# Exceeding mailbox storage quotas

> Fix bounces and sync errors caused by a full mailbox by raising its quota or clearing out old mail in cPanel.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/cpanel-email/exceeding-mailbox-storage-quotas/

Each e‑mail account in cPanel has a **storage quota** that limits how much disk space it can use. When a mailbox exceeds its quota, new messages may bounce back to senders or fail to deliver.

## Symptoms of Exceeding Quotas

- Senders receive a **bounce message**:

  ```
  Mailbox quota exceeded
  ```
- You cannot send or receive new messages.
- Webmail shows warnings about storage limits.
- Mail client (Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail) may fail to sync.

## Resolving Quota Issues

### 1. Increase the Quota

1. Log in to **cPanel**.
2. Go to **Email → Email Accounts**.
3. Locate the account → click **Manage**.
4. Under **Storage**, increase the quota or set to **Unlimited**.
5. Click **Update Email Settings**.

### 2. Clean Up Mailbox

1. Log in to **cPanel → Email Disk Usage**.
2. Select the account.
3. Identify folders consuming the most space (Inbox, Sent, Trash, Junk).
4. Use filters to delete:

   - Messages older than 1 year.
   - Messages larger than 30 MB.
   - All messages in Trash/Junk.
5. Click **Delete Permanently**.

### 3. Use Mail Client Rules

- Configure Outlook/Thunderbird to **auto‑archive old mail**.
- Set rules to move large attachments to local folders.
- Regularly empty Trash and Junk folders.

### 4. Backup and Remove Old Mail

- Export important messages to a local archive (PST for Outlook, MBOX for Thunderbird).
- Delete them from the server to free space.

##

> **Note:**
- Quotas are per account, not per domain.
- Deleting messages is **permanent,**always back up first.
- If you set quota to **Unlimited**, ensure your hosting plan has enough disk space overall.