How to Turn On or Off Compact OS in Windows 11

Step 1Check if Compact OS is On or Off

You can check if Compact OS Windows is currently turned on or off by running a quick command in Windows Terminal. Open Windows Terminal with administrator rights, type the query command, and press Enter to see the current compression status of your system files.

1. Click the Start button ⊞.
2. Type Windows Terminal.
3. Right-click it and choose Run as administrator. ⚠️ Admin privileges required
4. In the window that opens, copy and paste this command, then press Enter:
   
   compact /compactos:query
5. 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.
6. Close Windows Terminal when done.

Step 2How to Turn On Compact OS

You can turn on Compact OS Windows to save disk space by compressing system files that Windows uses to run. Open Windows Terminal as an administrator, enter the specific activation command, and wait a few minutes while Windows shrinks the files.

Windows compresses the system files during a process that requires a brief wait.

1. Open Windows Terminal as an administrator (follow Step 1 above). ⚠️ Admin privileges required
2. Copy and paste this command, then press Enter:
   
   compact /compactos:always
3. Wait while Windows compresses your files. This may take several minutes.
4. Close the window when finished.

Step 3How to Turn Off Compact OS

You can turn off Compact OS Windows to decompress your system files and return them to their original size. Open Windows Terminal as an administrator, run the deactivation command, and give Windows a few minutes to rewrite the data.

Decompressing files takes a few minutes as Windows rewrites data for every file.

1. Open Windows Terminal as an administrator. ⚠️ Admin privileges required
2. Copy and paste this command, then press Enter:
   
   compact /compactos:never
3. Wait while Windows uncompresses the files. This can take several minutes.
4. 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
• Exercise patience because compressing or decompressing files takes time.
• Always check the status after running a command to verify the outcome.

Compact OS Windows is a built-in feature that saves valuable hard drive space by shrinking system files using simple Windows Terminal commands. You can check your current status, turn compression on, or turn it off whenever your storage needs change.