How do I free up disk space for gaming?

Updated By

Linda 

Authored By

Tracy King 

Last Updated on April 19, 2024

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll promptly translate it into Chinese for you.

Have you noticed that your games don't run as smoothly as they used to, or that gaming just isn't as much fun?

You might be in the market for a new gaming computer, but what if you found out that you could speed up your PC just by freeing up some hard drive space!

Let's see why, and how to do it!

Why is it important to free up disk space for gaming?

You wonder, “How much hard drive space does a game need?” And why is it that your pretty capable gaming computer all of a sudden isn't up to snuff?

Each new system update, each game installed and forgotten, each downloaded emoji pack takes up space and slows things down.

And the more filled the disc, the slower and less enjoyable the game.

Firstly, freeing up hard drive space to play games is important because it will allow your games to run more smoothly.

There's no lag, so you don't lose a game because of a delay in your character's actions, or miss a move.

Moreover, the more disk space you free up, the more games you can install without having to sacrifice the one you're currently playing.

I know: it sounds paradoxical to free up disk space so that you don't have to free up disk space. But surely there are some old files or programs you can delete?

Well, let's see about that!

How to Free Up Disk Space for Gaming

Now that you know why, let's look at how to do it. There are four simple things you can do right away.

Method 1: Resize Disk Space Using Partition Master Tool [Back to Contents](#1)

The best thing you can do for your gaming PC is to keep its storage space in check with software.

Why?

That's because your C drive is where your operating system and other important files that keep your computer running smoothly are stored, and every update eats away a little bit more of that space.

Now, Microsoft has some free options that are available, but they're kind of clunky, and certainly not something that everybody can use.

On the other hand, a disk partition tool like Partition Master is the easiest and best option out there to help keep your gaming PC running like clockwork.

Especially the Resize/Move feature, it helps you to resize partitions and make full use of hard disk space.

Step 1: Locate and select the target drive/partition

Launch Partition Master, enter Partition Management, select the hard disk/partition whose size you want to adjust, right click and choose "Resize/Move".

Step 2: Resize or Move the Partition

To shrink it, simply drag one of the partitions' endpoints to the unallocated space. When you're done, click OK.

2. To extend a partition, you must have unallocated space (if you don't, create some as described above). Click and drag the mouse over the unallocated space. Click “OK.”

3. To move a partition, you need unallocated space next to it. If there isn't any, free some up first.

Right-click the partition you want to move, and select “Resize/Move Partition.” Then, drag the entire partition left or right to reposition it. Click “OK” to confirm.

Step 3: Review the results and apply the changes

Here, you'll see the new disk partition information and the graph.

To save the changes, click the Run Task button, and then click Apply.

Other things you can do with the Partition Master tool include:

• Combine Two SSD Drives
• Create, format, and delete partitions on a hard drive
• Clone and migrate partitions
• Speed up your PC by migrating the operating system to an SSD
• Recover lost partitions
• Reformat Windows 11

Method 2: Use Windows Disk Cleanup

Using the Windows Disk Cleanup tool is another easy way to free up space on your gaming PC.

There are a few ways to access Disk Cleanup in Windows, and each one is simpler than the last.

Option A

1. Click the "Start" button, type "disk cleanup" in the text box, and open the application.

Step 2: Select the disk from which you want to free space, and then click OK.

Option B

Step 1: Open your C drive.

Step 2: Right-click it, and then click Properties.

Both options open a window that lets you review what you want to include in the cleanup and what you want to leave alone.

Method 3: Uninstall Unnecessary Apps and Large Files

Face it: you're never going to watch that movie, or any of the other movies in the 60+ GB folder on your hard drive.

It's time to part with unnecessary apps and files.

Step 1: Search for and select "Control Panel" from the Start menu.

Step 2: Click on Programs, and then select Programs and Features.

Step 3: Choose a program you no longer need and uninstall it.

Find Large Files:

Step 1: Open This PC.

Step 2: Type size: huge.

Then, you can sort those files by size and delete the largest ones that you don't need or use.

Method 4: Increase Space with an External Device

I know it can be hard to part with programs and files you hope to use someday, so if clearing disk space or uninstalling/deleting programs and files isn't an option, it might be time to look at other storage options.

The two most popular choices are:

1. External hard drive 2. Cloud storage

If you have a lot of games that you don't play often but can't bring yourself to delete, an external hard drive is a good solution.

Most gaming computers have extra ports for hard drives, so connecting the drive to your computer should be easy.

Another option is Microsoft's OneDrive, which you can use to store your files in the cloud.

What are the benefits of freeing up disk space for gaming?

As we mentioned at the beginning, freeing up hard drive space will not only make your computer run more smoothly, but it will also greatly improve your gaming experience.

You'll have no lag, higher framerates, and you might even be able to crank up some graphics settings!

Conclusions

Regularly freeing up disk space will not only make your gaming experience smoother, but also stave off that awful “low disk space” message that we all dread.

Hopefully, the steps and methods listed above will help you find something you didn't even know you still had, and keep your gaming experience as enjoyable as ever!