How to boost your free Microsoft OneDrive storage back up to 15GB

Last year, Microsoft announced plans to drop the free OneDrive storage amount from 15GB down to 5GB, and also discontinue the 15GB camera roll bonus.

Earlier this week we learned that the software giant will be putting this plan into action from July, which means if you’re currently using more than 5GB of storage you will either have to remove some files to get under the new limit, or upgrade to a paid plan. But hold on a minute. Before you do either, there is a third option which you can use to keep your free storage at 15GB.

SEE ALSO: Free Microsoft OneDrive storage will be slashed to just 5GB in July -- here's what you need to know

The trick is to make use of OneDrive referrals. Like Dropbox, and other similar services, OneDrive rewards you with bonus storage if you recommend friends to use it.

For each friend who signs into OneDrive as a new customer both you and they will receive 500MB of bonus storage, up to a maximum of 10GB -- in other words, you can claw your way back up to the 15GB limit using this method.

It’s very easy to do. Just open your Manage Storage page in OneDrive (https://onedrive.live.com/?v=managestorage) and click on Earn more next to Referral Bonus. You can invite friends directly through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Sina Weibo, or via any other method you like, including email, by copying the unique link.

Photo Credit: murielbuzz/Shutterstock