There are all sorts of reasons why you will need to free up hard drive space on your Windows 10 PC. Whether your PC is stuttering, overheating randomly, or draining battery unexpectedly, cleaning up the hard drive will help you sort out the issue and restore the full functionality of your Windows device.
Luckily, Windows 10 offers a variety of handy built-in tools and settings that make it easier to track and manage disk usage. In this guide, I’m going to share the 14 best and most effective ways to free up hard drive space on Windows 10. From deleting temporary files to offloading files to the cloud, these practical tips will help you reclaim valuable storage and maintain optimal system performance—all without the need for third-party software. That all being said, let’s get started!
1. Uninstall Unnecessary Apps and Programs
First and foremost, I’d recommend you eliminate all the redundant apps and software programs you no longer use.
- Go to Settings app on your PC > Apps > Apps & features.
- After that, be sure to sort the list by size or last used, and uninstall the applications you no longer need.
- Keep in mind that some large applications like games, editing software, or trial versions can take up several gigabytes of space.
- Always verify if the program isn’t essential before removing it.
2. Use Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space
Windows 10 includes a built-in feature called Storage Sense that allows you to automatically clean up temporary files, empty the recycle bin, and delete old files in your Downloads folder.
- Enable it by going to the Settings app on your Windows device > System > Storage > Storage Sense and turning it on.
- Note that you can configure it to run on a schedule and choose what it cleans up.
3. Delete Temporary Files
It’s worth pointing out that the temporary files are created by the system and applications for short-term use and can accumulate over time. Therefore, it’s always recommended to keep an eye on these files and clean them up to recover a lot of precious space.
- On your PC, navigate to the Settings app > System > Storage, click on your main drive (usually C:), then select Temporary files.
- Here, you can select items like delivery optimization files, Windows update logs, thumbnails, and more to delete and regain space instantly.
4. Clean the Recycle Bin
Be aware of the fact that the files in the Recycle Bin still occupy space on your hard drive until you permanently clean them up.
- To do so, just right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin, or go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Now, select your drive, and delete it from the Temporary files section.
- Be sure to review the contents before doing so to avoid accidental loss of important data.
5. Clear the Downloads Folder
Since the Downloads folder often accumulates installers, PDFs, media files, and other large items you may no longer need, it’s better to keep it decluttered.
- Navigate to C:\Users[YourName]\Downloads, review the contents, and delete or move files you no longer use.
- You can also set Storage Sense to automatically delete items in Downloads that haven’t been used in a specified number of days.
6. Use Disk Cleanup Tool
Do you know that the classic Disk Cleanup utility is still available in Windows 10? Make full use of it to keep the clutter at a fair distance on your PC.
- Open the Start menu on your PC > search for Disk Cleanup > select your drive.
- Now, the tool will calculate how much space you can free.
- Then, you need to check boxes for system files like Windows Update Cleanup, Temporary Internet Files, and Delivery Optimization Files.
- Once that’s done, you can also click on Clean up system files for more options.
7. Remove Old System Restore Points
Your System Restore uses storage to keep snapshots of your PC in case of errors. Over time, these can use several gigabytes. Therefore, remove the old system restore points from time to time so that they don’t clog up the important space.
- To remove them, go to Control Panel > System > System Protection.
- Now, select the drive and click Configure.
- Next, choose Delete to remove all but the latest restore point. You also have the option to reduce the amount of space allotted for system protection.
8. Disable Hibernation Mode
Hibernation saves your system state to disk, allowing for quicker restarts, but it creates a hidden file called hiberfil.syswhich can take up several gigabytes.
- If you don’t use hibernation, disable it by launching the Command Prompt as an administrator and typing
powercfg -h off. This deletes the hibernation file and frees up disk space instantly.
9. Move Files to External Drives
If you’re low on internal storage, it’d be a good idea to transfer the large files like videos, photos, and music to an external hard drive or USB stick.
- To get going, connect the drive, copy your files, and delete them from your PC to reclaim space.
- There is also a way to configure Windows to save new files to the external drive by default through Settings > System > Storage > Change where new content is saved.
10. Use OneDrive or Cloud Storage
Another pretty smart way to free up disk space is by offloading your files to cloud storage can save space while keeping data accessible.
- Set up OneDrive by signing in with your Microsoft account, then move files to the OneDrive folder.
- Once uploaded, right-click files or folders and select Free up space to remove the local copy while retaining access online. This is especially useful for large photo or document libraries.
11. Analyze Storage Usage with Storage Settings
Windows 10 offers a neat way to figure out what’s taking up space on your drive.
- Dive into the Settings app on your PC > System > Storage and click on your drive. Here, you’ll see many categories such as Apps, Temporary Files, Pictures, and Others.
- Take advantage of the breakdown to pinpoint what’s using space so you can clean more effectively by targeting the largest categories.
12. Delete Duplicate Files
If eliminating duplicate files, such as photos, documents, and media, is not your hobby, there is a decent chance that they easily build up behind the scenes. Though Windows 10 doesn’t have a built-in duplicate file finder, you can manually dig into the duplicates in folders or use trusted third-party tools like Duplicate Cleaner Free or CCleaner. However, be cautious when deleting to avoid removing essential files.
13. Reduce Reserved Storage
I don’t think too many PC folks are aware of the fact that Windows 10 reserves a portion of your disk (usually 7GB) for updates and temporary files. For times when you’re running low on space and comfortable with advanced settings, you can choose to disable reserved storage using PowerShell.
- Open PowerShell as administrator.
- After that, run
Set-ReservedStorageState -State Disabled. - While this is the best way for advanced users, be warned that it may impact update reliability.
14. Delete Old Windows Installation Files (Windows.old)
Last but not least, always make it a point to wipe out the old Windows installation files. After a major Windows update, your system stores the previous installation in a folder called Windows.old, which can take up tens of gigabytes.
- If you’re sure you won’t revert to the old version, delete it by going to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, then check Previous Windows installation(s) and remove them.
- Alternatively, you can use Disk Cleanup with Clean up system files enabled.
And that’s about it! Now, you have mastered all the reliable ways to keep your disk clutter-free.
