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11 best tips to free up hard drive space on Windows 11

On Windows xi, when your reckoner is running low in storage, y'all have several means to costless up space for more important files and improve functioning.

For case, you lot tin use Storage Sense to go rid of temporary files speedily. OneDrive files on-demand to delete files already synced to the cloud. NTFS pinch to shrink files to fit more content in the aforementioned physical space, and Compact Os to reduce the footprint of Windows xi and apps. You tin can also uninstall apps and games you rarely utilize, move files to a different bulldoze, and more.

In this Windows 11 guide, we will walk you through the most effective methods to free up space on your computer.

  • Free up infinite with Cleanup recommendations
  • Costless up space with Storage Sense
  • Free up space deleting temporary files
  • Free up space with Deejay Cleanup
  • Free up space with OneDrive file on-demand
  • Costless upwardly infinite removing unused apps and games
  • Free up space moving files to external storage
  • Free up infinite with NFTS compression
  • Free up infinite disabling Hibernation
  • Gratuitous upwards infinite with Compact OS
  • Gratis up space rebuilding Windows Search index
  • Gratis upwards infinite deleting users and data on shared devices

Free up infinite with Cleanup recommendations

On Windows eleven, "Cleanup recommendations" is a new feature that automatically tells you the contents you might exist able to remove to repossess space on your laptop or desktop computer, including specific large and unused files, rarely used apps and games, and files already synced to OneDrive.

To costless up space with Cleanup recommendations on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open up Settings.
  2. Click on System.
  3. Click the Storage page on the correct side.

    Storage settings Source: Windows Central

  4. Nether the "Storage management" section, select the Cleanup recommendations setting.

    Cleanup Recommendations Source: Windows Key

  5. Click on Temporary files.
  6. Select the files to delete to free upwardly space.
  7. Click the Make clean upwards push button.

    Temporary files recommendations Source: Windows Primal

  8. Click on Large or unused files.
  9. Select the large and unused files to delete.
  10. Click the Make clean upwardly push.
  11. Click on Files synced to the cloud.
  12. Select the synced files that yous can delete locally.

    Quick note: If you delete synced files, they will still be available on your OneDrive account.

  13. Click on Unused apps.
  14. Check the recommended apps that you lot can delete to costless up space on Windows 11.
  15. Click the Clean up button.

    Unused apps recommendations Source: Windows Central

One time you complete the steps, the content will be deleted from the system freeing up space for more than important files.

Free up space with Storage Sense

Storage Sense is a feature that provides the tools to quickly delete many types of junk files, such as previous installation files, temporary files from apps, and more from the device to reclaim storage space.

To enable, configure, and employ Storage Sense on Windows 11, apply these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Arrangement.
  3. Click the Storage page on the right side.

    Storage settings Source: Windows Central

  4. Under the "Storage management" department, turn on the Storage Sense toggle switch.

    Storage Sense enable option Source: Windows Central

    Quick notation: When you enable Storage Sense, the feature volition clear upwards files automatically based on your configuration. Yet, if the feature remains disabled, and the system needs infinite to perform specific tasks like installing a new feature update, Storage Sense will enable automatically.

  5. Select the Storage Sense setting.

    Open Storage Sense Settings Source: Windows Central

  6. Under the "Cleanup of temporary files" section, bank check the Proceed Windows running smoothly by automatically cleaning up temporary system and app files option to let the system to delete junk files as needed.
  7. Turn on the Automated User content cleanup toggle switch.

    Run Storage Sense option Source: Windows Central

  8. Under the "Configure cleanup schedules" section, utilize the Run Storage Sense drib-down menu and select the all-time cleanup option for you:

    • Every day.
    • Every week.
    • Every calendar month.
    • During low free disk space (recommended).
  9. Utilise the Recycle Bin drib-down menu to specify how to articulate already deleted files.
  10. Employ the Downloads drib-downwards menu to specify how to clean upward files you downloaded from the internet into the Downloads binder.

    Quick tip: To delete the most files, use the 1-solar day option for the settings. The Downloads folder may contain of import files, which ways that information technology is recommended to backup those files manually before running Storage Sense.

  11. Under the "Locally bachelor cloud content" department, apply the drib-downwardly menu to specify how long OneDrive content synced to the device becomes online-only.
  12. (Optional) Click the Run Storage Sense at present button.
  13. Check the Delete previous versions of Windows choice (if applicable).

