Upload and check a file in Proton Drive Free

A file appearing in a cloud folder is only the first check. Upload a harmless practice file, open it, then download it and compare the contents before relying on the copy.

This example uses the Drive web app on Free. Keep the original on your computer.

A Free signup alone does not earn us a commission. We may earn one on qualifying paid Proton subscriptions through our link.

1. Prepare a small test file

1. Use a plain-text editor to create practice-plan.txt.
2. Enter: Fictional practice plan. Task: compare two garden layouts. Status: first draft.
3. Save it somewhere you can find again.

2. Upload into a named folder

1. Open Proton Drive (opens in a new tab).
2. Check the storage meter. Free starts with 2 GB. New accounts can unlock 5 GB by completing the optional welcome steps (opens in a new tab) within their first 30 days. Use the allowance your account shows.
3. Click New folder, name it Practice files, then Create.
4. Open the folder. Click Upload file, choose practice-plan.txt and wait for the transfer to finish.

3. Verify the copy

1. Double-click practice-plan.txt and check the text in the preview.
2. Click Download. Open the downloaded file in your text editor.
3. Compare it with the original. Both should say two garden layouts and first draft.

Enlarge image

Proton Drive preview of a fictional first draft

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If the file is missing or wrong

Check the folder path and transfer status. Keep your local original and upload the correct file. For duplicate names, read the replace, keep-both and skip choices before continuing.

If an upload will not fit

1. Compare the file size with the unused storage your account shows. Proton's Drive FAQ (opens in a new tab) says available storage is the upload-size limit. Your plan's total allowance is not the space you have left.
2. Check Trash. Proton says files in Trash still count toward storage (opens in a new tab), so moving a file there does not free that space. If you moved a file you need, restore it from Drive Trash.
3. If you have already permanently deleted unwanted files, Proton's FAQ says storage can take up to three hours to clear. If it has not cleared after that, use the Customer Support link in the FAQ.

Keep your local original. If the account has no room, pause the practice rather than delete files you still need.

To try uploading and checking a harmless file, start with Proton Drive Free (opens in a new tab). Keep the original and compare the downloaded copy before relying on the upload.

Sources: Web uploads and downloads (opens in a new tab); Folders (opens in a new tab).