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When your computer alerts you that your C drive is out of space, the first thing you'd likely want to know is what is consuming the C drive space. By examining the disk space usage, you can identify unnecessary files and delete them to free up additional space. Various tools are available to help you achieve this reliably. Follow this guide to learn multiple methods for identifying what is occupying your C drive space.
How to Check What Is Consuming My C Drive Space – 2 Methods
Checking what's consuming your C drive space isn't complicated. You can utilize Windows Settings to view comprehensive storage information for the C drive. However, for a more specific and accurate result, we recommend trying the professional free disk space analyzer - Partition Master.
?Read More: How to Find Large Files on Windows 10 [Full Analysis]
This table compares the two methods to assist you in selecting the most appropriate one:
| Comparison | tools Partition Master | Windows Settings |
|---|---|---|
| ⏰Duration | 3 Minutes | 5 Minutes |
| ?Difficulty Level | Easiest | Easy |
| ?Effectiveness | High | Medium |
| ??Users | Beginners and Experienced Users | Experienced Users |
Method 1: Check What's Consuming C Drive Space with Partition Master Tool
If you discover that your C drive is insufficient and you're unsure what is consuming its space, you can quickly analyze the disk space using a comprehensive software like tools Partition Master. This tool provides a user-friendly interface and various solutions for different disk issues. Furthermore, with its Space Analyzer feature, you can gain a clearer understanding of the entire C drive space usage.
Learn the three simple steps to check C drive space using Partition Master tool as follows:
Step 1. Launch tools Partition Master and go to Discovery. Find and download the Space Analyzer under the Frequently Used Tools.
Step 2. In the Space Analyzer pop-up window, select the target disk to be analyzed and click Analyze in the upper right corner.
Step 3. Wait a moment, and you'll see the detailed data. Click on Folder/File to view different data types, and click the small folder icon to see more details within the file.
From the Space Analysis page, you can view the percentage and number of your files and folders. You can double-click on a project to modify or delete large files. Additionally, you can click the file icon and eliminate unnecessary files in File Explorer to free up space for new files.
Other features of Partition Master tools:
Aside from checking disk space, the Partition Master tool also offers the following features to help you manage your disks more efficiently:
- Clean junk files/useless large files
- Check and fix disk errors in Windows 11
- Expand your disks
- Check hard drive health Translation:
- Clean up junk files/unnecessary large files
- Check and repair disk errors in Windows 11
- Resize/Enlarge your disks
- Check hard drive health status
If you have had disk issues and would like to try the above powerful features, download the tool Partition Master via the following link:
Method 2: Check What's Consuming C Drive Space via Windows Settings
In Windows, you can check the C drive space using File Explorer, Windows settings, and command lines. However, only Windows settings permit you to view detailed information about the disk space, which includes system and reserved files, apps and games, temporary files, documents, and cloud storage like OneDrive.
Follow these steps to check what's consuming space on your C drive using Windows Settings:
Step 1. Press the "Windows" key and open the "Settings."
Step 2. Choose "System" from the left panel, and click "Storage."
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In this window, you can view the storage usage for each disk.
Storage Window
Step 3. Double-click the C drive or click "show more categories" to get a comprehensive view of what's occupying the C drive space.
4 Things That Are Eating Up Your C Drive Space
Now that we've checked what's taking up space on your C drive, we've identified the files consuming excessive space. Be mindful when using these to prevent filling up your C drive. Here are the four main types of files that occupy the most storage on your disk: 1. **System Files and Windows Updates**: Your operating system, Windows, requires a significant amount of space for its core components, temporary files, and updates. Over time, cumulative updates and service packs can consume considerable space. 2. **Programs and Applications**: Installed software and apps often store their data and cache files on the C drive. As you install more programs, the space utilized increases. Make sure to regularly uninstall unused applications to free up space. 3. **User Data and Documents**: Personal files, such as documents, photos, videos, and music, can rapidly accumulate on the C drive if you save them there by default. Store important files on an external drive or cloud storage to minimize C drive usage. 4. **Temporary Files and Cache**: Browsers, system processes, and other software create temporary files for smooth functioning. However, these can build up over time and occupy space. Regularly cleaning your system with tools like Disk Cleanup can help remove unnecessary temporary files. By monitoring these categories and managing them effectively, you can maintain a healthy C drive with sufficient free space.
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1. Temporary and cached files: Many programs save temporary and cached files on the C drive, which can consume a significant amount of available space if not cleaned out regularly.
2. Many photos and videos: Regardless of whether it's a computer or a phone, photos and videos can take up a lot of storage space on your C drive. Instead, you should store them in the cloud, like the built-in Windows tool OneDrive. This enables you to access them anytime you have an internet connection, making it perfect for files you only view occasionally.
3. Unused applications: If you check your disk space, you'll find a number of installed applications and programs that aren't frequently used on your computer. These are occupying space on your C drive, and you don't use them often.
4. Files in Recycle Bin: As we know, the Recycle Bin holds deleted files for potential recovery, especially in case of accidental deletion. Over time, it can use up your disk space. The best practice is to empty the Recycle Bin regularly.
Editor's Review on Things That Consume C Drive Space
Based on our research and user feedback, unused applications, particularly games, typically take up a significant portion of the space on the C drive. It's advisable to uninstall them when the C drive is full. You can utilize tools like Partition Master to safely and efficiently remove these applications. If you're seeking effective methods to free up disk space, please refer to the related articles below:
Conclusion
In this article, we've presented two methods to assist you in identifying what's consuming your C drive space. Windows Settings can offer a general overview of files on the C drive. However, for more detailed information, such as the number of files or folders and hidden space, the tool Partition Master can fulfill your needs. Hence, if your C drive is full and your computer is running slow (as discussed in our article about a slow computer, you can utilize these helpful tips to inspect which items are occupying your disk space and take appropriate actions.
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Frequently Asked Questions About What Is Consuming My C Drive Space
In this section, you'll gather more knowledge about what's consuming your C drive space by going through the following frequently asked questions and their answers.
< strong > 1. Why is my C drive full but there are no files? < /strong >
There can be numerous reasons behind the "C drive full but no files" issue, such as hard drive damage, virus infections, or malware attacks. To rectify this problem, you might need to format or replace the disk.
2. What should I do if my C drive is full?
If your C drive is full, you'll need to relocate or delete unused data and uninstall seldom-used applications. You can also utilize the Disk Cleanup tool to minimize unnecessary files on the C drive, which can enhance your computer's performance.
< strong > 3. Does cleaning up the C drive improve computer performance? < /strong >
Cleaning up your C drive can significantly speed up your PC. This process deletes temporary files, empties the Recycling Bin, and removes unused files and programs to free up space for more files and apps.