How to Free Up Disk Space on Your Computer?

Low disk space can slow down everyday tasks, interrupt Windows updates, and make it harder to save new files. Most of these issues come from temporary items, unused apps, and large folders that gradually accumulate. This guide focuses on practical steps you can take right now to reclaim space on your computer without changing how you work.

Check how your storage is being used

Windows provides a clear breakdown of what’s taking up space. Checking this first helps you decide which areas deserve attention.

Open Settings → System → Storage and select your main drive. The Storage usage view groups files into categories such as Apps, Temporary files, Downloads, Photos, Videos, and Other. This makes it easier to pinpoint large items. If most of your space is consumed by a single category, addressing that area usually gives the fastest improvement.

Unusually high usage in Temporary files, System files, or App data is often a sign of cached items that haven’t been cleared for a long time. If your drive consistently stays above 80–85% full, Windows may struggle to create new temporary files, which affects performance.

Use the Windows Disk Cleanup tool

Disk Cleanup is a built-in utility that removes old update files, temporary items, and system-generated data. It often frees several gigabytes in one run.

Search for Disk Cleanup in the Start menu, select your system drive, and allow the tool to scan. Choosing Clean up system files expands the list to include Windows Update cleanup, device driver packages, and previous installations. These items are safe to remove for most users when the system is running normally.

You can review each category before confirming. Windows shows how much space each one occupies, which helps you prioritize larger items. If your PC has not been cleaned in a while, Windows Update cleanup alone may recover a noticeable amount of space.

Remove temporary and system-generated files

Temporary files accumulate whenever apps run, installers extract content, or Windows performs maintenance. Clearing them manually can provide immediate relief.

Windows temporary files

Press Win + R, type %temp%, and delete the contents of the folder. Skip items that are currently in use.

Then open C:\Windows\Temp and perform the same cleanup. These folders store data that Windows or applications no longer need.

Delivery Optimization files, DirectX shader cache, and thumbnail caches can also be removed through Settings → Storage → Temporary files. These items regenerate automatically when required.

Empty the Recycle Bin

Items sent to the Recycle Bin continue occupying storage until they are permanently deleted. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select Empty Recycle Bin.

Before clearing it, sort files by size to review the largest items. This helps avoid removing something important, especially if you recently deleted a folder by mistake.

Uninstall applications you no longer use

Large applications often remain installed long after you stop using them. Games, design software, and older utilities can easily occupy several gigabytes. Removing unused apps is a straightforward way to reclaim space.

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps and sort by Size. This shows which programs take the most room. For applications you rarely open or no longer need, select Uninstall and follow the removal steps. If the app stores presets or project files, export them first so you don’t lose important settings. Restarting the PC afterward helps remove leftover components.

Clean browser caches and large download folders

Browsers store cached pages, images, and scripts to load websites faster, but these files accumulate over time.

Browser cache

Each browser provides a built-in clearing option:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data
• Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Clear browsing data
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Clear Data

Clearing cached items doesn’t affect bookmarks or saved passwords, and the browser rebuilds these files naturally.

Downloads folder

The Downloads folder often grows unnoticed because installers, ZIP files, screenshots, and exported media remain there. Sorting by size or file type helps you spot large items quickly. Files you’ve already installed or transferred elsewhere can be deleted safely.

Automate cleanup with Storage Sense

Storage Sense removes temporary files and old items automatically when space becomes limited. Turning it on reduces the need for manual maintenance.

Go to Settings → System → Storage and enable Storage Sense. Open its configuration panel to set how frequently it runs and which items it clears. You can choose to delete Recycle Bin items older than a certain number of days, clean temporary files, and manage the Downloads folder based on age.

If you use OneDrive, Storage Sense can also shift cloud-backed files to an online-only state when disk space is low, helping keep your system responsive.

Move large files to external or secondary storage

Photos, videos, project archives, and virtual machine files can consume tens of gigabytes. Moving them to external storage provides an immediate and reliable way to free local space.

Connect an external SSD or HDD, organize your files into folders, and transfer items you don’t need every day. Verify the transfer before deleting the local versions to avoid losing data. For ongoing projects, consider keeping active files local and archiving older material to the external drive.

