"Windows 11 C drive is full"

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Linda 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

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Has your computer been showing warnings about low disk space on the C drive, or are you unable to download or install new updates on Windows 11? If so, this means your C drive is full, and you need to free up some space on it.

But why does this happen? Why does your drive get full? And how can you fix it? Don't worry; we've got you covered. In this article, we'll guide you through solving the C drive problem.

Why is the C drive full on my Windows 11 computer?

In most versions of Windows, by default, all programs and downloads are saved to the Local Disk C. This could be one reason why your C drive is filling up in Windows 11. Aside from this, there are other silent space eaters that could be taking up room on your C drive.

• A virus or malware issue might be taking up space on your system with infected files.
• As mentioned, most files save to Drive C by default. You may have saved a large file without realizing it.
• Windows might be filling up Drive C with cache, temporary download files, or junk files.
• User data, like photos, downloads, or personal info, could be saved to Drive C.

These could be what's filling up your C drive and causing Windows to run slowly.

Read more: Check total disk space in Windows 11

What happens when the C drive is full?

Your Windows device may have already warned you that your system is full, but if not, you might be experiencing one or more of the following issues.

• Windows is running extremely slowly.
• There's insufficient storage space available.
• The C drive can't be used for program installations.
• Windows updates are unable to proceed.

Read more:

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How to fix the "C drive full" issue in Windows 11?

Now that you know why the C drive gets full and what symptoms indicate a full disk, it's time to solve the problem. To effectively expand your C drive and prevent Windows 11 from reaching this state, try these solutions:

1. Resize Windows C drive partition with Partition Master Tool

If you want to extend the C drive without deleting anything on it, you need to download an efficient partition manager. AOMEI Partition Assistant (Partition Master) is a professional and user-friendly partition tool that can help you increase C drive space in Windows 11 without losing data.

This software has many excellent features, including:

• It can effectively help you manage your disk.

• It lets you manage partitions safely.

• It lets you convert MBR to GPT without data loss – learn how.

• It lets you merge partitions.

Enjoy a hassle-free experience with this software.

Option 1. Extend System C drive with unallocated space

1. Right-click on the System C drive and select "Resize/Move Partition." 2. Drag the endpoint of the system partition to the unallocated space to add it to the C drive. Then, click "OK." 3. Click "Execute Task" and "Apply" to perform the operation and extend the C drive.

Option 2: Extend System C drive without unallocated space

1. Right-click on a large partition with enough space on the system disk and select "Allocate Space." 2. In the "Allocate space from (*) to" section, choose the system drive, then drag the end of the System C drive to the unallocated space. Click "OK" to confirm. 3. Click "Execute Task," which will display the pending operations. Then click "Apply" to save the changes and extend the C drive.

0:00-0:26 Extend the system drive with unallocated space; 0:27-0:58 Extend the system drive without unallocated space.

2. Using Disk Cleanup in Windows 11

Windows includes a tool called "Disk Cleanup" that you can use to delete files from File Explorer.

You can free up space on your C drive by following these steps:

Step 1

To open File Explorer, press “Windows + E.”

Click on "Open File Browser"

Step 2

Click "This PC", then select the "C:" drive, and then click "Properties".

Step 3

Click Disk Cleanup.

Step 4

Select the files you want to delete from Disk Cleanup, and then select OK.

Click “OK” after selecting the files

This simple trick can free up a ton of space on your C: drive by removing unnecessary files.

How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 11

When you use multiple apps on your laptop, some files and caches generate in the background without you noticing. Ideally, you should delete these files immediately after you're done with a task, but if you don't, they can pile up and slow down your system over time. Here's how to get rid of temporary files in Windows 11 using two methods:

Delete Temporary Files Using File Explorer

To delete temporary files, follow these steps.

Step 1

Press “Windows + R” to open the “Run” command. Type in %temp% into the run text box, then click “OK.”

Step 2

Press "Ctrl+A" to select all files. Click the Delete icon.

The third step

It might ask for administrator access. Click “Continue” to proceed. This will remove all temporary files from your system.

Delete temporary files using the Command Prompt

Follow these steps to delete temporary files from the Command Prompt: 1. First, open the Command Prompt. You can find it by typing "cmd" or "Command Prompt" in the search bar and pressing Enter. 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command: ``` del /f /s /q %temp%\* ``` This command will search for and delete all temporary files in the %temp% directory. The `/f` parameter forces the deletion, `/s` traverses subdirectories, and `/q` enables quiet mode, which suppresses confirmations for each file being deleted. 3. Press Enter, and the system will begin deleting the temporary files. If any files require administrator permissions to be removed, you may need to confirm the action. 4. Once the deletion is complete, type `exit` to close the Command Prompt window. Please note that this operation permanently deletes temporary files, so it's advisable to back up important data beforehand if you're unsure.

Step 1

Press “Windows + S” to open the Search menu. Type “Windows Terminal” into the search menu. Right-click and select “Run as administrator.”

Step 2

A command prompt should appear. Type the following command and press Enter.

Delete all files in %TEMP%

It will delete all temporary files from your system.

4. Empty the Recycle Bin in Windows 11

Windows offers an option to send all removed items to the Recycle Bin so that you can restore them if needed. Windows keeps saved items in the Recycle Bin for 30 days.

Another way to free up space on the C drive is to empty the Recycle Bin regularly. If you have never emptied the Recycle Bin, it might be taking up some space on your C drive, making it crowded.

You can empty the Recycle Bin by following these simple steps:

• Empty the Recycle Bin manually

You can empty the Recycle Bin manually by doing the following: Click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop. Click "Empty Recycle Bin."

It will ask you if you want to permanently delete the files. Select “Yes,” and the files will be removed from your system.

Clicking Yes will permanently delete the files.

Warning: Make sure there are no important files in the Recycle Bin that you might need later. If there are, restore them to their original location before emptying the Recycle Bin.

5. Transfer Large Files to an External Hard Drive

If your C drive is full and slowing down your computer, try moving large files to an external hard drive to free up some space on the drive. Adding another hard drive or moving files to an external one can improve your computer's performance.

Upgrade the Hard Disk

If your entire system drive is running out of space and Drive C is too small to hold all the files, you might consider upgrading your current hard drive to a new one with a larger capacity.

The Disk Clone feature helps you upgrade to a larger disk without having to reinstall the operating system or applications. Select the source disk to copy, then choose the target disk. Edit the size of the target disk partitions, and click Continue when warned that all data on the target disk will be erased.

You can choose:

• Autofill disk
• Edit layout
• Clone as source

These options will help you customize the disk layout according to your preferences. When ready, start the cloning process.

Conclusions

We have discussed all the effective steps that can help your C drive run smoothly without slowing down your processor.

To avoid any unnecessary data loss, it's crucial to back up your data to another drive. To enjoy a seamless experience without worrying about losing data and increasing the disk space on your C drive, you can use the Partition Master tool. This utility is professional and one of the best options for expanding your C drive.