Windows Storage Full? How to Free Up Disk Space Safely (Windows 10/11)

Introduction

If your Windows drive is almost full, your PC can slow down, updates can fail, and apps may crash. The good news: you can usually recover 5–30 GB safely without deleting important files. Follow the steps below in order and stop when you have enough space.

Check What’s Taking Space (Fast)

Steps

1. Settings → System → Storage

2. Click your main drive (usually C:)

3. Look at the biggest categories: Apps, Temporary files, Documents, Pictures, System & reserved

This tells you where the “real” space is going.

Turn On Storage Sense (Automatic Cleanup)

Steps

1. Settings → System → Storage

2. Enable Storage Sense

3. Click it and set:

   • Run: Every week (or daily if you want)

   • Delete temp files: On

   • Recycle Bin/Downloads cleanup: choose a safe delay (ex: 30 days)

Storage Sense is built-in and safe.

Clean Temporary Files (Big Win)

Steps

1. Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files

2. Check safe items like:

   • Temporary files

   • Delivery Optimization files

   • Thumbnails

   • DirectX Shader Cache

3. Click Remove files

Avoid deleting Downloads unless you reviewed it.

Use Disk Cleanup for System Files

Disk Cleanup can remove Windows update leftovers.

Steps

1. Search Disk Cleanup → open it

2. Select drive C:

3. Click Clean up system files

4. Check:

   • Windows Update Cleanup

   • Temporary Windows installation files

   • Device driver packages (only if you understand it)

5. Click OK

This can free several GB.

Uninstall Large Apps You Don’t Use

Steps

1. Settings → Apps → Installed apps (or Apps & features)

2. Sort by Size

3. Uninstall games and apps you don’t use

Don’t uninstall hardware drivers or “Microsoft Visual C++” packages.

Empty Recycle Bin and Clean Downloads

Steps

1. Right-click Recycle Bin → Empty Recycle Bin

2. Open Downloads folder and delete:

   • Old installers (.exe/.msi)

   • Duplicate ZIPs

   • Large files you no longer need

Find Large Files Quickly

Steps

1. Open File Explorer → This PC

2. Search in C: with:

   • size:gigantic (over ~4GB)

   • size:huge (over ~1GB)

3. Move big videos/ISOs to another drive or external storage

Move Personal Files to Another Drive (Safe Long-Term)

If you have a second disk (D:), move heavy folders.

Steps

1. Right-click Downloads / Documents / Pictures

2. Properties → Location → Move

3. Choose a folder on D:

This keeps Windows on C: but moves your data.

Disable Hibernation (Optional Huge Space)

Hibernation can reserve several GB.

Steps (Admin CMD)

1. Search cmd → Run as administrator

2. Run:

To re-enable later:

Skip this if you use hibernate a lot.

Notes and Warnings

• Don’t delete random files in C:\Windows or Program Files manually.

• If Windows Update fails due to low storage, see Article #2 (Windows Update stuck/failing).

• If your internet/DNS issues happened after cleanup or updates, see Article #3 and #4.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much free space should I keep on C:?

Try to keep 10–20% free for smooth performance and updates.

Is it safe to delete Windows Update Cleanup?

Yes. It removes old update files you no longer need (you may lose the ability to roll back certain updates).

Why is “System & reserved” so large?

It includes Windows files, pagefile, hibernation file, restore points, and update caches.

Conclusion

To free disk space on Windows safely: check Storage, enable Storage Sense, remove temporary files, run Disk Cleanup (system files), uninstall large apps, and move big personal files off C:. These steps fix most “disk full” problems without risky manual deletions.