If you use a cloud service with folder syncing, confirm whether the moved folders are still being synced to the cloud before deleting local copies.

Use cloud storage to reduce local disk usage

Cloud services help keep files accessible without storing everything on your device.

OneDrive’s Files On-Demand allows files to appear in File Explorer while occupying no local space. Similar features exist in Google Drive and Dropbox through selective sync. These tools let you keep essential documents offline while leaving large collections, such as raw photos or media, online only.

Before moving a folder fully to the cloud, check whether you need those files offline. If not, converting them to online-only mode can save a significant amount of space.

Locate large files with analysis tools

Disk analysis tools give a clear overview of where storage is being used.

Built-in tools

Windows Storage settings provide category-based insights and show which folders or apps consume the most space. This is usually enough for general cleanup.

Third-party tools

Programs like WinDirStat, TreeSize, or SpaceSniffer present your drive visually, making it easier to identify unusually large folders. These tools are helpful when you can’t tell which directory is responsible for the bulk of your usage. When reviewing the results, avoid deleting system folders or items you don’t recognize.

Manage system restore points

System restore points help recover your system after configuration issues, but they grow over time.

Open System Properties → System Protection → Configure to see how much space they’re using. You can reduce the allocated storage or delete older points while keeping recent ones. Allocating about 2–5% of your drive is usually enough for most users.

Creating a new restore point before large updates remains useful, so avoid disabling the feature entirely unless storage is extremely limited.

Disable hibernation if you don’t use it

Hibernation saves your session to a file so you can resume work after powering off. The hiberfil.sys file often takes several gigabytes.

If you rarely use hibernation, you can turn it off. Open Command Prompt as administrator and enter:

powercfg /hibernate off

This removes the hibernation file and frees the associated space. You can turn it back on at any time.

Remove duplicate photos, documents, and media

Duplicates appear easily when files are transferred between devices or synced through cloud services. Photo collections, exported assets, and archived folders often contain redundant copies.

Using tools that identify duplicate filenames or matching content helps you remove them safely. When handling photos or videos, review thumbnails to avoid deleting originals that still matter.

Troubleshoot cleanup issues

Some systems may not respond to standard cleanup tools. In these cases, a few checks help identify the cause.

If Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense doesn’t run

Run sfc /scannow to check system file integrity and chkdsk /f to scan for drive errors. Disk analysis tools can also reveal whether a specific folder is consuming space unexpectedly. If your storage fills rapidly without explanation, run a malware scan since certain programs generate large temporary files.

Booting into Safe Mode can help remove items that stay locked during normal operation.

Handling low disk space warnings

When warnings appear, remove temporary files, empty the Recycle Bin, and check Downloads for large installers. If the warning returns quickly, investigate whether Windows Update, application caches, or a specific folder is growing faster than expected.

When upgrading storage is the more practical solution

If cleanup provides only short-term relief, your drive may simply be too small for your workflow. Upgrading to a larger SSD or adding a secondary drive provides consistent performance and avoids frequent maintenance.

Upgrading is especially helpful if you work with large photos, videos, designs, or virtual machines. Faster SSDs also improve loading times and make everyday tasks smoother.

For workloads involving large media files, design assets, or multi-gigabyte project folders, using a device with higher storage capacity can streamline your workflow. A compact system that supports dual drives or offers larger SSD options can serve as a dedicated workspace or secondary storage station, helping keep your main computer organized and responsive.

You can choose a model that fits your capacity needs, whether you prefer more internal storage, dual-slot expandability, or faster NVMe performance.

Long-term storage habits that prevent future issues

Consistent maintenance reduces the chance of running into sudden storage limitations.

• Clear temporary downloads regularly
• Empty the Recycle Bin every week
• Review installed apps monthly
• Store large photo or video folders externally
• Use Storage Sense on a fixed schedule
• Keep your Downloads folder organized

Simple habits provide smoother performance over time with minimal effort.

Keeping enough free space on your system helps Windows run updates properly and prevents common slowdowns. The steps above give you several ways to clear room based on the type of files you manage. Revisit these methods whenever you notice your available storage shrinking.

Keep this guide bookmarked for quick reference when your storage starts to run low.