How to Show or Hide Empty Drives in Windows 11
Empty drives in Windows 11 File Explorer are blank storage spaces like memory cards, empty USB sticks, or unused hard disk partitions that Windows normally hides by default to keep your folder list clean. Turning on this setting makes every connected storage device visible, even when it contains no files.
Seeing empty drives helps you check if your computer actually detects a blank USB drive or a fresh partition before you try to use it. You can change this setting in the File Explorer Options menu in just a few clicks.
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 File Explorer clean and helps you focus on the storage space you actually use. Showing empty drives in Windows 11 is useful when you need to track down a memory card, card reader, or secondary partition that is currently not holding any files. You can choose whether to display these empty drives based on how often you swap out your storage devices.
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
To show or hide empty drives in Windows 11, you use the Settings app to change how File Explorer handles storage devices with no files. This built-in setting lets you clear out unused drive letters from your view without deleting any data. You can turn this setting on or off whenever you plug in removable drives or memory cards.
- 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 through File Explorer Options to control what appears in your folder view. This classic control panel menu gives you a direct toggle to hide empty drives so they stop cluttering your drive list. It works as a quick alternative if you prefer changing folder views right inside File Explorer instead of opening the main Settings app.
- 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 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.
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