Step 1: Check How Much Space You Have
Before you start, find out how much space is used and how much is free.
- 1Open File Explorer (the folder icon in the taskbar).
- 2Click This PC in the left sidebar.
- 3Look at your C: drive. The bar underneath it shows how full it is — red means critically full.
- 4Right-click the C: drive and select Properties for exact numbers.
Tip: Windows needs at least 10–15% of your drive free to run well. If you are below that, performance will suffer.
Step 2: Use Storage Sense (Windows 10 and 11)
Storage Sense is a built-in Windows tool that automatically removes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and cleans up files from the Downloads folder.
- 1Open Settings (Windows + I).
- 2Click System → Storage.
- 3Click Storage Sense.
- 4Turn on Storage Sense to run it automatically, or click Run Storage Sense now to clean up immediately.
- 5You can configure it to also clean up your Downloads folder and remove old Windows update files.
Step 3: Delete Temporary Files Manually
Temporary files accumulate quickly and are safe to delete. Windows stores them in a few different locations.
- 1Open Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files.
- 2Check the boxes next to the types of files you want to remove. Safe options include: Temporary files, Recycle Bin, Delivery Optimization Files, and Thumbnails.
- 3Click Remove files.
Tip: Delivery Optimization Files are copies of Windows updates stored for sharing with other computers on your network. They are safe to delete and can be several gigabytes.
Step 4: Use Disk Cleanup (Classic Tool)
Disk Cleanup is an older but still effective tool that finds additional categories of files to remove.
- 1Search for "Disk Cleanup" in the Start menu and open it.
- 2Select your C: drive and click OK.
- 3Check the boxes next to the file types you want to remove.
- 4Click Clean up system files for additional options, including old Windows installation files.
- 5Click OK and then Delete Files to confirm.
Warning: The "Previous Windows installation(s)" option can free up several gigabytes but removes the ability to roll back to a previous version of Windows. Only delete it if you are happy with your current Windows version.
Step 5: Empty the Recycle Bin
Files you delete go to the Recycle Bin first and continue to take up space until you empty it.
- 1Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
- 2Select Empty Recycle Bin.
- 3Confirm when prompted.
Step 6: Find and Remove Large Files
Sometimes a few large files are responsible for most of the space usage. Windows can help you find them.
- 1Open Settings → System → Storage.
- 2Click Show more categories to see a breakdown by file type.
- 3Click on any category (like Videos or Documents) to see what is taking up space.
- 4Delete files you no longer need.
Tip: The Downloads folder is often overlooked. It can accumulate gigabytes of old installers, PDFs, and files you downloaded once and forgot about.
Step 7: Uninstall Programs You No Longer Use
Installed programs can take up significant space. Removing ones you do not use is one of the most effective ways to free up space.
- 1Open Settings → Apps.
- 2Sort the list by Size.
- 3Uninstall programs you no longer need.
Step 8: Move Files to an External Drive or Cloud Storage
If you have large files you want to keep but do not need on your computer every day — old photos, videos, or archived documents — moving them to an external drive or cloud storage frees up local space without deleting anything.
- External hard drives: plug in, copy files over, then delete the originals from your computer.
- OneDrive: Windows 11 includes OneDrive integration. Files stored in OneDrive can be set to "online only," meaning they appear in File Explorer but do not take up local space until you open them.
- USB flash drives: good for smaller files and documents.