In addition to the disk space on your Surface, you have external storage options like OneDrive (cloud storage), USB drives, and memory cards.
How much space do I have on my Surface?
To see how much drive space you have on your Surface:
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In the taskbar, select File Explorer and select This PC.
The amounts of available free space and total available space are shown. If you're running low on space, the drive will be marked in red.
Notes:
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Pre-installed software and apps use a significant amount of space. To learn how much, see Surface storage.
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On Surface Laptop SE, the drive that Windows SE is installed on doesn’t appear in File Explorer.
OneDrive: Cloud storage
OneDrive is free cloud storage that comes with your Microsoft account. It’s like an extra hard drive that’s available from all your devices. For info on using OneDrive, see Using OneDrive on Surface.
Note: OneDrive syncs files from the cloud to your Surface. Syncing or sending data across a mobile broadband connection could result in extra charges. For more info, see Cellular data for Surface devices with LTE Advanced.
Removable storage options
You can use USB storage or a microSD card of any size with your Surface to store your documents, music, videos, and pictures. Surface works with standard microSD card formats—microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC. If you have a Surface Book, you can also use a full-size SD card.
To see what types of SD cards are compatible with your Surface, see What SD cards are compatible with my Surface?
For the locations of the USB port and microSD or SD card slots on your Surface, see Surface features.
To open files from an external device:
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Insert a USB flash drive or other USB storage device into the USB port, or insert a microSD or SD card into the card slot on your Surface.
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Select the notification that appears in the lower-right corner of the screen.
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Select Open folder to view files.
Use File Explorer on your Surface to browse files and folders on connected devices.
Integrate your file storage with Libraries
Libraries let you browse folders from many locations in one place. For example, you could have documents from several locations on your OneDrive, plus photos and drawings on your Surface, all in one Library. You can even include folders on a connected USB device or microSD card.
Want to create a new library? Here's how:
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In the taskbar, select the File Explorer icon.
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Open your Libraries folder.
If you don't see the folder in the left-side navigation, press and hold (or right-click) an open area in the left-side navigation, then select Show libraries. -
On the ribbon, select New > Library.
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Enter the name of your new library.
Adding folders to a library is easy, too.
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Select a new library in File Explorer.
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Select Include a folder, select the folder you would like to add to the library, then select Include folder.
Note: Libraries are not available on Surface Laptop SE.
Related topics
In addition to the disk space on your Surface, you have external storage options like OneDrive (cloud storage), USB drives, and memory cards.
How much space do I have on my Surface?
To see how much drive space you have on your Surface:
-
In the taskbar, select File Explorer and select This PC.
The amounts of available free space and total available space are shown. If you're running low on space, the drive will be marked in red.
Note: Pre-installed software and apps use a significant amount of space. To learn how much, see Surface storage.
OneDrive: Cloud storage
OneDrive is free cloud storage that comes with your Microsoft account. It’s like an extra hard drive that’s available from all your devices. For info on using OneDrive, see Using OneDrive on Surface.
Note: OneDrive syncs files from the cloud to your Surface. Syncing or sending data across a mobile broadband connection could result in extra charges. For more info, see Cellular data for Surface devices with LTE Advanced.
Removable storage options
You can use USB storage or a microSD card of any size with your Surface to store your documents, music, videos, and pictures. Surface works with standard microSD card formats—microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC. If you have a Surface Book, you can also use a full-size SD card.
To see what types of SD cards are compatible with your Surface, see What SD cards are compatible with my Surface?
For the locations of the USB port and microSD or SD card slots on your Surface, see Surface features.
To open files from an external device:
-
Insert a USB flash drive or other USB storage device into the USB port, or insert a microSD or SD card into the card slot on your Surface.
-
Select the notification that appears in the lower-right corner of the screen.
-
Select Open device to view files or Sync digital media files to this device.
Use File Explorer on your Surface to browse files and folders on connected devices.
Integrate your file storage with Libraries
Libraries let you browse folders from many locations in one place. For example, you could have documents from several locations on your OneDrive, plus photos and drawings on your Surface, all in one Library. You can even include folders on a connected USB device or microSD card.
Want to create a new library? Here's how:
-
In the taskbar, select the File Explorer icon .
-
Open your Libraries folder. If you don't see the folder in the left-side navigation, see Show libraries in File Explorer.
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Press and hold (or right-click) an open area in the contents pane, select New, and then select Library.
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Enter the name of your new library.
Adding folders to a library is easy, too.
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Press and hold (or right-click) a folder in File Explorer.
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Select Include in library, and then select the library you wish to add the folder to.
