How to Show or Hide Empty Drives in Windows 11
Showing or hiding empty drives in Windows 11 File Explorer is a simple setting change that affects how your storage devices appear.
Windows 11 usually hides drives that don’t have any files or folders on them to keep File Explorer tidy. An empty drive is simply a storage space, like a USB stick or another hard drive, that’s currently blank.
You might want to see these empty drives, especially if you use many different USB drives or manage several computer partitions. It lets you visually confirm all your connected storage, no matter if it’s full or empty.
You can show or hide empty drives in Windows 11 by opening File Explorer, clicking the three dots, selecting Options, going to the View tab, and checking or unchecking “Hide empty drives.” Alternatively, use the Settings app under System > For developers > File Explorer.
What Are Empty Drives?
Empty drives are storage devices plugged into your computer that have no files or folders saved on them. Think of a brand new USB stick or an empty SD card. Windows hides these drives automatically so your File Explorer doesn’t look cluttered with devices you’re not using right now.
Why Show or Hide Empty Drives?
Hiding empty drives in Windows 11 keeps your File Explorer neat, making it simpler to find the storage space you actually use. You can hide drives that have no files on them to cut down on clutter. This is super handy if you swap out storage devices often and want a cleaner view.
Empty drives in Windows 11 can appear when a storage device has no files. Showing empty drives helps users quickly find storage devices with no files, which is useful for users who frequently add or remove files.
How to Show or Hide Empty Drives in 🪟 Windows 11
You can show or hide empty drives in Windows 11 right from the Settings app. This simple change helps clean up your File Explorer view, letting you choose if you want to see drives that don’t have any files on them. Just open Settings, go to System, then Storage, and toggle the option for empty drives.
- Open Windows Settings:
- Click the Start button and then select Settings.
- Or press
Windows key + Ion your keyboard.
- Go to System: In the Settings window, click System on the left side.
Windows 11 System button in Settings - Open “For developers”: On the right side, find and click the For developers option.
Windows 11 For developers tile - Find File Explorer Settings: Scroll down until you see the File Explorer section and click it to open.
- Turn On or Off “Show empty drives”: Toggle the switch next to Show empty drives:
- Switch it On to see empty drives in File Explorer.
- Switch it Off to hide empty drives.
Show empty drives toggle - Close Settings when you’re done.
Alternative Method: Using File Explorer Options
Managing empty drives in Windows 11 can also be done using File Explorer Options. This setting lets you control whether empty drives show up, giving you another way to keep your File Explorer organized. Open File Explorer, click the three dots, choose Options, and then find the setting for hiding empty drives in the View tab.
- Open File Explorer (press
Windows key + E). - Click the three dots
...at the top and select Options. - In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
- Find Hide empty drives in the list:
- Check the box to hide empty drives.
- Uncheck it to show empty drives.
File Explorer - Hide empty drives option - Click OK to save your changes.
Summary
Empty drives are storage devices with no files, and Windows 11 hides them by default to keep File Explorer clean. You can choose to show or hide these drives using either the Settings app or File Explorer Options to better manage your storage view.
How do I show empty drives in 🪟 Windows 11?
Press ⊞ Win+I to open the Settings app. Go to System > For developers. Under File Explorer, find the Show empty drives toggle. Toggle it 'On' to display empty drives on your PC, and toggle it 'Off' to hide them.
How do you clear drives in 🪟 Windows 11?
In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, then select it from the results. Select the drive you want to clean up files for, then select OK. Select the check box next to the type of files you want to delete.
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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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