A nearly-full disk is one of the most common causes of Windows slowdowns, failed updates, and "not enough space" errors. Before you buy a new drive, try these eight methods — most users can reclaim 10–40 GB without touching a single important file.
1. Run Disk Cleanup (Including System Files)
Search "Disk Cleanup" in Start, run it on your C: drive. When it finishes scanning, click "Clean up system files" — this unlocks a deeper scan that also includes old Windows Update packages, delivery optimization files, and service pack backups.
Common finds: 5–15 GB from Windows Update leftovers alone on a machine that has been running for a year.
Common finds: 5–15 GB from Windows Update leftovers alone on a machine that has been running for a year.
2. Remove Unnecessary Apps
Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps, sort by "Size", and uninstall anything large that you have not used in months. Old game installs, trial software, and manufacturer bloatware are the usual space hogs.
Pay attention to games especially — a single modern game can occupy 50–100 GB.
Pay attention to games especially — a single modern game can occupy 50–100 GB.
3. Enable Storage Sense
Settings → System → Storage → Storage Sense. Toggle it on and configure it to:
- Run every month (or during low free disk space)
- Delete temporary files my apps are not using
- Delete files in the Recycle Bin that have been there for 30 days
- Delete files in Downloads that have not been opened for 60 days (optional — be careful with this one)
- Run every month (or during low free disk space)
- Delete temporary files my apps are not using
- Delete files in the Recycle Bin that have been there for 30 days
- Delete files in Downloads that have not been opened for 60 days (optional — be careful with this one)
4. Move or Delete the Hibernation File
The hibernation file (
If you never use Hibernate (most desktop users do not), disable it: open an admin Command Prompt and run
hiberfil.sys) is stored on C: and is sized at 75% of your total RAM. On a machine with 32 GB RAM, that is a 24 GB file sitting on your system drive at all times.If you never use Hibernate (most desktop users do not), disable it: open an admin Command Prompt and run
powercfg /hibernate off. The file is deleted automatically.5. Compress Old Files (on SSDs)
Windows 11 lets you enable Compact OS compression, which stores system files in a compressed format. On machines with fast CPUs, the decompression overhead is invisible. Run in admin Command Prompt:
Typically saves 2–3 GB. Not recommended on HDDs where the decompression overhead is noticeable.
compact /compactOS:alwaysTypically saves 2–3 GB. Not recommended on HDDs where the decompression overhead is noticeable.
6. Clear Browser Caches
Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all accumulate caches over time. In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Clear browsing data → Cached images and files. In Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Clear browsing data.
A year-old Chrome install can have 1–2 GB of cache. You will not notice any difference after clearing it — pages just reload slightly slower the first visit.
A year-old Chrome install can have 1–2 GB of cache. You will not notice any difference after clearing it — pages just reload slightly slower the first visit.
7. Move Large Files to External Storage or Cloud
Videos, RAW photos, and old project files are often the single biggest space consumers. Consider:
- External USB drive for infrequently accessed archives
- OneDrive / Google Drive with "Files On-Demand" enabled — files appear as if they are local but only download when you open them
- NAS (Network Attached Storage) for a home media server setup
- External USB drive for infrequently accessed archives
- OneDrive / Google Drive with "Files On-Demand" enabled — files appear as if they are local but only download when you open them
- NAS (Network Attached Storage) for a home media server setup
8. Use WinDirStat or a Disk Analyser
Sometimes you do not know what is eating your space. WinDirStat (free, open source) visualises your entire disk as a coloured treemap — the biggest blocks are the biggest files. Navigate to any block and delete it if you do not need it.
WhaleClean includes a built-in Disk Analyser that does the same thing with a cleaner interface, showing you the largest folders and files in a sortable list.
WhaleClean includes a built-in Disk Analyser that does the same thing with a cleaner interface, showing you the largest folders and files in a sortable list.
Reclaim Space in Minutes with WhaleClean
WhaleClean's cleaner handles steps 1, 3, 6, and 8 automatically — showing you exactly what is safe to delete before you commit. The Disk Analyser helps you track down large files instantly. Free to download.
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