Free Up Disk Space on Windows 10 to Improve PC Performance

Running out of disk space on your Windows 10 PC can be more than just an inconvenience; it can significantly impact your system’s ability to install crucial updates and even slow down its overall performance. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to reclaim storage space, ensuring your computer remains up-to-date and operates smoothly. This guide will walk you through a series of recommendations, starting with the simplest solutions, to help you free up disk space on your Windows 10 device.

To begin, it’s essential to know how much disk space you currently have available. To check this, open File Explorer from your taskbar, and then click on This PC located in the left-hand menu. You’ll find the available space displayed under Devices and drives, giving you a clear picture of your current storage situation.

Alt text: File Explorer showing ‘This PC’ view with disk space details for Windows 10.

Note: If, after trying these steps, you still encounter issues updating Windows due to insufficient disk space, consider more advanced options like resetting or reinstalling Windows. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this in the Reinstall Windows guide.

Utilizing Cleanup Recommendations to Free Up Space

If you’ve previously used disk cleanup tools and are still facing low disk space warnings, it might be due to your Temp folder rapidly filling up with application (.appx) files from the Microsoft Store. To resolve this, you’ll need to reset the Microsoft Store, clear its cache, and run the Windows Update troubleshooter. Here’s how:

1. Reset Microsoft Store: Click Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Select Windows Store Apps from the list, and then click Run the troubleshooter. This will automatically diagnose and attempt to fix any issues with the Microsoft Store app.

   Alt text: Navigating to the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter in Windows 10 settings.

2. Clear Microsoft Store Cache: Press the Windows Logo Key + R simultaneously to open the Run dialog box. Type wsreset.exe and press OK. A blank Command Prompt window will briefly appear and then close automatically, after which the Microsoft Store app will open. This process clears the cache, which can often resolve storage-related issues.

   Alt text: Run dialog box in Windows 10 with ‘wsreset.exe’ command entered to clear Microsoft Store cache.

3. Reset Windows Update: Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Scroll down and select Windows Update from the list, then click Run the troubleshooter. This tool will help identify and fix common problems that prevent Windows updates from installing correctly, which can sometimes be related to disk space issues.

   Alt text: Accessing the Windows Update troubleshooter within Windows 10 Update & Security settings.

4. Restart Your Computer: After completing these steps, restart your computer to ensure all changes are properly applied. Check if the low disk space issue persists.

Leverage Storage Sense for Automatic Space Management

Storage Sense is a built-in Windows 10 feature designed to automatically free up disk space. It intelligently removes unnecessary files like temporary files and contents of your Recycle Bin, ensuring your storage is optimized without manual intervention.

For detailed information on how to configure and use Storage Sense, refer to the comprehensive guide on managing drive space with Storage Sense.

Using Disk Cleanup for Manual File Removal

If you prefer a more hands-on approach or if your system doesn’t support Storage Sense, the Disk Cleanup tool provides a manual way to remove temporary files and system files.

1. Open Disk Cleanup: In the search bar on your taskbar, type disk cleanup, and select it from the search results.

   Alt text: Disk Cleanup tool highlighted in Windows 10 search results.

2. Select Drive: Choose the drive you want to clean up and click OK.

   Alt text: Disk Cleanup prompt asking to select the drive to be cleaned.

3. Choose Files to Delete: Select the checkboxes next to the types of files you wish to delete. For descriptions of each file type, select its name. By default, Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, and Thumbnails are pre-selected. Uncheck these if you want to retain these files.

   Alt text: Disk Cleanup interface showing various file types selectable for deletion.

4. Clean Up System Files: To further maximize space, click Clean up system files. Select the drive again if prompted, and click OK. After system calculations, choose additional system file types to delete. Disk Cleanup will then calculate the total space that can be freed.

   Alt text: ‘Clean up system files’ button in Disk Cleanup for advanced cleaning options.

   Note: If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10 (within the last 10 days), your previous Windows version will appear as a system file for deletion. Deleting this will remove the Windows.old folder, preventing you from reverting to the previous version. This action is irreversible.

5. Confirm Cleanup: After selecting file types, click OK, and then Delete files in the confirmation window to initiate the cleanup process.

Important Considerations:

• You can also compress your OS drive (usually drive C) to gain additional space for updates without deleting files. To do this, open File Explorer, go to This PC, right-click your OS drive, select Properties, and under the General tab, check Compress this drive to save disk space. Click Apply > OK. You can decompress the drive later by unchecking this option.

Utilizing External Storage for Updates and File Storage

Windows may sometimes require additional space for major feature updates. In such cases, using an external storage device can be a convenient solution.

For more information on using external storage to facilitate Windows updates, see Get more space with external storage.

Managing Personal Files: Videos, Music, Photos, and Documents

Personal files often consume significant disk space. Identifying and managing these files can free up considerable storage.

1. Open File Explorer: Launch File Explorer from the taskbar.

2. Navigate to Personal Folders: Under This PC, explore folders like Videos, Music, Pictures, and Downloads, as these typically contain the largest files.

3. View File Sizes: To see file sizes, click the View tab, then select Details. Right-click in the open space, then select Sort by > Size to list largest files first.

   Alt text: File Explorer showing files sorted by size in details view to identify large files.

4. Delete or Move Files: Delete files you no longer need or move important but infrequently used files to an external storage device like a USB drive or SD card.

   Note: Remember to empty the Recycle Bin after deleting files to permanently remove them and free up space.

Moving Files to External Storage

For files you want to keep but don’t access frequently, moving them to an external drive is an effective space-saving strategy.

1. Connect External Storage: Connect a USB drive or SD card to your PC.

2. Open File Explorer: Open File Explorer and locate the files you want to move.

3. Cut and Paste Files: Select the files, click the Home tab, then Move to and Choose location. Select your external drive and click Move.

   Alt text: ‘Move to’ option highlighted in the Home tab of File Explorer for transferring files.

Saving New Files to a Different Drive

To prevent future low disk space issues, configure Windows 10 to save new files to a drive with more free space.

1. Access Storage Settings: Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.

2. Change Save Locations: Scroll down and under More storage settings, select Change where new content is saved.

3. Select New Save Drives: For each content type, choose a drive from the dropdown menu. Ensure the desired drive is connected if it’s not listed.

   Alt text: ‘Change where new content is saved’ option in Windows 10 storage settings.

Utilizing OneDrive Files On-Demand

OneDrive Files On-Demand helps save disk space by storing smaller placeholder files on your hard drive instead of full-size files, with the full files securely stored in your OneDrive cloud account. You can access your OneDrive files from your PC without needing to download full versions, saving significant hard drive space.

For more details, see Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows.

Scan for Malware

Malware can sometimes consume considerable hard drive space by corrupting system files. If you suspect a malware infection, use an antivirus program like Windows Security to perform a thorough virus scan and cleanup. Regularly scanning your system for malware is a good practice to maintain both performance and disk space.

By following these recommendations, you can effectively free up disk space on your Windows 10 PC, ensuring optimal performance and the ability to install important updates without interruption. Remember to implement these steps regularly to maintain a healthy and efficient system.