Resolve Low Disk Space

This article helps you resolve the message Your Computer Is Low On Disk Space.

By default, Backblaze backs up individual files to an unlimited size. You can reduce this size in your Backblaze settings. If your system hard drive has free space that is less than 1.1 times the size of the largest file that is scheduled to be backed up, Backblaze does not back up that file and sends an alert to the user. To enable these files to be backed up, free up enough space on your computer for 1.1 times the size of your largest, single file.

For example, if you want to back up a 10 GB video file, the file is copied in 10 MB chunks to a temporary Backblaze folder (that is 1 times the space of the file). Each chunk is checksummed (fingerprinted), packaged, and prepared for transfer (that is up to 0.1 times the space of the original file but typically less). Then, each chunk is transmitted and after all of the pieces are transmitted and confirmation is received from the servers, the chunks are deleted from the temporary Backblaze folder and the next file is processed.

Alternatively, a temporary data drive is available in the Backblaze settings. If you have a secondary drive with more free space than your boot drive, you can set Backblaze to write to that drive rather than your boot drive.