WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra – Storage Full Problem (Again)

If your WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra keeps showing a “Storage Full” warning—even when it seems like you’ve deleted files or think you have plenty of space—it’s a frustrating situation. This issue may indicate problems with drive configuration, media cache buildup, recycle bin settings, or improper backups. Here's what might be causing it and how to fix it effectively.

1. Check Actual Storage Usage

Start by logging into the My Cloud dashboard:

Open a browser and go to

Log in with your admin credentials

Go to Storage > Volumes or Storage > Shares

This gives you a breakdown of used vs. free space. Sometimes, what looks like full storage is actually data hidden in:

Recycle bins

Time Machine backups

Media caches

Failed backups or sync loops

2. Empty the Network Recycle Bin

By default, EX2 Ultra may store deleted files in a hidden Recycle Bin, which doesn't free up space until manually cleared:

Go to Shares in the dashboard

For each share, check if Recycle Bin is enabled

If it is, click Empty Recycle Bin

You can also disable the recycle bin completely to automatically free up space when files are deleted.

3. Disable Media Serving for Unused Folders

WD My Cloud creates media thumbnails and DLNA metadata for shared folders with media streaming enabled. These can pile up and consume gigabytes of storage over time.

To fix:

Go to Settings > Media

Disable DLNA Media Server if you don’t use it

Alternatively, disable Media Serving for specific shares under Shares > [Share Name]

This stops the device from generating media cache for photos, videos, and music.

4. Check Time Machine Backups

If you're using Time Machine on macOS, the backup can grow indefinitely, consuming all available storage.

Go to Backups > Time Machine in the dashboard

Limit the size of Time Machine backups

Alternatively, delete old backups from within the Time Machine share

5. Review Active Backups and Sync Jobs

In some cases, repeated sync or backup jobs may be duplicating files endlessly:

Check Apps > WD Sync, rsync, or remote backup tasks

Stop and review any jobs running too frequently or backing up to the wrong destination

Check for looping syncs where the EX2 Ultra is backing up to itself or to another full device

6. RAID Configuration May Be Misleading

If you're using RAID 1, your usable capacity is only half the total drive space, since data is mirrored. For example:

2 x 4TB drives in RAID 1 = only 4TB usable

Check your current RAID setup under Storage > RAID

7. SSH Access for Advanced Cleanup (Optional)

If you're comfortable with Linux:

Enable SSH in the settings

SSH into the EX2 Ultra:

Clear unnecessary logs, temp files, or manually delete old data

Warning: Be careful—deleting system files can break the OS.

Conclusion

The “Storage Full” error on the WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra can be caused by hidden files, excessive backups, media server caches, or confusing RAID setups. Regularly checking recycle bins, limiting backup sizes, and disabling unneeded features can prevent recurring issues. With good maintenance, you can keep your storage under control and avoid future surprises.