3 Ways: How to Free Up C Drive Space in Windows 10/8/7

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Linda 

Updated on April 22, 2024

This page explains how to increase C drive space in Windows 10/8/7 to expand the C drive, speed up your PC, and enhance your computer's performance. It also discusses the benefits of why we need to increase C drive space. Let's now explore how to enlarge your system C drive on your computers.

If you're a Windows 11 user, please follow this link to learn how to successfully extend the C drive in Windows 11.

How to Increase C Drive Space in Windows 10/8/7 for Free?

In this section, we will introduce 3 top-notch disk management utilities to you, and you can choose one of them to extend your system C drive in Windows 11/10/8/7 for free or to free up disk space on Windows 8 or Windows 11/10.

Here's a comparison table to assist you in choosing the tool that best suits your needs for increasing C drive space:

Select one of the free methods below and follow the respective tutorial to start extending your local Disk C drive now. These methods also apply to extending data volumes on your PC.

If you're looking for the easiest solution to effectively increase C drive space in Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista, the tool Partition Master Free is here to assist you with its advanced disk partitioning functions.

Method 1: Increase C Drive Space with Partition Master Tool

• Price: $0
• Complexity Level: ⭐⭐
• Tools: Computer, Partition Master tool.

tools Partition Master, a free partition manager software, is designed with a user-friendly and straightforward interface for Windows users of all levels. It supports free partition management, which includes expanding the C drive space, resizing or extending partitions, and merging non-adjacent partitions, among other features.

< strong >Video Tutorial: Increase C Drive and Manage Hard Drive Partition in Windows< /strong >

< strong >Step-by-Step Guide: Expand C Drive Space in Windows 10/8/7< /strong >

如果您的系统磁盘上有未分配的空间，您可以跳到步骤2，通过右键单击C驱动器并选择“调整大小/移动”开始：

Step 1: Free up unallocated space for the C drive.

If there is no unallocated space on the system disk, proceed to the Partition Manager and right-click on a partition adjacent to the C: drive, then select "Resize/Move". Drag the left side of the partition towards the left to shrink it, creating unallocated space behind the system C: drive, and then click "OK".

Step 2: Increase C drive space.

1. Right-click on the C: drive and select "Resize/Move."

2. Drag the end of the system partition into the unallocated space to add space to C: drive and then click "OK".

Step 3: Keep all changes to extend C: drive.

Click "Execute Task" and then "Apply" to save all changes and expand the system C: drive.

Video Guide: How to Expand/Increase Local Disk Space in Windows 10

This video tutorial by ProgrammingKnowledge2 will demonstrate how to extend the C drive in Windows 10 using Disk Management, applicable to all branded devices.

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Did you successfully expand the disk space using this method? If so, please share this method with your friends.

Method 2: How to Increase Disk Space with Windows Disk Management

• Price: $0
• Complexity Level: ⭐⭐⭐
• Tools: Computer, Disk Management.

Disk Management is an inherent Windows tool that facilitates expanding partition size using its "Extend Volume" function. Nevertheless, the utility has certain limitations when it comes to increasing disk space:

• Extend Volume only functions on NTFS and RAW partitions. It does not support FAT32 and other file systems.
• The Extend Volume option will be grayed out if there is no contiguous unallocated space behind the target partition.

The methods for increasing the C drive capacity with or without adjacent unallocated space differ. Proceed with the appropriate tutorials below by opening Disk Management to extend the local C drive on your own now:

#1. Increase C Drive Space with Adjacent Unallocated Space

Step 1. Right-click on "This PC" or "My Computer," click "Manage," and then select "Disk Management" under "Storage."

Step 2. Locate and right-click on the Local Disk C drive, then select "Extend Volume".

Step 3. Assign more space to your System C drive and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 4. Click "Finish" to complete the process.

Please note that if the unallocated space on your system disk is not located after the C drive, you won't be able to extend the C drive using Disk Management. In this situation, you can seek assistance from tools like Partition Master, along with tutorials, as demonstrated in Method 1.