After you complete the steps, if y'all click the run at present push, Storage Sense will articulate the files immediately. Otherwise, the organisation volition clean up the files every bit space is needed.

Complimentary upward space deleting temporary files

Every bit part of the storage tools available on Windows 11, you tin likewise delete temporary files manually using the Storage settings.

To delete temporary files manually, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on System.
  3. Click the Storage folio on the correct side.

    Storage settings Source: Windows Primal

  4. Click the Temporary files setting.

    Windows 11 temporary files Source: Windows Fundamental

  5. Select the junk files to delete from Windows xi.

    • Downloads.
    • Windows Update Cleanup.
    • Recycle Bin.
    • Commitment Optimization Files.
    • Thumbnails.
    • Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
    • Temporary Net Files.
    • Temporary files.
    • Windows mistake reports and feedback diagnostics.
    • DirectX Shader Cache.
    • Previous Windows installation(s).
    • Temporary Windows installation files.

    Quick annotation: The available items may differ in your installation. If you want to select the "Downloads" item, consider that this pick will erase everything in the "Downloads" folder.

  6. Click the Remove files push.

    Clear temporary files Source: Windows Cardinal

Once yous complete the steps, the files volition delete permanently, freeing upward infinite on the computer.

Complimentary up space with Disk Cleanup

If y'all prefer the legacy experience, Windows xi however includes the Deejay Cleanup tool to delete temporary files and recovery points.

Delete temporary files

To clear upwardly space on the hard drive with Deejay Cleanup, use these steps:

  1. Open Get-go.
  2. Search for Deejay Cleanup and click the superlative issue to open the app.
  3. Apply the "Drives" driblet-down card and select the (C:) drive (if applicable).
  4. Click the OK button.
  5. Click the Cleanup system files button.

    Clean up system files Source: Windows Central

  6. Apply the "Drives" drop-down carte and select the (C:) drive.
  7. Click the OK button.
  8. Check all the contents you want to clear:

    • Windows Update Cleanup.
    • Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
    • Downloaded Program Files.
    • Temporary Internet Files.
    • Windows error reports and feedback diagnostics.
    • DirectX Shader Enshroud.
    • Delivery Optimization Files.
    • Device driver packages.
    • Language Resources Files.
    • Previous Windows installation(s).
    • Recycle Bin.
    • Temporary files.
    • Thumbnails.
  9. Click the OK button.

    Disk Cleanup select files Source: Windows Primal

  10. Click the Delete Files button.

Later on you consummate the steps, those unnecessary files you selected will exist removed from the device.

Delete Arrangement Restore and Shadow Copies

Using System Restore and the Shadow Copies characteristic, you can also delete older files to repossess boosted space.

To delete old system restore points on Windows xi, utilise these steps:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for Disk Cleanup and click the top result to open up the app.
  3. Use the "Drives" drib-down menu and select the (C:) drive (if applicable).
  4. Click the OK button.
  5. Click the Cleanup system files push.

    Clean up system files Source: Windows Central

  6. Click the More Options tab.
  7. Under the "System Restore and Shadow Copies" section, click the Make clean up push button.

    System Restore and Shadow Copies Source: Windows Cardinal

  8. Click the Delete button.

One time you lot complete the steps, you will reclaim some boosted space to shop more important files.

Costless up space with OneDrive file on-need

If you need to free up space chop-chop, you can apply the OneDrive files on-demand feature to make files bachelor online manually.

Enable OneDrive files on-demand

To enable files on-demand on Windows eleven, use these steps:

  1. Click the OneDrive icon in the bottom-correct corner of the taskbar.
  2. Click the Help & Settings option.
  3. Click the Settings selection.

    OneDrive settings option Source: Windows Central

  4. Click the Settings tab.
  5. Under the "File On-Demand" section, check the Save space and download files as you utilise them option.

    OneDrive files on-demand enable option Source: Windows Central

  6. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, you can movement files to the OneDrive folder and make them available only online to free up infinite.

Catechumen local files available online-only

To brand files online-only with OneDrive, utilize these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Select the OneDrive folder from the left pane.
  3. Select the files and folders taking up space.
  4. Right-click the selection and choose the Gratis up infinite pick.

    OneDrive online only Source: Windows Central

If you need to free up additional space, move other files to the OneDrive binder and repeat the above steps to make them available on-demand.

