Storage Limits
Show how much storage is used and by what, and handle a full quota without blocking work or deleting anything.
5 states4 edge casesDesktop + Mobile
01The problem
Storage fills up gradually and then suddenly blocks an upload at the worst moment. Users don't know what's using the space, so they can't free it. The usual “Storage full — upgrade” message offers one option and treats a cleanup problem as a billing problem.
02When to use
Use when
- Products with plan-based storage quotas
- File-heavy workspaces: documents, media, attachments
Avoid when
- Storage is effectively unlimited for real users — don't show a meter that never matters.
03Recommended UX
Statecraft recommendation
Show storage as used of limit with a breakdown by type and largest items, warn admins at 80%, and when the quota is reached, block only new uploads — never existing files — with a message that offers both cleanup and upgrade.
04Desktop behaviour
On desktop, the storage page shows the meter, a breakdown by type and a sortable list of the largest files with bulk delete.
Desktop rules
- Meter: “41.2 of 50 GB used”, with a stacked breakdown by type.
- Largest files list with owner, location and size; select to delete or move to trash.
- Trash counts toward storage until emptied — say so and offer Empty trash.
- Upload errors at the limit link straight to this page.
05Mobile behaviour
On mobile, show the meter and the upload block clearly; deep cleanup is easier on desktop.
Mobile rules
3 mobile rules are included in Pro.
Statecraft Pro
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- Interaction flow · 5 steps
- 3 mobile rules
- 5 states
- 4 edge cases with recommendations
- 4 microcopy comparisons
- Accessibility notes
- Developer notes
- Claude Code / Codex implementation prompt
Edge cases covered in this pattern
- Upload in progress when the limit is reached
- Trash counts toward storage
- Member hits the limit
- Downgrade below usage