Geek Rewind

How to Check Folder Size in Windows 11

Richard

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This article outlines how to check folder sizes in Windows 11, aiding effective storage management. Knowing folder sizes can prevent performance issues and help in organizing files. Two methods are provided: using File Explorer properties and hovering the mouse over the folder, both user-friendly techniques for quick access to size information.

This article provides instructions on how to check the size of a folder in Windows 11.

Viewing the size of folders in Windows 11 can help you manage your computer’s storage space. Knowing which folders occupy the most space allows you to decide which files to delete or move to an external drive.

Improving the performance of your computer often involves managing your storage space effectively. Knowing the size of a folder can help prevent your computer from slowing down due to inadequate storage. Additionally, understanding folder sizes is beneficial when sharing files with others or backing up important data.

View folder size in File Explorer

To access File Explorer, click the folder icon on the taskbar. File Explorer is an application that enables you to browse and manage files and folders in Windows 11.

You can go to File Explorer by selecting the taskbar icon or pressing the Windows logo key + E on your keyboard.

Next, select the folder, right-click on the folder for which you want to view its size, and click “Properties” in the context menu.

Make sure to select the folder first.

This will show the folder properties dialog, displaying the folder size in the “Size” and “Size on disk” fields.

This also provides details such as the folder’s creation date, files, and any sub-folders within it, along with the count of items and folder attributes like hidden and read-only.

How to view folder size via mouse hover

One way to check a folder’s size in File Explorer is to hover your mouse over the folder. This action will trigger a tooltip displaying the folder size.

This method is typically easier to use than the first method mentioned. However, please note that some root folders may not show their hover-over tooltips.

The methods mentioned above are just two ways to view or obtain the size of a folder. There may be other approaches available in Windows 11, but these two methods can be very useful when you need to quickly find out the size of a folder.

Conclusion:

  • Knowing how to check folder sizes in Windows 11 helps in effective storage management.
  • Regularly monitoring folder sizes can prevent performance issues due to a lack of disk space.
  • The two methods provided—using File Explorer properties and mouse hover—are quick and user-friendly.
  • Familiarizing yourself with these techniques can make file organization and data sharing much easier.
  • Always consider moving or deleting large files to maintain optimal storage on your device.

Richard Avatar
Richard
Richard, the owner and lead writer at Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast passionate about simplifying complex IT topics. His years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations have honed his ability to provide practical insights 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. He enjoys watching football, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, and spending time with his family when he’s not writing or managing Geek Rewind.

Comments

  1. René Avatar
    René

    And 3th? How to show folder size in the column ‘Size’. That would be handy too.

    Reply
    1. Michael Blosser Avatar
      Michael Blosser

      We the People have been begging MS to allow Folder Size to be represented in the Size column Since before Windows 95!!!! We are still waiting….This is 2022….are you kidding me!

      Reply
  2. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    This post lacks how to show the size of a selection of folders. By default, selecting several folders only shows the size of the first folder.

    Reply
  3. Nemo Avatar
    Nemo

    Sadly, this information is rather useless. This is neither a “handy” way to view folder sizes, nor is it practical when checking many folders for their size, for instance when wanting to free disk space. Which I would say is one of the very few times that you need to see a folder’s size in the list.
    Is there no way to display the folder size in the “size” column? Not even third party programs can do that (if you manage to find one, “Folder Size” is impossible to locate and needs a secondary window to display what you want to see, nothing changes in the native explorer window).
    What I see is, a “size” column. But it has been empty for all folders in existence for decades, for no apparent reason. If the reason is that calculating the size of a folder would take so long (because you need to scan the entire directory, which can take some time) then why not add a checkbox in the explorer options menu? “Display folder sizes. []” Easy. Just why does it have to be so complicated, and why does Windows seem to just deliver useless updates, for such a long time now? Since Win7, it has been going down. Win7 is best Windows, change my mind.

    Reply
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