Global Cloud Storage is Full

April 1, 2025 — by Per Christensson

If you're having trouble saving files to the cloud today, you're not the only one. Users across the globe are reporting "Cloud Storage Full" errors before reaching their storage quotas. Services like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive still allow people to download data, but uploading files is no longer possible.

The worldwide phenomenon can only mean one thing — the cloud has reached its maximum storage capacity. Computer scientists, who for years told us the cloud provided limitless storage, are miffed at the sudden limitation. Analysts, consultants, and other "experts" are also surprised.

"We just assumed the cloud's storage capacity would continue to increase forever," said Professor Hank D. Darius of Data Stream University. "After all, it's just a cloud floating in the sky. Why can't it just keep growing?"

Superintendent Sara S. Donaldson's remarks were more pragmatic. "I guess moving all our school curriculum to the cloud wasn't a good idea after all. Now, we can't teach our pupils anything new."

Students also voiced their concern over the global storage crisis. "I feel kind of bad uploading so many photos and videos to the cloud," said Freshman D.V. Diskin. "Especially since most of them were of my cats not really doing anything."

Sophomore C.D. Romano was also penitent. "I kept meaning to go through my photos and delete the ones I don't need, but I just never got around to it."

Researchers have determined the byte that broke the hard drive's back was World Backup Day on March 31. The reminders for users to back up their data were highly effective, and people wisely backed up their files online. But this noble effort used up the remaining free space in the cloud, and now no more online storage is available.

As of April 1, 2025, the cloud is full. You can delete files to help free up space, but if you want to save data to the cloud, you'll be added to the upload queue, which is already 4.1 zettabytes long. With uploads far exceeding deletions, it will be 17 years before you can upload your next file.

Happy April Fools' Day, and thank goodness for unlimited storage.