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If your Windows 11 PC is running low on space, it can be quite stressful. The good news is that you can free up disk space by following these steps.
How much disk space does Windows 11 require?
If you have insufficient disk space on your computer, you won't be able to install important Windows updates. Before you free up disk space, you need to know how much space does Windows 11 take up. Approximately 27 GB of space is required when you're ready to install Windows 11 setup on your desktop or laptop.
If you've already upgraded to Windows 11, you can find out what's taking up space on your disk by following these steps:
Step 1: Select the Start button, and then select Settings.
Step 2: Go to Settings > Storage, and you'll see what's taking up space on your drive.
Further reading: Check total disk space on Windows 11
How to Free Up Disk Space in Windows 11
Ensuring that you don't run out of disk space is always important. Resetting your PC might help, but you risk losing other content. Instead, try the following solutions to free up space on your Windows 11 device.
Method 1: Empty the Recycling Bin
When you delete files in Windows 11, they aren't actually removed from the hard drive; instead, they're sent to the Recycle Bin in case you need to recover them. However, over time, the Recycle Bin can take up a lot of space, depending on your settings. Thus, emptying the Recycle Bin should be your first step to free up valuable storage space.
Step 1: Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
Step 2: Select Empty Trash, and then click OK.
When you've done this, the system will free up about 10% of your disk space (assuming your Trash was full).
Method 2: Use a Disk Cleanup Tool
You can also use the traditional "Disk Cleanup" tool to free up space. This is a built-in Windows 11 utility that frees up drive space and helps your system run better. It's one of the easiest ways to clear out files. To use Disk Cleanup, do the following:
Step 1: Choose the Start button, then type Disk Cleanup, and select it from the list of results.
Step 2: Check all the items you want to clear. For example:
- Downloaded program files
- Temporary Internet files
- Delivery Optimization files
- DirectX shader cache
- Recycle Bin...
Step 3: Choose the file types you want to get rid of, then tap “OK.” In the confirmation window, select “Delete Files” to start the cleanup.
Once it's done, your computer will have deleted the unnecessary files and freed up space on your hard drive.
Method 3: Turn on Storage Sense
Windows 11 comes with a built-in tool called Storage Sense, which you can use manually, but you can also enable it to run automatically to prevent your space from filling up quickly. To set Storage Sense to run automatically, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click the "Start" button, and then choose "Settings."
< strong > Step 2. Go to Settings > System > Storage, and turn on Storage Sense.
Step 3: Click “Configure Storage Sense,” and then check or uncheck the options under “Temporary files” and “Locally available cloud content.” You can also use the “Run Storage Sense” drop-down menu to choose the best option for you.
After you complete these steps, Storage Sense will run automatically based on the schedule that you specified.
Method 4: Use Software to Clean Up Junk Files
If you're having trouble deciding which files to delete and which ones not to, you can opt for a third-party disk cleaner. I recommend CCleaner. With this tool, you can easily free up disk space for free. Here's how to free up disk space on Windows 11:
Step 1. Download and install the Partition Master Suite on your computer. Click on the panel to download the “PC Cleaner Tool.”
< strong > Step 2. Install the CleanGenius tool on your computer. First, go to the “Clean” option and then click on “Scan.”
Step 3: CleanGenius will immediately start scanning for all unnecessary files. Select the system junk files and invalid entries, then click “Clean” to clean your whole computer.
Step 4: When it's done, you'll see how many megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB) of data were cleared. Tap “Finish” to complete the process.
Method 5: Uninstall Apps You No Longer Need
Another effective way to free up space is by uninstalling apps you no longer need or use rarely. To uninstall an app in Windows 11, follow these steps.
Step 1: Choose the Start button, type Control Panel, and then select Control Panel from the list of results.
Step 2: Under Programs, click Uninstall a program.
Step 3: Right-click on the program and select "Uninstall."
Once done, repeat the process to remove other programs and games from your device. If you don't fancy doing it manually, you can use software to uninstall apps.
Additional Tip: Free Up Space on Your Drive in Windows 11
There is nothing worse than running out of disk space, especially on the C drive. So, how can you add space from D, E, or F to C when the C drive is full? Here comes a mighty disk management tool – AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. It can add space from other disks to C whether there is unallocated space or not. The only condition is that these partitions should be on the same hard disk. Follow the steps below to add space to the needed disk and expand its partition size.
Step 1. Right-click on the D: drive with enough space and select "Extend Volume."
Step 2: Select the target partition - C drive, then drag the partition panel rightwards to add space from Drive D to Drive C. Then click “OK” to confirm.
Click the “Execute Task” button and then click “Apply” to start moving free space from Drive D to Drive C.
Conclusions
You've learned five methods to optimize Windows 11 for more disk space and improved performance. If you spot any errors or have additional tips, feel free to reach out to us via live chat or email.