
Check file permissions or remove files using File Manager instead of FTP.
Pro Tips
Download Backups Locally
Store backups on your computer or remote storage instead of inside the hosting account.
Clear Spam Regularly
Empty spam and trash folders regularly to avoid mailbox growth.
Monitor Usage Monthly
Regular checks can help prevent future quota issues before they cause downtime.
