7 Ways to Free Up disk Space on Windows 10/11

Running low on disk space can slow down your Windows 10 PC, affect system performance and limit your ability to install new software or save files. However, Windows 10 and Windows 11 include built-in tools like Storage Sense or disk cleanup to help you free up disk space and optimize your system’s performance. In addition, you can remove temporary files, uninstall apps, delete duplicate files or move large files to cloud storage to Free Up Disk Space on Windows PC. In this article, we’ll explore seven effective ways to reclaim valuable storage space on your Windows 10 device.

Note: We recommend creating a system restore point before applying any changes, and backup or important data.

Empty the Recycle Bin

Did you know when you delete items, like files and photos, from your PC, they don’t immediately get deleted? Instead, they sit in the Recycle Bin and continue to take up valuable hard-drive space.

• To empty the Recycle Bin, go to your desktop, right-click on the Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.
• You will see a warning pop-up asking if you are sure you want to permanently delete your Recycle Bin items. Click Yes to proceed.

Use Storage Sense

Windows 10 comes with a built-in feature called Storage Sense, which automatically frees up space by deleting unnecessary files such as temporary files, Recycle Bin contents, and previous versions of Windows.

How to Enable Storage Sense:

• Open Settings (Win + I) and go to System > Storage.
• Toggle the Storage Sense switch to “On.”
• Click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now to customize how and when Storage Sense runs.

• You can set it to automatically delete temporary files, old downloads, and empty the Recycle Bin after a certain period.

Clean Up Temporary Files

Temporary files, such as those created by apps, system processes, or web browsing, can accumulate over time, taking up a significant amount of space. Deleting these files can free up a substantial amount of disk space.

How to Delete Temporary Files:

• Open Settings (Win + I) and go to System > Storage.
• Under Storage, click on Temporary files.
• Select the categories of temporary files you want to delete, such as Temporary Internet Files, Temporary System Files, and Downloads.
• Click Remove files to delete them.

Uninstall Unnecessary Applications

If you have some apps and programs on your PC that you don’t use — either apps you’ve installed and forgotten about or bloatware that came preinstalled on your computer from the manufacturer.. Uninstalling these programs can free up significant disk space, especially if they are large applications like games or professional software.

• How to Uninstall Applications:
  1. Open Settings (Win + I) and go to Apps > Apps & features.
  2. Scroll through the list of installed apps and identify any that you no longer need.
  3. Click on the app you want to uninstall, then click Uninstall and follow the prompts to remove it.

Also, you can uninstall these unnecessary applications on the Control Panel, programs, and Features option. Or you can press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl to open programs and features. Select and right-click on the unwanted programs and select uninstall.

Delete Old System Restore Points

System Restore points allow you to revert your computer to a previous state, but they can take up a lot of space on your hard drive. If you’re running low on space, consider deleting old restore points.

• How to Delete System Restore Points:
  1. Create a restore point in the Windows search bar and select the corresponding result.
  2. In the System Properties window, click on Configure.
  3. Click Delete to remove all but the most recent restore point.
  4. You can also adjust the maximum disk space used for System Restore by sliding the Max Usage bar.

Run Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a built-in utility in Windows 10 that helps you remove unnecessary files from your system, such as temporary files, system files, and other items that you no longer need.

How to Use Disk Cleanup:

1. Type Disk Cleanup in the Windows search bar and select the tool from the results.
2. Select the drive you want to clean (typically the C: drive) and click OK.
3. In the Disk Cleanup window, select the file types you want to delete, such as Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin, and Windows Update Cleanup.
4. Click OK, then confirm by clicking Delete Files.

Disable hibernate to save disk space

Windows 10 Have Fast Startup Feature (Hybrid shutdown). Which save the Current system settings to hibernate file when you shut down your computer. which allows windows to start faster. If starting up quickly isn’t your priority, you can reclaim some valuable hard drive space by disabling hibernate altogether, because of the hiberfil.sys file takes up 75 percent of your PC’s installed RAM. This means that if you have 8GB of RAM, you can clear up 6GB instantly by disabling hibernate.

To do this first Disable Fast Startup feature. Then open the command prompt as administrator and type command  powercfg.exe -h off and press Enter. That’s it, you won’t see a notification or confirmation. If you change your mind, repeat the above steps, but type powercfg.exe -h on instead.

Move Files to an External Drive or Cloud Storage

If you have files that you don’t frequently access but don’t want to delete, consider moving them to an external hard drive or cloud storage service. This will free up space on your primary drive without losing your data.

• How to Move Files to an External Drive:
  1. Connect an external hard drive or USB drive to your computer.
  2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the files or folders you want to move.
  3. Right-click on the selected files or folders and choose Cut.
  4. Open the external drive in File Explorer, right-click, and select Paste to move the files.
• How to Move Files to Cloud Storage:
  1. Sign up for a cloud storage service such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox if you haven’t already.
  2. Upload your files to the cloud service by dragging them into the cloud storage folder on your computer.
  3. Once uploaded, you can delete the local copies to free up space.