This video will show you how to free up disk space on your drive in Windows 10. It includes the following:


  1. Disk Cleanup
  2. Prefetch Files
  3. Temporary Files
  4. Recycle Bin
  5. Apps & Features
  6. Clean Up System Files

Storage Spaces: Free Up Disk Space

Software and applications that come bundled with the software you use on a daily basis can occupy the most space on your hard drive. There are often hidden culprits that the user is not aware of – they could be old Windows system files that have still remained after updating your PC or old remains of software that previously got removed. In addition to the size and types of files, it’s important for the user to be aware of where the files reside on the C drive. The user should also be aware of how to free up disk space.

When the hard drive of your PC fills up, there are ways that Windows 10 can be used to free up space without the use of extra software. These tools not only help reclaim disk space to store more files but also improves the performance of your system while reducing the chances of issues arising when you update your PC or install new software. Here ways to show you how to free up your disk space.

 

How to free up disk space

  1. Empty Recycle Bin – When the user deletes a file or folder, it gets sent to the Recycle Bin in case the user needs it back. The Recycle Bin can then be cleared to free up disk space.
  2. Use Storage Sense – This is a feature that comes with Windows 10 and offers the user a dashboard for managing junk files and system drive space.
  3. Clean the “temp” folders – You can use Disk Cleanup to clear any temporary files on your PC.
  4. Uninstall apps – Use Apps & Features to remove any programs that use the most disk space.
  5. Move data to another drive – You should use an external hard drive to store your files if hard drive space is limited or if you’re using a netbook with limited space.
  6. Disable Hibernation – Open a command prompt as administrator and type in “powercfg /hibernate off” to disable and remove the hibernation file.
  7. Compress your files – Windows has a built-in compression feature: Open File Explorer > right-click on a folder you want to compress > select Properties > click Advanced > check Compress contents to save disk space.
  8. Compress Windows installation footprint – Open a command prompt as administrator, type in “compact.exe /compactOS:always”, and hit enter. This reduces the installation size of Windows 10 and thus is a good way to free up disk space.
  9. Disable reserved storage – Open PowerShell as an administrator, type in “Set-WindowsReservedStorageState -State disabled”, and hit enter. This disables the reserved space on your hard drive which gives you a few extra gigabytes to spare.