How to Free Up Disk Space on Windows 11
Reclaim gigabytes of disk space on Windows 11 using built-in tools like Storage Sense, Disk Cleanup, and a few manual tricks.
Running Low on Space?
A full hard drive slows Windows down and prevents updates from installing. Before buying a new drive, try these built-in and manual methods — most people recover 10–30 GB without deleting anything they need.
Method 1 — Run Storage Sense
Go to Settings → System → Storage. Turn on Storage Sense and click Run Storage Sense now. It automatically removes temporary files, empty the Recycle Bin, and cleans up old Windows Update downloads.
Under Cleanup recommendations you will also see large files, unused apps, and files synced to OneDrive that can be moved to cloud-only storage.
Method 2 — Run Disk Cleanup (Including System Files)
Press Win + S, search for Disk Cleanup, and run it on your C: drive. After the initial scan, click Clean up system files — this unlocks additional categories including:
- Windows Update Cleanup — old update files, often 5–15 GB
- Temporary Internet Files
- Windows upgrade log files
- Recycle Bin
Check all relevant boxes and click OK.
Method 3 — Delete Temp Files Manually
Press Win + R, type %temp%, and press Enter. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them. Skip any files that are in use. These are safe to remove.
Also run temp (without the %) to clean the Windows temp folder.
Method 4 — Uninstall Apps You Don't Use
Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps and sort by Size. Uninstall games, trials, and manufacturer bloatware you never touch. Some pre-installed apps can be right-clicked from the Start menu and uninstalled directly.
Method 5 — Move Files to OneDrive or an External Drive
Large media files (videos, photos, installers) belong on external storage or cloud. Right-click your OneDrive folder in File Explorer and choose Free up space to make files cloud-only without deleting them.
Method 6 — Check What's Using the Most Space
Go to Settings → System → Storage and click any category to drill into what's consuming space. Third-party tools like WizTree (free) give you a visual map of your disk by folder size.
Space-Saving Checklist
- Storage Sense + Cleanup recommendations
- Disk Cleanup with system files
- Delete
%temp%folder contents - Uninstall unused apps sorted by size
- Offload large files to OneDrive or external drive