After you complete the steps, you will be able to admission all of your content using File Explorer, but you volition merely be able to open them with an internet connexion.

The free version of OneDrive only allows y'all to shop up to 5GB of data, but you can upgrade to a Microsoft 365 subscription to elevator the limit to 1TB. In improver to the 1TB of storage, the subscription besides gives you access to all the Office apps and services like Microsoft Teams and Family unit Rubber.

Free upwardly space removing unused apps and games

On Windows eleven, yous tin also reclaim a lot of storage by uninstalling apps you lot rarely utilize. Games can as well apply a lot of space, which ways that keeping the listing to a minimum or removing them all will make space for more important files. Too, reducing space usage will assist improve the overall gaming performance.

To uninstall apps and games on Windows xi, utilize these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Apps.
  3. Click the Apps & features folio on the right side.

    Open Apps & features settings Source: Windows Central

  4. Use the "Sort by" filter and select the Size view to chop-chop identify the apps and games using the most space.

    Sort apps by size Source: Windows Central

  5. Select the item to remove.
  6. Click the Uninstall button.

    Uninstall app on Windows 11 Source: Windows Central

  7. Click the Uninstall button again.
  8. Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).

Once you complete the steps, repeat the same instructions to uninstall other apps and games.

If yous utilize the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you may too have one or multiple distros even so installed on the device. You lot can ever uninstall them to free upwards space on Windows eleven.

Delete unused languages

If every byte counts, secondary languages can use some space, and removing them can free up boosted storage.

To uninstall languages on Windows eleven, apply these steps:

  1. Open up Settings.
  2. Click on Time & Language.
  3. Click the Language & region page on the right side.

    Language & region settings Source: Windows Central

  4. Select the language no longer needed.
  5. Click the carte (three-dotted) push button and click the Remove button.

    Remove language Source: Windows Central

Afterwards you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the instructions to delete additional languages.

Delete maps

You lot tin besides remove the offline maps to articulate up some boosted space.

To remove locally stored maps on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Apps.
  3. Click the Offline maps page on the right side.

    Office maps settings Source: Windows Central

  4. Click the Maps setting.
  5. Click the Delete all button.

    Windows 11 delete all maps Source: Windows Central

  6. Click the Delete all button again.

Once y'all complete the steps, the offline maps volition be removed to make more space available on the figurer.

Uninstall optional features

Windows eleven comes with many optional features (for example, Windows Media Player, Windows Hullo Confront, Math Recognizer, Windows Fax and Scan, Step Recorder, WordPad, Windows PowerShell ISE, and others) that you can remove to regain a little chip more space.

To remove Windows 11 optional features, apply these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Apps.
  3. Click the Optional features page on the right side.

    Windows 11 Optional Features Source: Windows Central

  4. Click the "Sort by" menu and select the Install Size option to detect the characteristic using the nearly space.
  5. Select the feature to remove.
  6. Click the Uninstall push.

    Uninstall Optional Features on Windows 11 Source: Windows Central

  7. Restart the computer (as necessary).

After you complete the steps, y'all may need to repeat the instructions to remove additional features.

Free upwards infinite moving files to external storage

If yous have tried everything and still don't have plenty space, you should connect an external storage device to transfer the files to costless up space on the principal drive. If the external storage remains continued to the reckoner, y'all tin fifty-fifty configure Windows 11 to save files directly onto the secondary drive.

Move files to external storage

To offload files to a different location, connect an external drive with enough space, and use these steps:

  1. Open up File Explorer.
  2. Browse to the folder with the content taking the most infinite on the drive.
  3. Select the items.
  4. Click the Cut button from the command bar.

    Select and cut files on Windows 11 Source: Windows Central

  5. Browse to the destination drive.

    Quick tip: If you want to go along files organized, yous tin create a new binder with a descriptive name and paste the files within. Too, if you have a lot of data, it's recommended to transfer the files in chunks and not everything at once.

  6. Click the Paste push button.

    Transfer files new location free up space Source: Windows Central

Once yous complete the steps, repeat the instructions to movement additional files and folders to a new location to reduce the storage usage in the location running out of space.

Configure some other storage as new default location

To configure Windows eleven to save files and install new apps on an external drive automatically, utilize these steps:

  1. Open up Settings.
  2. Click on System.
  3. Click the Storage page on the right side.

    Storage settings Source: Windows Cardinal

  4. Under the "Storage management" section, click on Advanced storage settings.
  5. Click the Where new content is saved setting.

