How to Check Reserved Storage in Windows 11
This guide will show you easy ways to check the Reserved storage on your Windows 11 computer. We’ll use simple tools like the Settings app and the Command Prompt.
Open Settings , navigate to System, then Storage, and select “Show more categories” to find “System & reserved.” Alternatively, open Windows Terminal as an administrator and run the command `fsutil storagereserve query C:`.
What is Reserved Storage?
Reserved storage in Windows 11 is a special hard drive area where Windows stores and prepares important system files for updates. This reserved storage helps ensure your computer can install new features and fix problems smoothly, even if your main storage space is nearly full. Windows typically allocates around 7 GB for reserved storage, but this amount may change.
Usually, Windows sets aside about 7 GB for reserved storage. But this size can change depending on your computer and how much free space you have.
Reserved storage indicates the amount of disk space available for personal files and programs. Checking reserved storage helps identify if limited disk space is slowing down a computer, providing clear insight into storage availability.
How to Check Reserved Storage Using the Settings App
You can easily check how much space reserved storage is using in Windows 11 with the Settings app. Just open Settings, go to System, then Storage, and click ‘Show more categories’. This will show you exactly how much room reserved storage is taking up on your drive, helping you manage your disk space better.
- Open the Settings app.
- Click the Start button (the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner) and select Settings.
- Or, press Win+I on your keyboard to open Settings right away.
- Click on System in the left menu.
Windows 11 System button in Settings - Click Storage on the right side.
Windows 11 Storage tile in Settings app - Click Show more categories to see all storage categories.
Windows 11 Storage show more categories link - Click on System & reserved to open details.
Windows 11 System & reserved storage tile - Look for the Reserved storage size on this page.
This shows how much space Windows has reserved for system use.
Windows 11 Reserved storage details - When you're done, you can simply close the Settings app.
How to Check Reserved Storage Using the Command Line
If you prefer using commands, you can check your reserved storage in Windows 11 through the command line. You'll need to open Windows Terminal as an administrator and type a specific command. This method shows you the reserved storage usage if you're comfortable with using commands instead of the Settings app.
- [ADMIN] Open Windows Terminal as an administrator.
- Click the Start button, type Windows Terminal, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
- Learn more about opening Windows Terminal as admin
- Choose either the PowerShell or Command Prompt tab.
- You can switch tabs at the top of the Terminal window.
- Type this command and press Enter:
fsutil storagereserve query C:This checks the reserved storage on your C: drive (usually your main drive).
- The result will show you the reserved storage space in bytes.
Summary
Reserved storage in Windows 11 keeps space ready for updates and important system tasks, helping your computer run smoothly. Knowing how to check its usage is key to managing your disk space. You can easily see how much space it's taking up by using the Settings app or the command line.- Reserved storage is space Windows keeps for updates and important system tasks.
- You can easily check it using the Settings app or the Command Prompt.
- Knowing your reserved storage size helps you manage your disk space better.
- Checking it regularly can prevent problems caused by low disk space.
- Keeping an eye on reserved storage ensures your Windows 11 PC runs smoothly and stays healthy.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!