How to Enable or Disable Reserved Storage in Windows 11

What is Reserved Storage?

Reserved storage Windows 11 is a built-in feature that sets aside about 7 GB of your hard drive space specifically for system updates, temporary files, and app caches. This dedicated space helps your PC install updates 🔃 smoothly without running out of room, while keeping your personal files safe from clutter.

• Run better by keeping temporary files from using up your personal storage.
• Install updates 🔃 without needing extra free space.
• Keep storage space usage more predictable and stable.

If you run low on space, Windows will try to clear some of this reserved storage automatically.

Should You Disable Reserved Storage?

You can turn off Reserved Storage if you want to free up disk space. But keep in mind:

• Disabling it means Windows might need you to free up space manually before updates.
• It might affect how smoothly updates install.

How Much Space Does Reserved Storage Use?

Reserved storage Windows 11 normally uses about 7 GB of disk space right after a fresh install. However, the exact amount of space used can grow over time depending on how many optional Windows features you have turned on and how many different display languages are installed on your computer.

• Optional Features: If you have extra Windows features installed, Reserved Storage might grow to support them.
• Installed Languages: If you use multiple languages, Reserved Storage might increase.

You can reduce space used by removing optional features or languages you don’t need:

• Remove optional features: Settings › Apps › Optional Features
• Remove languages: How to remove languages in Windows 11

Before You Start

You need to be signed in as an Administrator to change Reserved Storage settings. Check if you have admin rights.

How to Check if Reserved Storage is On or Off

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. If you see a dropdown at the top, pick Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.
3. Type one of the following commands and press Enter:

Using PowerShell:

Get-WindowsReservedStorageState

Using Command Prompt:

DISM /Online /Get-ReservedStorageState

You will see if Reserved Storage is Enabled or Disabled.

How to Enable or Disable Reserved Storage

Option 1Using Command Prompt

1. Open Windows Terminal (Admin) and select Command Prompt.
2. To enable Reserved Storage, type and press Enter:
   

   DISM /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Enabled

3. To disable Reserved Storage, type and press Enter:
   

   DISM /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Disabled

4. Close the terminal when done.

Option 2Using PowerShell

1. Open Windows Terminal (Admin) and select Windows PowerShell.
2. To enable Reserved Storage, type and press Enter:
   

   Set-WindowsReservedStorageState -State Enabled

3. To disable Reserved Storage, type and press Enter:
   

   Set-WindowsReservedStorageState -State Disabled

4. Close the terminal when done.

Option 3Using Registry Files

Using Registry Editor allows you to change reserved storage Windows 11 settings by running specific commands or manually modifying registry keys. This method gives you direct control over turning the feature on or off when standard settings options are not available on your PC.

To Enable Reserved Storage (default):

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v ActiveScenario /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v MiscPolicyInfo /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v PassedPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v ShippedWithReserves /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

To Disable Reserved Storage:

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v ActiveScenario /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v MiscPolicyInfo /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v PassedPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v ShippedWithReserves /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Save the text above as a .reg file and double-click to apply it, then restart your PC.

Summary

Reserved storage Windows 11 is an automatic system feature that keeps your computer running smoothly by holding back hard drive space for critical updates. While it takes up a small chunk of your drive, understanding how reserved storage works helps you decide whether to keep it turned on or turn it off.

• Keeps your PC stable: Temporary files don’t fill up your personal storage.
• Makes updates easier: Windows uses reserved space first for updates.
• You control it: You can turn Reserved Storage on or off if you want.
• Requires admin rights: Only administrators can change these settings.

Managing Reserved Storage well can help your Windows run smoothly and keep your updates hassle-free.

Learn More from Microsoft

• How Reserved Storage Works in Windows - Microsoft Support
• Windows 10 and Reserved Storage | Microsoft Community
• Managing Reserved Storage in Windows 10 | Microsoft Community