Keep your existing files safe before changing storage. A 1 KB meter can reflect a Space with no free upload quota; the allowance and purchase offer shown for that Space determine your next step.
If CapCut Web shows only 1 KB of cloud storage, the clearest explanation right now is that the Space has 0 GB of free upload quota and the interface is showing 1 KB as a minimal system placeholder. There's no useful 1 KB storage plan behind that number. CapCut says the policy applies to newly created cloud Spaces and blocks new uploads unless capacity becomes available.
Do this first: don't delete anything to "reset" the meter. Check that your older files still open, back up anything important locally, and then look at the Space owner, the subscription and the purchase page.
What the 1 KB number means
On March 25, 2026, CapCut published two Help pages describing the same policy change. Newly created cloud Spaces now get a free quota of 0 GB. One page says the UI can show that state with a minimal placeholder such as 1 KB. The other says a new Space has no free upload capacity by default.
That distinction matters. The meter shows an entitlement state. It isn't telling you that a normal video project should fit into 1 KB. With no available quota in the Space, compressing a clip, renaming a file or restarting the browser won't turn the placeholder into usable cloud capacity.
Don't compare a newly created free Space with a paid Space or a post-subscription account as though they share the same entitlement. CapCut has separate documentation for subscription, account-type, platform and region limits on storage expansion. Treat the number inside the signed-in Space as evidence for that Space only.
Are existing CapCut cloud files deleted?
CapCut's help page on the free cloud storage quota says the change doesn't delete files uploaded before the quota adjustment. You should still be able to view and download existing content. New uploads, though, can be blocked once usage exceeds the available quota.
I'd still keep "CapCut says the files remain" apart from "the cloud is a backup." The official Terms, updated April 15, 2026, say the service doesn't guarantee permanent availability of user content, and they tell users to keep backups. Within the time limit notified in advance, subscribers are also told to transfer and back up cloud content before their paid service expires and to keep stored content within their entitled capacity.
- Open the correct Space and confirm which files are visible.
- Use the available download or project-copy routes to preserve irreplaceable projects, original media and exports on storage you control. A finished video export is not a backup of the editable project.
- Open the downloaded files and confirm they are usable before deleting any cloud copy.
- Record which login method and Space owner hold the cloud content.
For a fuller routine to protect your projects, see the CapCut project safety guide. Cloud sync is convenient, but it shouldn't be the only copy of a project you can't recreate.
Why some CapCut pages still mention 1 GB
CapCut's Help Center describes two different account states. The March 25 pages say newly created Spaces get 0 GB and may show a 1 KB placeholder. A separate page dated March 31, 2026 covers what happens when a Pro subscription expires: the user can continue on a 1 GB free tier and keep uploading while stored data stays below that limit.
The 0 GB guidance is about newly created Spaces. The 1 GB guidance is about access after a Pro subscription expires. Because they cover different situations, the figures alone don't prove a contradiction. The public pages don't establish a universal free allowance for both states, either. I wouldn't promise every free account 1 GB, or let the 1 GB sentence override a signed-in Space that currently shows 1 KB.
CapCut’s free cloud storage landing page also advertises 1 GB and uses “unlimited” language, without resolving the new-Space quota described in Help. A general marketing promise does not confirm that your account can upload; check that Space’s allowance and the exact offer before paying.
Working rule: go by the quota shown in that specific Space and the current purchase page for that account. When those screens don't match your billing or an active subscription, keep the files safe and contact CapCut Support with the account, Space and receipt details.
A safe diagnosis sequence
1. Check the correct account and Space
Cloud content belongs to an account, so start there. On Desktop, CapCut says to open Spaces in the left sidebar and check the login method, especially if you've used email, Google or TikTok sign-in at different times. A missing project and a 1 KB quota can each be a sign that you're in the wrong account or Space.
2. Separate file access from upload capacity
Before any cleanup, open the list of existing files. If you can see old files but a new upload is blocked, that fits CapCut's current 0 GB policy description. If the Space itself won't load, save whatever work you can still reach and make sure you can sign back in with the correct login method. Keep the last working session open until those copies and your account access are secure. CapCut recommends checking the connection, updating Desktop, restarting and signing back in. Only use those interruption steps after you've protected the work you can still access.
3. Check the owner and role
In a Team Space, CapCut says only the owner can expand storage. A member may be able to work with shared assets and still never see the purchase control. Team settings are managed primarily on CapCut Online; Desktop and Mobile give you a smaller set of team controls.
4. Check the platform
According to CapCut's March 25 storage guidance, you can buy additional storage on Web and Desktop, but Mobile doesn't currently support that purchase flow. On Web, look for the upgrade option while you're signed into the Space. On Desktop, open Space and check which plan controls are available. Don't expect Mobile to show the same menu.
5. Check subscription state before buying again
CapCut's help page on add-on storage says the extra 100 GB and 1,000 GB storage packages depend on an active Pro or Teams subscription and don't work on their own. If capacity you paid for disappears, check the underlying subscription and billing state first. Buying another add-on before the base plan is sorted out can leave you with a second billing question and still no access.
What CapCut currently says about paid storage
CapCut's Space expansion guidance describes 100 GB with Pro and 1,000 GB of shared Team storage, plus additional 100 GB or 1,000 GB packages. Its Standard and Pro comparison, on the other hand, advertises up to 1 TB for Pro. Neither page tells you which allowance your purchase includes. Check the named plan and storage allowance in your signed-in checkout, and don't buy assuming every Pro subscription includes 1 TB.
| Situation | What to check | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| New Space shows 1 KB | Whether the signed-in Space has 0 GB available | Back up existing files, then inspect current upgrade options |
| Old files visible, upload blocked | Current usage versus available quota | Preserve files; add capacity or clear space only after backup |
| Team member cannot upgrade | Who owns the Team Space | Ask the owner to review storage on CapCut Online |
| Mobile has no purchase button | Web or Desktop with the same account | Use a supported purchase surface |
| Paid add-on stopped working | Active Pro or Teams subscription and billing | Resolve the base subscription before another purchase |
If you're really deciding which plan is worth paying for, compare the current checkout offer with the CapCut Free vs Pro guide. For team ownership and shared assets, the CapCut for business guide covers the wider context.
What not to do
- Do not delete cloud projects before a verified backup. A quota display is not a reason to remove the only copy.
- Do not assume 1 KB is a cache bug. CapCut explicitly documents it as a possible placeholder for 0 GB.
- Do not promise a universal 1 GB free tier. The cited pages address different account states and do not establish the allowance for every free Space.
- Do not ask a Team member to find an owner-only control. Confirm the Space role first.
- Do not buy storage from a mismatched login. Verify the account and Space before payment.
When to contact CapCut Support
Reach out to Support when the quota on screen doesn't match an active subscription, when paid storage disappears before the base plan should end, when you can't view or download existing files, or when the owner can't see a storage option the purchase page promises for that account.
Put together a short evidence set: platform and app version, region, login method (never the password), Space name with personal details redacted, owner/member role, subscription status, receipt identifier, current quota display and the exact error. Keep account screenshots private. A public troubleshooting post rarely needs an email address, avatar, project title or billing reference.
Keep the last working session open until your copies and sign-in access are secure. If an active paid plan does not match the Space meter, ask Support to reconcile that account and Space before buying storage again.