Free Up Disk Space on Your Windows PC: A Comprehensive Guide

Running out of disk space on your Windows PC can be a major headache. It can prevent you from installing important updates, slow down your computer’s performance, and generally make your digital life more difficult. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to reclaim valuable storage space and keep your system running smoothly. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to freeing up disk space on Windows, ensuring your PC stays up-to-date and performs optimally.

Before we dive into specific techniques, let’s quickly check your current disk space.

To check the total disk space left on your Windows device, select File Explorer from the taskbar, and then select This PC on the left. The available space on your drive will be displayed under Devices and drives.

Alt: Checking available disk space on Windows 11 via File Explorer.

If you find yourself consistently struggling with low disk space even after applying these methods, consider resetting or reinstalling Windows as a more drastic solution. Further information on this can be found in Reinstall Windows.

Resolving Low Disk Space Errors After Using Cleanup Recommendations

In some cases, after using Windows’ built-in cleanup tools, you might still encounter “Low Disk Space” errors. This can occur if your Temp folder is rapidly filling up with application (.appx) files from the Microsoft Store. To address this, follow these steps to reset the Store, clear its cache, and run the Windows Update troubleshooter:

1. Reset Microsoft Store: Navigate to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Locate Windows Store Apps and select Run.

   Alt: Running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter in Windows settings to reset the Microsoft Store.

2. Clear Microsoft Store Cache: Press Windows Logo Key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type wsreset.exe and click OK. A blank Command Prompt window will briefly appear and close, and the Microsoft Store will open automatically after the cache is cleared.

3. Reset Windows Update: Go back to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. This time, find Windows Update and select Run.

   Alt: Running the Windows Update troubleshooter to resolve update issues related to disk space.

4. Restart your computer: After running both troubleshooters, restart your PC and check if the low disk space issue persists.

Leverage Storage Sense for Automatic Space Management

Windows 10 and 11 have a handy feature called Storage Sense that can automatically free up disk space. It intelligently removes unnecessary files, such as temporary files and items in your Recycle Bin, without you having to manually intervene.

For detailed information on enabling and configuring Storage Sense, refer to Manage drive space with Storage Sense.

Utilize Cleanup Recommendations for Manual File Removal

If you prefer a more hands-on approach or are using a Windows version without Storage Sense, Cleanup recommendations provide a clear way to identify and remove temporary files and system files.

1. Navigate to Start > Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations.

   Alt: Accessing Cleanup recommendations within Windows Storage settings.

2. Review the categories: Temporary files, Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud, and Unused apps. Select the items you wish to delete within each category. Windows will suggest files for removal and show the potential space savings.

3. Click the Clean up button for each section after making your selections.

   Important Note: If you’ve recently upgraded Windows (within the last 10 days), your previous Windows version will appear as a system file for deletion. Removing it will free up considerable space but will also eliminate your ability to revert to the previous version. This action is irreversible.

Freeing Up Space for Windows Updates with External Storage

Windows updates, especially feature updates, can require significant free disk space. If your primary drive is too full, Windows may prompt you to use external storage to complete the update process.

For detailed instructions on using external storage for updates, see Get more space with external storage.

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

Personal files often consume a large portion of disk space. Identifying and managing these files is crucial for freeing up space.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to folders like Videos, Music, Pictures, and Downloads. These typically hold the largest files.

2. To view file sizes, click the View tab in the File Explorer ribbon and select Details. Then, right-click in the open space, select Sort by > Size to arrange files from largest to smallest.

   Alt: Sorting files by size in Windows File Explorer to identify large files.

3. Delete files you no longer need or move them to an external storage device (USB drive, SD card).

   Reminder: Don’t forget to empty the Recycle Bin after deleting files to permanently remove them and reclaim the space.

Moving Large Files to External Storage

For files you want to keep but don’t frequently access, moving them to external storage is an excellent way to free up space on your primary drive.

1. Connect an external storage device to your PC.

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

3. Select the files, right-click, and choose Cut.

4. Navigate to your external storage device and Paste the files there.

Saving New Files to a Different Drive

To proactively manage disk space, consider changing the default save locations for new files. This prevents your primary drive from filling up quickly.

1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved.

   Alt: Accessing settings to change default save locations for new content in Windows.

2. For each content type (Apps, Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos), select a different drive from the dropdown menu. Ensure the chosen drive is connected to your PC.

Utilizing OneDrive Files On-Demand

OneDrive Files On-Demand is a powerful feature for OneDrive users. It allows you to access all your OneDrive files from your PC without storing full-size versions on your hard drive. Placeholder files are stored instead, saving significant disk space. Full-size files are downloaded only when you need to open them.

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

Scanning for Malware

In some instances, malware or viruses can consume excessive hard drive space by corrupting system files or creating numerous unnecessary files. If you suspect a malware infection, run a scan using an antivirus program like Windows Security. Regular malware scans are a good practice for maintaining system health and performance.

Conclusion

Freeing up disk space on your Windows PC is essential for optimal performance and system updates. By implementing the methods outlined in this guide, from using automated tools like Storage Sense to manually managing personal files and leveraging cloud storage options, you can effectively reclaim storage space and ensure your computer runs smoothly. Regularly reviewing and managing your disk space will prevent future low disk space issues and keep your digital environment organized and efficient.