How to Turn On or Off Compact OS in Windows 11
Compact OS in Windows 11 shrinks your system files to save storage space on your hard drive. This built-in feature works best on small solid-state drives, freeing up roughly 2GB of disk space without hurting performance.
You can turn Compact OS on or off using the command line if your PC runs low on room. Running this command squashes core operating system files so you have more space for your apps and games.
You can turn Compact OS on or off using Windows Terminal with administrator privileges. Run the command compact /compactos:always to enable it or compact /compactos:never to disable it. Check the current status with compact /compactos:query.
Important Things to Know
- Admin privileges required — You must be logged in as an administrator to make these changes.
- This process takes time — Windows needs a few minutes to compress or uncompress your files, so be patient.
Step 1Check if Compact OS is On or Off
Checking the current status helps determine whether compression is active or if it needs toggling. Knowing this information helps decide whether to enable compression for more disk space or disable it if problems arise. Running this status check serves as the initial diagnostic step.
The output indicates whether the feature is currently active.
- Click the Start button .
- Type Windows Terminal.
- Right-click it and choose Run as administrator. ⚠️ Admin privileges required
- In the window that opens, copy and paste this command, then press Enter:
compact /compactos:query - Read the message:
- If it says “Compact OS is enabled.” — it’s turned on.
- If it says “Compact OS is disabled.” — it’s turned off.
- Close Windows Terminal when done.
Step 2How to Turn On Compact OS
Compact OS in Windows 11 frees up storage space by compressing system files, making them smaller and saving gigabytes on your hard drive. Low disk space makes this option particularly valuable.
Windows compresses the system files during a process that requires a brief wait.
- Open Windows Terminal as an administrator (follow Step 1 above). ⚠️ Admin privileges required
- Copy and paste this command, then press Enter:
compact /compactos:always - Wait while Windows compresses your files. This may take several minutes.
- Close the window when finished.
Step 3How to Turn Off Compact OS
Reverting this change expands the system files back to their original size. Decompressing files can help resolve performance issues on certain hardware. Windows requires a short window to complete this deactivation task.
Disabling the feature forces the computer to read and rewrite data for every single file. Large installations take several minutes to fully decompress during this phase.
- Open Windows Terminal as an administrator. ⚠️ Admin privileges required
- Copy and paste this command, then press Enter:
compact /compactos:never - Wait while Windows uncompresses the files. This can take several minutes.
- Close the window when done.
Summary
- You must have administrator access to use Compact OS.
- Compact OS saves disk space by squeezing Windows system files smaller.
- Use these simple commands in Windows Terminal:
- Check status:
compact /compactos:query - Turn on:
compact /compactos:always - Turn off:
compact /compactos:never
- Check status:
- Exercise patience because compressing or decompressing files takes time.
- Always check the status after running a command to verify the outcome.
Compact OS in Windows 11 saves disk space by compressing system files. Administrator rights are required to manage Compact OS. You can check Compact OS status with 'compact /compactos:query'. To turn Compact OS on, use 'compact /compactos:always'. To turn Compact OS off, use 'compact /compactos:never' in Windows Terminal. These operations may take time.
What is a Windows compact OS?
Compact OS is a built-in Windows feature that compresses system files. This reduces the overall size of your Windows installation and frees up disk space, all without removing any components or apps.
What is the 🪟 Windows 7 Compact OS?
No, that is an entirely separate operating system designed for industrial devices and enterprise hardware.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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