Checking disk space and traffic usage in cPanel

Disk usage is stored data; bandwidth is data transferred. A large folder consumes disk space even if nobody visits it, while a small popular download can generate substantial traffic. Use the two measurements separately when investigating an account warning.

What you need before you begin

Note the service’s quota and the time period of the warning. Keep a backup before removing anything. Mail, database files, logs, cached content and old backup archives can all contribute to account usage, sometimes outside the public website folder.

01 Check disk space and traffic usage in cPanel

  1. Open Disk Usage and review the largest listed directories. Expand the directory tree where available to locate the area that grew.
  2. Open the relevant folder in File Manager and identify files by purpose and date. Check mailbox and database usage through their own management tools before deleting raw storage files.
  3. Open Bandwidth under Metrics to inspect recorded transfer by period and protocol. It is not a per-folder disk-space report.
  4. Remove or move only data you have identified as disposable, such as verified old local backup copies. Emptying Trash is permanent, so confirm your independent backup first.
  5. Recheck usage after the server has had time to update its accounting. Record recurring growth so it can be addressed at its source.

Confirm the expected result

Compare both the displayed usage and the application’s ability to upload or write data. If storage remains exhausted, investigate mail queues, database growth or logs with support.

Why can cPanel traffic totals differ from CDN statistics?

Traffic behind a CDN and panel statistics may measure different layers, so totals need not match exactly. Compare the same period and hostname before interpreting the difference. For unexplained spikes, keep dates, affected domains and relevant logs instead of only increasing a quota. Do not delete unknown files in system or mail directories while investigating usage.

Sources and further reading

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  • cpanel-whm, performance
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