It's easy for your Windows PC to run out of space, especially if you've been using the system for a while. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can check your hard drive's free space to see which files and items are taking up too much space on your computer. Here's a look at the main issues.
What takes up so much space on my computer?
The Recycle Bin is one of the easiest places to find items that are taking up a lot of space on your computer.
The Recycle Bin is where deleted files go. Files aren't automatically deleted. Instead, they're marked for deletion and placed in the Recycle Bin. This gives you some time to recover files if you accidentally delete one, but it can take up a lot of space. Windows 10 allocates 10% of your available hard drive space for deleted files, which can add up quickly.
Empty the Recycle Bin by searching for Recycle Bin and then clicking Empty Recycle Bin on the Tools tab. Recycle Bin.
What's taking up all my storage space?
Windows 10 and later provides insight into what might be installed on your system and therefore taking up a lot of space. Click Settings > System > Storage To view the total space you have available, as well as the space that has been used across different categories.
Click Show more categories To get insight into where your storage space is going.
Also in Storage, you can toggle Storage Sense to let Windows automatically free up space by deleting unnecessary files from time to time.
Do I need temporary files?
Temporary files are often necessary for Windows 10, but their purpose is temporary. Sometimes, these files can remain for longer than you'd like.
Delete it using Disk Cleanup. Find disk Cleanup Then click on your hard drive. Click Clean up system files to remove all unnecessary system files. This includes temporary files, temporary Internet files, the contents of the Recycle Bin, and any other files that are no longer needed.
Can photos and videos take up a lot of space?
Yes, photos and videos are often the main files that take up a lot of space on your computer's hard drive. It's a good idea to store them elsewhere. It's possible to store them in the cloud using OneDrive Built-in to Windows 10 and 11.
Using OneDrive means you can easily: Store large files It's stored in the cloud so you can access it from your computer anytime you have an internet connection. It's ideal for photos and videos, as well as any other files you might just need to look at from time to time.
in File Explorer , Locate OneDrive folder Then identify the files and folders that are taking up the most space. Right-click the file or folder and click Free up space Make files available online only, saving space on your computer.
Do apps take up space?
If you have a lot of apps and programs installed on your computer, they can take up a lot of space. the games Especially large, so it's good Uninstall Applications that you don't use often.
If you're not sure which apps are taking up the most space, tap Settings > Apps > Apps & features , then tap Size filter Next to Sort by to view the largest apps.
How can multiple users occupy space?
If you've ever shared a computer with someone and they have their own user account, the items they've stored are definitely taking up space. Delete Users on Windows 10 and 11 It is a simple matter of moving to Settings Then click Accounts and Family and other users, then click "Removal" Next to the account that is no longer in use.
Doing so deletes all user data from your computer, including desktop items, downloads, documents, photos, music, and other files.
Tip: Check with the user to make sure they no longer need the files before deleting their profile.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: How do I get more disk space on my computer?
The answer: If these tips don't work, the easiest way to expand your storage space is with an external hard drive. This is often cheaper and easier than upgrading your internal drive, and you can at least double your storage space instantly.
Q2: How can I find out what is taking up disk space on a Windows 7 computer?
The answer: First, open File Explorer and click Computer to see all your available drives. Then, select any of them to see both the used and available space. Right-click and choose Properties to open another window with more information. Near the bottom of the General tab, click Disk Cleanup to remove temporary files.