    Where new content is saved Source: Windows Central

  6. Use the drib-down menus and select the new location to save files automatically for each content type.

    Select where new files and apps are saved Source: Windows Central

  7. Click the Employ button.
  8. (Optional) Use the "New apps will be saved to" drib-downwardly menu to select the bulldoze to install time to come apps by default.
  9. Click the Apply button.

Later you complete the steps, files and apps from the Microsoft Store volition exist saved and installed in the new location.

Movement apps and games to external storage

Similar to previous versions, Windows 11 besides includes the choice to move apps from the Microsoft Store and games to an external drive without having to reinstall annihilation. You could use this feature to move apps and games to another drive to free up infinite on the primary storage.

To move existing games and apps to some other driver on Windows xi, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Apps.
  3. Click the Apps & features page on the right side.

    Open Apps & features settings Source: Windows Fundamental

  4. Use the "Sort by" filter and select the Size view to speedily see the apps and games taking the about infinite.
  5. Click the card (three-dotted) button on the right side of the particular and select the Movement option.
  6. Select the new storage location.

    Move installed apps new drive Source: Windows Central

  7. Click the Move push.

    Quick note: If the option is non bachelor, the characteristic is not available for that particular app.

  8. Select the drive to movement the app or game.
  9. Click the Move button once more.

The external drive always has to be connected to the device when using this feature. Otherwise, you won't exist able to launch the apps or play those games in the new storage.

Later on you lot complete the steps, repeat the higher up instructions to move additional apps or games to the new location.

Gratuitous up space with NFTS compression

Windows 11 also comes with a congenital-in lightweight feature part of the NT File System (NTFS) to compress data maintaining their normal access without the need to zip your files. You can apply this feature to compress files, folders, or the entire drive.

If you use data compression, consider that it tin can negatively touch organisation performance because it has to compress and decompress information on need. Yous should use this pick but if you lot do not accept some other option and yous are dealing with capable hardware.

Ready upwards folder pinch

To enable NTFS compression for a binder, use these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Scan to the folder to compress.
  3. Correct-click the folder and select the Properties option.

    Open Folder Properties Source: Windows Central

  4. Click the Avant-garde push button.

    Open folder Advanced Source: Windows Key

  5. Under the "Compress or Encrypt attributes" section, check the Compress contents to salve disk space selection.

    Compress contents to save disk space Source: Windows Fundamental

  6. Click the OK button.
  7. Click the Apply push button.
  8. Select the Apply changes to this binder, subfolders, and files choice.

    Quick note: If the folder already contains a lot of files, the initial pinch can have some time.

  9. Click the OK push button.
  10. Click the OK button again.

Afterwards you lot complete the steps, the compression characteristic will enable in the binder, reducing the size of existing and future files. Besides, you lot tin use the same instructions to shrink files individually.

Yous can revert the changes using the same instructions, but on step 5, make sure to clear the Shrink contents to salvage disk infinite option.

Ready upward storage pinch

To enable NTFS pinch on a drive, utilize these steps:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Click on This PC from the left pane.
  3. Under the "Devices and drives" section, right-click the bulldoze you desire to shrink and select the Properties pick.

    Open drive Properties settings Source: Windows Primal

  4. Check the Shrink this drive to save disk infinite option.

    Compress this drive to save disk space Source: Windows Central

    Quick tip: Using pinch on the Windows installation drive can negatively affect performance. It's only recommended to use this feature on a secondary drive or partition.

  5. Click the Apply button.
  6. Select the Employ changes to bulldoze (bulldoze alphabetic character), subfolders, and files selection.
  7. Click the OK button.
  8. Click the OK button again.

In one case yous complete the steps, the compression procedure will begin, but if the drive already had content, the process could take some time.

If y'all don't demand the characteristic anymore, you lot tin revert the changes with the aforementioned instructions, merely on step 4, brand certain to articulate the Compress this drive to save deejay space option.

Free up space disabling Hibernation

On Windows, Hibernation has been around for a long time, and it's a feature designed to save the data in retentivity onto the system drive before shutting downwardly to preserve the current session the next fourth dimension y'all turn on the estimator.

Although information technology is a useful feature, it requires several gigabytes to save the retentiveness contents into the hiberfil.sys file. If you are running out of space, disabling Hibernation can help free up storage quickly.

