How to Free Up Disk Space in Windows 11: 10 Ways to Clean Storage

1Turn On Storage Sense To Automate Cleaning

Turning on Storage Sense in Windows 11 lets your computer automatically delete junk files, temporary data, and old items in your Recycle Bin 🗑️ without manual effort. To turn on Storage Sense, open your Settings app ⚙️, click on System, select Storage, and switch the Storage Sense toggle to the on position. This background tool runs on a schedule to keep your hard drive clean.

To turn on and configure Storage Sense:

1. Click the Start button ⊞ and open the Settings ⚙️ app.
2. Select System from the menu on the left side.
3. Click on Storage.
4. Find the toggle switch next to Storage Sense and click it to turn it On.

   

5. Click on the Storage Sense text itself to open its detailed settings.
6. Choose how often you want Storage Sense to run, and tell it how old files in your Recycle Bin 🗑️ and Downloads folder should be before it deletes them automatically.

2Use Storage Recommendations To Find Hidden Space

Storage recommendations in Windows 11 scan your hard drive and group junk files, unused apps, and giant documents together so you can remove them quickly. To find these suggestions, open your Settings app ⚙️, click System, select Storage, and click on Cleanup recommendations. Windows then lists large files, temporary items, and apps you no longer need in one convenient place.

Follow these steps to use storage recommendations:

1. Open the Settings app from your Start menu.

   

2. Go to System and then click Storage.
3. Click on Cleanup recommendations.
4. Windows will display categories like Temporary files, Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud, and Unused apps.
5. Click on any category to view the items inside. Check the boxes next to the files or apps you want to remove, and click the clean button.

3Run The Classic Disk Cleanup Tool

Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows tool that finds and deletes leftover installation files, old system update backups, and temporary items stuck deep inside your system folders. To run Disk Cleanup, type disk cleanup into your Windows search bar, press Enter, select your main drive, and check the boxes next to the unwanted files. This classic utility safely removes system files that take up valuable room.

To run Disk Cleanup, follow these steps:

1. Click the Windows Search bar on your taskbar, type Disk Cleanup, and press Enter.
2. Choose your main drive (usually drive C:) from the drop-down menu and click OK.
3. Review the list of file types you can delete, such as Temporary Internet Files and Thumbnails.
4. Click the Clean up system files button at the bottom of the window to let the tool scan for larger system files like previous Windows installation data.
5. Select all the unnecessary file checkboxes and click OK, then click Delete Files to confirm.

4Empty Your Recycle Bin Properly

Emptying your Recycle Bin permanently deletes all the files you previously threw away, instantly freeing up gigabytes of hidden storage space on your computer. To empty it properly, double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, click the Empty Recycle Bin button at the top of the window, and confirm your choice. Deleted items continue to take up drive space until you clear this folder.

Here is how to empty your Recycle Bin:

1. Find the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop screen and double-click it. (If you cannot find it on your desktop, type "Recycle Bin" into the Windows search bar.)
2. Look through the contents to make sure there are no files you accidentally deleted. If you find a file you need, right-click it and choose Restore.
3. At the top of the window, click the Recycle Bin Tools tab, then click Empty Recycle Bin.
4. Confirm your choice by clicking Yes.

5Uninstall Apps And Games You No Longer Use

Uninstalling apps and games you no longer use is one of the fastest ways to free up large amounts of disk space on your Windows 11 computer. To remove unwanted software, open your Settings app, click Apps, select Installed apps, find the program you want to delete, click the three dots next to it, and choose Uninstall. Removing heavy games and forgotten software recovers significant hard drive capacity.

To remove unwanted applications, use these steps:

1. Open your Settings app and select Apps.
2. Click on Installed apps to see a full list of everything installed on your computer.
3. Scroll through the list to find an app or game you no longer need.
4. Click the three dots button next to the app name and select Uninstall.
5. Follow the prompts on your screen to finish removing the program.

6Turn On OneDrive Files On-Demand

OneDrive Files On-Demand is a cloud storage tool that lets you keep your files safely stored in the cloud so they do not take up physical room on your computer hard drive. To turn the Files On-Demand feature on, click the cloud icon in your taskbar, open your settings, go to the Sync and backup tab, and make sure the setting is active. Your files only download to your PC when you open them.

