# Inode limit on free hosting **URL:** \ **Category:** Fair Usage Limits\ **Created:** [October 13, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/inode-limit-on-free-hosting/49331 "2020-10-13T22:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Admin](https://forum.infinityfree.com/user_avatar/forum.infinityfree.com/admin/32/36437_2.png) [@Admin](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Admin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/inode-limit-on-free-hosting/49331/1 "2020-10-13T22:00:00Z")
Your control panel shows an inode counter that tracks how many files and folders you have on your hosting account. If you’re seeing high inode usage or approaching the limit, don’t panic. Most websites use many inodes, and this is completely normal. ## Should I be worried about my inode usage? For most websites, high inode usage is expected and not a problem: **Normal usage:** 40-60% of your inode limit is typical for websites with WordPress, plugins, themes, or multiple sites. Large software installations naturally create thousands of files. **Pay attention at 80%:** Once you reach 80% usage, start planning some cleanup to avoid hitting the limit. **Take action at 90%+:** At this point, you should actively work on reducing your file count to prevent problems. ## What happens when I hit the limit? If you reach 100% of your inode limit, you won’t be able to create new files or upload anything to your account. Your existing website will keep working normally for visitors, but you might experience issues with: - Uploading new images or files - Installing plugins or themes - Website updates that need to create temporary files - Any features that require saving new data ## What are inodes exactly? Simply put, every file and folder on your hosting account counts as one inode. This includes your website files, images, plugin files, theme files, and any other documents you’ve uploaded through FTP or the file manager. Databases and emails don’t count toward your inode limit, only the actual files you can see in your file manager. ## How to reduce your inode usage Since inodes are just files and folders, reducing usage means deleting unnecessary files: **Check for old websites:** If you’ve removed domain names from your account, their files might still be there taking up space. Delete folders for any old domains you no longer use. **Clean up unused software:** Remove any plugins, themes, or software you tested but no longer need. Even inactive plugins and themes count toward your limit. **Remove duplicate files:** Look for backup files, old versions, or duplicate uploads you might have created during testing. **Move large file collections:** If you have many images or documents for galleries or downloads, consider using dedicated file hosting services instead. **Split multiple websites:** If you have several domains on one account, you can create separate hosting accounts for some of them. You can have up to 3 free hosting accounts per profile. ## When the counter updates The inode counter in your control panel updates every 8 hours, not in real time. If you just deleted many files and don’t see the number change immediately, wait a few hours for the system to recount your files. ## Summary High inode usage is normal for most websites and not a cause for concern until you reach 80% of your limit. Focus on cleaning up old, unused files rather than worrying about the technical details of how inodes work. ---
**Author:** ![SpookyKipper](https://forum.infinityfree.com/user_avatar/forum.infinityfree.com/spookykipper/32/27461_2.png) [@SpookyKipper](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/SpookyKipper)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2023, 7:31am UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/inode-limit-on-free-hosting/49331/2 "2023-08-05T07:31:10Z")
> [@Admin](#): > > However, [premium hosting](https://infinityfree.net/premium/) doesn’t have an inode limit Some premium plans may have a inode limit, if iFastNet decides to limit you, as stated in their ToS. ![Screenshot_20230805_152931_Vivaldi Browser](https://forum-cdn.infinityfree.net/original/3X/0/d/0d9f199d7010b661f0a1848a7623eb402d079fa5.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![YT\_Xaos](https://forum.infinityfree.com/user_avatar/forum.infinityfree.com/yt_xaos/32/45201_2.png) [@YT\_Xaos](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/YT_Xaos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/inode-limit-on-free-hosting/49331/3 "2024-03-11T12:39:21Z")
2 posts were split to a new topic: [Inodes counter stays the same after deleting files and directories](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/inodes-counter-stays-the-same-after-deleting-files-and-directories/90976) ---
**Author:** ![Jri-Creator](https://forum.infinityfree.com/user_avatar/forum.infinityfree.com/jri-creator/32/65654_2.png) [@Jri-Creator](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/Jri-Creator)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/inode-limit-on-free-hosting/49331/4 "2025-02-19T17:23:00Z")
> [@Admin](#): > > Please note that doing so doesn’t automatically removed the files on that domain. This should be changed to > Please note that doing so doesn’t automatically remove the files on that domain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lovebug](https://forum.infinityfree.com/user_avatar/forum.infinityfree.com/lovebug/32/57624_2.png) [@lovebug](https://forum.infinityfree.com/u/lovebug)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://forum.infinityfree.com/t/inode-limit-on-free-hosting/49331/5 "2025-02-19T22:42:08Z")
I had to read that six times before I spotted the mistake 🤣