Error 0x80070718: Not Enough Quota to Process Command

Error 0x80070718, which reads “Not enough quota is available to process this command,” is a Windows error that usually appears when copying, moving, or saving files, and it means the system or the target drive has hit a resource limit. The fix depends on what exactly is exhausted: disk space, memory, or a hidden Windows limit called “quota.” This article explains what causes the error, how to diagnose it, and the step-by-step fixes that work in most cases.

What Does “Quota” Mean in This Error?

In Windows, “quota” can refer to two different things. The first is disk quota, a feature that limits how much space a user can use on a volume. If an administrator has enabled quotas, you might see this error when you exceed your allotted space, even if the drive itself has plenty of free space. The second meaning is system resource quota, which includes memory, kernel objects, or file handles. The error code 0x80070718 is actually a system error (ERROR_NOT_ENOUGH_QUOTA) that Windows uses when a process runs out of these resources, not just disk space.

In practice, the error appears most often in these scenarios:

• Copying large files or many files at once to a USB drive, network share, or external hard drive.
• Running a program that creates temporary files, like an installer or a video editor.
• Using a virtual machine or a memory-intensive application that exhausts the system’s paged pool.
• Accessing a network drive with strict quota settings.

So the first step is to figure out which type of quota is causing the problem. The fixes are different for each.

Check Disk Space and Disk Quotas First

Start with the simplest possibility: the destination drive is full. Even if you think you have space, check the actual free space on the target drive. Right-click the drive in File Explorer and select Properties. If the free space is low (less than a few gigabytes for large files), that’s likely the issue.

If the drive has plenty of free space, check whether disk quotas are enabled. Open an elevated Command Prompt (search for “cmd”, right-click, and select “Run as administrator”) and run:

fsutil quota query C:

Replace C: with the letter of the drive you’re writing to. If quotas are enabled, you’ll see a list of users and their limits. If your user has a limit and you’ve hit it, you’ll need to either free up space in your quota or ask the administrator to increase the limit. On a home computer, quotas are usually off by default, so this is less common but still worth checking.

Free Up System Memory and Paged Pool

If disk quotas are not the issue, the error likely points to a shortage of system memory or the paged pool. The paged pool is a region of memory that Windows uses for kernel objects, like file handles and network buffers. When it runs out, operations like copying files can fail with this exact error.

To free up memory and paged pool:

1. Close unnecessary programs, especially memory-hungry ones like browsers with many tabs, video editors, or virtual machines.
2. Restart the computer. This clears the paged pool and resets all resource counters.
3. Check if the problem only happens with a specific application. If so, update or reinstall that application.
4. If the error occurs during a large file copy, try copying in smaller batches or use a tool like robocopy with the /J flag, which uses unbuffered I/O and reduces memory pressure.

If the error keeps happening after a restart, the paged pool might be too small. In older versions of Windows, you could adjust the paged pool size in the registry, but in modern Windows (10 and 11), the system manages this automatically. A persistently low paged pool can indicate a driver leak. Update your storage and network drivers from the manufacturer’s website, not just via Windows Update.

Check the Target File System and Format

Another common cause is the file system on the destination drive. If the target is a USB drive or SD card formatted as FAT32, it has a maximum file size of 4 GB. Copying a file larger than that will fail, and the error might not be the usual “file too large” message but could be this quota error in some cases. Check the file system by right-clicking the drive, selecting Properties, and looking at the “File system” line. If it says FAT32 and you’re copying a file over 4 GB, you need to reformat the drive to NTFS or exFAT (if the drive is used with other devices, exFAT is a good choice).

Also, if the destination is a network share, the server might have its own quotas or limits. Check with the network administrator or try copying to a local drive to see if the error persists.

Run Windows Built-in Troubleshooters and Checks

If the error is random and not tied to a specific drive, it might be due to corrupted system files or a failing disk. Run the System File Checker and the Disk Check tool:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt.
2. Run sfc /scannow and wait for it to finish.
3. If that finds no issues, run chkdsk C: /f (replace C: with the affected drive). You may need to restart to let it run.

These tools repair system file corruption and disk errors that can cause resource allocation failures. If the error occurs on a specific external drive, run chkdsk on that drive as well.

Advanced Fixes: Registry and Group Policy

In rare cases, the error is caused by a specific registry setting or a Group Policy that limits the number of user sessions or the size of the desktop heap. The desktop heap is a memory area for GUI elements; if it’s exhausted, you might see this error when opening or saving files in certain applications.

To increase the desktop heap, you can edit the registry, but this is risky and should be done with caution. The relevant key is:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\SubSystems

Look for the Windows value and increase the SharedSection parameter, specifically the third number (e.g., from 1024 to 2048). This is an advanced fix and should only be attempted if you’re comfortable with registry editing. Always back up the registry first.

If the computer is on a domain, a Group Policy might be limiting the number of concurrent sessions or the amount of memory per process. Contact your IT administrator to check the relevant policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this error mean my hard drive is failing?

Not necessarily. The error is often related to memory or quotas, not physical disk health. However, if you also see other signs like slow performance, unusual noises, or frequent freezes, run a disk health check with a tool like CrystalDiskInfo or the built-in wmic diskdrive get status command.

Can I ignore this error and continue working?

You can, but the operation that triggered it (like a file copy) will fail. If you ignore it, you might end up with incomplete files or data loss. It’s best to resolve the underlying cause before continuing.

Why does this error happen when I copy files to a USB drive?

USB drives often have FAT32 file systems, which have a 4 GB file size limit. Also, some USB drives have slow controllers that can cause timeouts, which might trigger a quota error. Try reformatting to exFAT or NTFS and see if the error goes away.

Is there a way to increase the paged pool size in Windows 10/11?

In modern Windows, the paged pool is dynamically managed by the system, and you cannot directly set its size. If you’re running out, it’s usually due to a driver leak. Update your drivers or use the Driver Verifier tool to identify the problematic driver.

What if the error appears when I start a game or a heavy application?

That suggests the application is trying to allocate more memory or resources than the system can provide. Close other programs, update the application, and check that your system meets the minimum requirements. If it still fails, the application might have a memory leak; check for updates or patches.

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