To disable Hibernation to free upwardly space on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for Command Prompt, correct-click the meridian result, and select the Run as administrator option.
  3. Blazon the post-obit command to disable Hibernation and press Enter:

    powercfg /hibernate off

    Disable hibernation to save space Source: Windows Central

One time you complete the steps, Hibernation will plough off, and during the process, the system volition remove the hiberfil.sys file freeing up several gigabytes of infinite.

In the future, you can always re-enable Hibernation on Windows eleven with the aforementioned instructions, but on step No. 3, make sure to use the powercfg /hibernate on command.

Free up space with Meaty Bone

Compact Bone is a control-line tool that you lot can apply to reduce the installation footprint of Windows 11 and apps. The tool was designed for devices with express storage, but yous can apply it to reclaim some infinite when you need the storage immediately.

Alert: This is a friendly reminder that modifying system files are risky, and information technology tin cause irreversible damage to your installation if you exercise not do it correctly. Before proceeding, it is recommended to make a temporary total backup of your PC.

To shrink the size of the Windows eleven installation, utilise these steps:

  1. Open up Start.
  2. Search for Control Prompt, correct-click the top consequence, and select the Run as administrator option.
  3. Type the following command to compress the installation of Windows xi and apps and press Enter:

    compact.exe /compactOS:e'er

    Compact OS clear up space on Windows 11 Source: Windows Fundamental

After you complete the steps, the process will reclaim around 2GB of storage without noticeably affecting performance.

You lot can always revert the changes using the same instructions, but on step three, make sure to use the compact.exe /compactOS:never command.

Costless up space rebuilding Windows Search index

On Windows 11, the database that holds the index for Windows Search tin grow big if there's an upshot or the device has a lot of files. If this is the instance, resetting the database and changing how the characteristic operates can assist to reduce space usage significantly.

To rebuild the Windows xi search database, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Privacy & security.
  3. Click the Searching Windows page on the right side.

    Open Windows Searching Source: Windows Central

  4. Under the "Related settings" section, click on Advanced indexing options.

    Open Advanced Indexing Options Source: Windows Central

  5. Click the Advanced push button.

    Open Indexing Advanced settings Source: Windows Primal

  6. Click the Alphabetize Settings tab.
  7. Under the "Troubleshooting" section, click the Rebuild push button.

    Windows 11 rebuild index to free up space Source: Windows Central

  8. Click the OK button.

Once yous complete the steps, the system will clear and rebuild the Windows Search characteristic's index database.

The merely caveat is that during the database rebuild, searches might exist incomplete until files are indexed ane more time.

Change Windows Search settings

You lot tin can forbid the database from growing large by specifying only specific locations.

To modify the indexable locations, utilize these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Privacy & security.
  3. Click the Searching Windows page on the right side.

    Open Windows Searching Source: Windows Central

  4. Under the "Related settings" section, click on Advanced indexing options.

    Open Advanced Indexing Options Source: Windows Central

  5. Click the Alter push.

    Open Modify Index Settings Source: Windows Cardinal

  6. Click the Show all locations push.
  7. Clear the options for apps you lot desire to exclude in the index.

    Windows Search exclude location to save space Source: Windows Central

  8. Aggrandize the C drive and clear the folder you exercise not wish to appear in search to reduce the footprint of the database.
  9. Click the OK button.
  10. Click the Close button.

Later on you complete the steps, Windows Search will update the database, excluding the locations you specified and reducing the database's overall size.

Free up space deleting users and data on shared devices

If yous share a computer with other people, you may be able to delete the accounts that are no longer needed to complimentary up boosted space.

To delete user accounts and data on Windows 11, utilize these steps:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Click the Family & other users page on the right side.

    Open Family & Other Users Settings Source: Windows Central

  4. Select the business relationship to remove.
  5. Click the Remove button.

    Windows 11 delete account to free up space Source: Windows Central

  6. Click the Delete account and data button.

One time you complete the steps, Windows xi will delete the account and data for the user you selected, freeing upwardly more space for other files. Y'all may demand to repeat the instructions to delete any other accounts.

More Windows resources

For more than helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

  • Windows 11 on Windows Cardinal — All you need to know
  • Windows 11 help, tips, and tricks
  • Windows ten on Windows Primal — All you demand to know

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-free-space-windows-11

Posted by: chapmanorry2001.blogspot.com

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