5 Easy Ways To Free Up Storage Space On Windows 11 – SlashGear

For many users, a Windows laptop or PC can experience sluggish performance, particularly when equipped with smaller hard drives. While upgrading to a larger drive is a viable solution, it may not always be practical. Fortunately, there are several built-in features and methods available to enhance your device’s performance without resorting to third-party storage cleanup tools.

Run the Disk Cleanup tool

Your Windows 11 PC likely harbors a variety of unnecessary files, including cached data, temporary files, and remnants from old updates. The Disk Cleanup tool provides a straightforward way to eliminate these files, freeing up valuable storage space without affecting your apps or personal files. To utilize this feature, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + S to open the search menu.
2. Type disk cleanup in the search bar and select the first result.
3. Choose your primary drive from the drop-down menu and click OK.
4. Click the Cleanup system files button, select your primary drive again, and hit OK.
5. Under Files to delete, check the boxes next to the temporary files you wish to remove. Click on a file type for a description.
6. Click OK, then confirm by selecting Delete Files.

Enable Storage Sense

Storage Sense is another handy feature in Windows 11 that automatically clears disk space by deleting temporary files, emptying the Recycle Bin, and removing outdated files from the Downloads folder. Once configured, Storage Sense operates at specified intervals to maintain optimal storage levels. To enable this feature:

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, then navigate to System > Storage.
2. Toggle the Storage Sense option to enable it.
3. Click on Storage Sense to access configuration options.
4. Check the box for Keep Windows running smoothly by automatically cleaning up temporary system and app files.
5. Activate the Automatic User content cleanup option.
6. Select a frequency for running Storage Sense from the drop-down menu: Every day, Every week, Every month, or During low free disk space.
7. Set preferences for automatic deletion of files from the Recycle Bin and Downloads folder.
8. To run Storage Sense immediately, click the Run Storage Sense now button.

Delete unwanted apps and user accounts

Apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store, along with preinstalled applications, can consume a significant amount of storage. Many operate in the background, taking up space without your awareness. Removing unnecessary apps is an efficient way to reclaim storage. To uninstall apps:

1. Press Windows + I to access the Settings app.
2. Go to the Apps tab and select Installed apps.
3. Use the Sort by drop-down menu to arrange by Size (Large to small).
4. Identify apps you no longer need.
5. Click the three-dot icon next to an app and choose Uninstall.
6. Confirm by selecting Uninstall again.

Additionally, consider removing any user accounts that are no longer necessary. Navigate to Accounts > Other users in the Settings app, select the account, and click Remove to delete it and its associated data.

Find and move large files to the cloud or external storage

Another effective strategy for freeing up space is to locate large files and transfer them to a cloud service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Alternatively, you can use an external hard drive or USB stick for offline storage. To find large files:

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer and navigate to This PC.
2. In the search box, type size:Huge to find files between 1 to 4 GB, or size:Gigantic for files larger than 4 GB.
3. Once identified, move these files to your chosen storage solution.

Additionally, the Settings app allows you to remove large files or those already backed up to the cloud. Access System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations, expand the relevant menus, and select files for deletion.

Use the Compact OS command-line tool

Windows 11 features a built-in tool called Compact OS, which compresses system files and applications to minimize the overall space used by the operating system. This is particularly beneficial for devices with limited storage. To utilize Compact OS:

1. Right-click the Start icon on the taskbar and select Terminal (Admin).
2. When prompted by User Account Control (UAC), select Yes.
3. Type the command compact.exe /compactOS:always and hit Enter.

This command can be reversed by running compact.exe /compactOS:never in the Terminal if you wish to undo the changes. While this method may only free up a modest amount of space—typically around 2-3 GB—it can be a quick and effective solution for those needing every available gigabyte.