How to Manage Reserved Storage in Windows 11

This article explains enabling or disabling Reserved Storage in Windows 11.

Reserved Storage is a feature introduced in Windows 10 version 1903 and later versions, including Windows 11. It reserves a certain amount of disk space (usually around 7GB) to store system files, updates, and temporary files.

Reserved Storage is enabled by default on most Windows 11 installations. The idea is to ensure critical system processes always have enough space to run smoothly, even if the disk runs low on free space.

You may want to enable or disable Reserved Storage in Windows 11 for various reasons. For example, if you have limited disk space, you may want to disable Reserved Storage to free up some space.

On the other hand, if you have ample disk space and want to ensure your system runs smoothly without any issues, you may want to keep Reserved Storage enabled. Ultimately, it depends on your personal preferences and usage requirements.

Enable or disable Reserved Storage using the Command Prompt

As mentioned, users can enable or disable the Reserved Storage in Windows 11. However, your system must have one to function smoothly.

Here’s how to do it.

First, check whether Restorage Storage is enabled or disabled on your system. Open the Windows Terminal app as administrator.

Then, run the command below.

DISM /Online /Get-ReservedStorageState

The command above will tell you whether Reserve Storage is enabled or disabled on your machine.

Enable Reserved Storage:

Run the command below to enable Reserved Storage using the Command Prompt in Windows Terminal.

DISM /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Enabled

Disable Reserved Storage:

To disable Reserved Storage, run the command below:

DISM /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Disabled

Enable or disable Reserved Storage using Windows PowerShell

Another way to enable or disable Reserved Storage in Windows 11 is to use the Windows PowerShell app.

First, check whether Restorage Storage is enabled or disabled on your system. Open the Windows Terminal app as administrator.

Then, run the command below.

Get-WindowsReservedStorageState

The command above will tell you whether Reserve Storage is enabled or disabled on your machine.

Enable Reserved Storage:

To enable Reserved Storage in Windows using PowerShell, run the command below.

Set-WindowsReservedStorageState -State Enabled

Disable Reserved Storage:

To disable Reserved Storage using Windows PowerShell, run the command below:

Set-WindowsReservedStorageState -State Disabled

Enable or disable Reserved Storage using Windows Registry Editor

Yet another way to enable or disable Reserved Storage in Windows is to use the Windows Registry editor.

First, open the Windows Terminal app as an administrator.

The keys to enable or disable Reserved Storage are stored in the registry key below.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager

The (REG_DWORD) names below affect enabling or disabling Reserved Storage in Windows:

• MiscPolicyInfo = On/Off ( 1/2)
• PassedPolicy = On/Off ( 1/0)
• ShippedWithReserves = On/Off (1/0)

Run the command below on the Windows Terminal console to enable Reserved Storage in Windows 11.

REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager /v MiscPolicyInfo /t REG_DWORD /d 1
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager /v PassedPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager /v ShippedWithReserves /t REG_DWORD /d 1

To disable Reserved Storage, run the command below.

REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager /v MiscPolicyInfo /t REG_DWORD /d 2
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager /v PassedPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 0
REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager /v ShippedWithReserves /t REG_DWORD /d 0

• The /v or value name, under the selected key to add.
• The /t or data types REG_DWORD to add.
• The /d or data to assign to the registry ValueName being added.
• The /f or Force overwrites the existing registry entry without prompting.

You may have to restart your computer for the changes to apply.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Understanding how to enable or disable Reserved Storage in Windows 11 gives users control over their system’s disk space allocation.
• Whether enabling or disabling Reserved Storage, users can tailor their system setup to best suit their storage needs and usage preferences.
• Users can choose the most convenient approach by using multiple methods – Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, and Windows Registry Editor – to enable or disable Reserved Storage.
• When deciding whether to enable or disable Reserved Storage in Windows 11, it’s important to consider individual storage constraints and system performance requirements.