Here is how to turn on OneDrive Files On-Demand:

1. Click the white or blue cloud icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar (in the system tray).
2. Click the Help & Settings gear icon, then select Settings.
3. Go to the Sync and backup tab and expand the advanced settings if needed, or look for the Files On-Demand section.
4. Make sure the setting that saves space and downloads files as you use them is turned on. When this is active, files show up on your computer, but they only download to your device when you double-click to open them. You can also right-click any local file or folder and choose Free up space to remove its local copy while keeping it safe online.

7Move Personal Files To An External Storage Device

Moving personal files like photos, videos, and large documents to an external hard drive or USB flash drive is a quick way to instantly create breathing room on your main drive. To move these files, plug your external drive into your computer, open File Explorer, select the large folders you want to move, and drag or copy them directly onto your external drive. This manually offloads heavy media away from your main system partition.

Follow these steps to move your files:

1. Plug your external hard drive or USB drive into an available USB port on your computer.
2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing the personal files you want to move (such as your Pictures or Videos folders).

   

3. Select the files and folders you want to relocate.
4. Right-click the selected items and choose Cut (or press Ctrl + X on your keyboard).
5. Navigate to your external drive inside File Explorer, right-click an empty space, and choose Paste (or press Ctrl + V).
6. Wait for the transfer to finish, and then safely disconnect your external drive if you wish.

8Save New Personal Files To A Secondary Drive

Changing where new content is saved tells Windows 11 to automatically store your new apps, documents, and music on a secondary, larger hard drive instead of your main system drive. To set this up, open Settings, go to System, click Storage, select Advanced storage settings, click Where new content is saved, and choose your secondary drive from the drop-down menus. This prevents your primary system drive from filling up too quickly in the future.

Here is how to change where new content is saved:

1. Open the Settings app and go to System, then click Storage.

   

2. Click on Advanced storage settings to expand the menu.
3. Click on Where new content is saved.
4. You will see a list of categories like apps, documents, music, photos, and movies. Each category has a drop-down menu beneath it.
5. Click the drop-down menu for each item and select your secondary drive (such as drive D:) instead of your main drive.
6. Click the Apply button to save your new storage choices.

9Run A Trusted Antivirus Scan

Running a trusted antivirus scan cleans out hidden malware, rogue software, and malicious temporary files that can quietly eat away at your computer disk space. To run a scan in Windows 11, open your Windows Security app, click Virus & threat protection, and select the Quick Scan or Full Scan button to check your system for hidden threats. Cleaning up malicious software often frees up hijacked storage space.

To run a security scan using Windows Security:

1. Open your Windows Start menu, type Windows Security, and press Enter.
2. Click on Virus & threat protection from the dashboard options.
3. Click on Scan options to view the different types of scans available.
4. Select Full scan to check every single file and running program on your entire computer.
5. Click the Scan now button and wait for the security tool to finish checking your system and removing any discovered threats.

10Clear Out Leftover Temporary Temp Folders Manually

Clearing out leftover temporary folders manually uncovers hidden digital clutter, browser cache, and broken installer files that automated tools might miss. To clean your temp folder manually, press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard, type %temp% into the run box, press Enter, select all the files inside the folder, and delete them. This deep-cleaning method gets rid of stubborn cache data left behind by apps.

Here is how to clean out your user temporary folder:

1. Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

   

2. Type %temp% into the box and press Enter. This action opens your personal temporary folder in File Explorer.
3. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all the files and folders inside this window.
4. Right-click the selected items and click the Delete icon (trash can).
5. If a small message pops up telling you that a file is currently in use by an open program, click Skip. This is completely normal because Windows or active apps protect files they need right now.

Summary

Freeing up disk space in Windows 11 is a simple process that involves using automated tools like Storage Sense, clearing out old apps, emptying your Recycle Bin, and moving large personal files to the cloud or an external drive. By following these easy steps, you can quickly reclaim gigabytes of storage and help your computer run much faster.