To add unallocated space to the C drive:

Step 1. Right-click on This PC/My Computer, and select "Manage" > "Disk Management."

Step 2. Right-click on the adjacent partition next to the C drive (which is usually the D drive) and select "Shrink Volume."

Step 3. Enter the amount of space you want to shrink and click "Shrink" to confirm.

Step 4. Right-click on the local disk C drive and select "Extend Volume."

Step 5. Follow the on-screen instructions to add more space to the system C drive.

Method 3: How to Extend C Drive Space with DiskPart CMD Commands

• Price: $0
• Complexity Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Tools: Computer, Command Prompt.

The third free approach to extend system partition space is by using the CMD command with DiskPart. This is an administrative tool that might be somewhat complex for regular Windows users, so you should exercise caution throughout the process.

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#1. Extend the C drive with Contiguous Unallocated Space

Step 1. Open the Diskpart prompt window

• Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type cmd and press Enter to open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
• Type diskpart and press Enter to open DiskPart.

Step 2. Type the CMD commands one by one and press Enter to extend the C drive.

1. list disk
2. select disk x (Replace X with the disk number of your system disk.)
3. list volume
4. select volume x (Replace X with the partition number of your C drive.)
5. extend size =number (Normally, the default size unit is MB.)
6. exit

Once done, you can restart your PC, and you'll have a larger C drive on your computer.

#2. Extend C Drive When There Is No Unallocated Space Behind In this scenario, there is no unallocated space directly following your C drive. To extend the C drive in this situation, you'll need to move or shuffle other partitions to create unallocated space. Here's how: 1. Right-click on the partition right before the C drive and select **Resize/Move Volume**. 2. Drag the partition handle towards the C drive to shrink it, creating unallocated space. 3. Once done, ensure the unallocated space is placed right after the C drive. 4. Right-click on the C drive and choose **Resize/Move Volume** again. 5. Drag the partition handle to expand the C drive into the unallocated space. After resizing, remember to save your changes and restart your computer for the new settings to take effect.

If there's no unallocated space adjacent to your system C drive, you'll encounter an error as shown below:

"Virtual Disk Service error: There is not enough usable space for this operation."

In this case, you have two options: 1. Revert to Method 1 and extend C drive space using tools Partition Master; 2. Delete the adjacent drive behind C drive to get unallocated space.

If you prefer the 2nd option, remember to back up all user data to another location first. Now, follow the steps below to extend C drive for free:

Step 1. Open the Diskpart command prompt window

1. Open the Run dialog, type cmd, and press Enter to open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
2. Type diskpart and press Enter to open DiskPart.

Step 2. Type the command lines below and press Enter after each one:

1. list disk
2. select disk x (Replace X with the disk number of your system disk.)
3. list volume
4. select volume * (Replace * with the partition number that you want to delete.)
5. delete volume
6. select volume x (Replace X with the disk number of your C drive.)
7. extend size =number (Normally, the default size unit is MB.)
8. exit

Following this, you can restart your PC to retain all the changes made. Afterwards, you will notice that your C drive has more space and your computer is running faster than before.

Why Do We Need to Increase C Drive Space?

Therefore, the reasons why people need to increase C drive space can vary. Generally, they can be divided into the following two scenarios:

#1. C drive full, Windows displays "Low Disk Space" warning

There may be a day when you find the system partition (C: drive) has little free disk space left, and the Windows OS displays a low disk space warning message, stating: "You're running out of disk space on Local Disk (C:)..."

#2. Windows slows down, and computer performance decreases

Over time, the Windows operating system, installed applications, and programs generate application data and cache files, which can occupy significant space on your C drive. The same applies to your personal user data.

When the C drive becomes full, the operating speed of the Windows OS and the overall performance of your computer will decrease. Issues such as high CPU usage, excessive RAM consumption, Windows 11/10 update getting stuck, and others may arise.

If you fall under any of these scenarios, the optimal solution is to increase the C drive space on your computer. How can this be achieved? You'll require a dependable disk partitioning tool that enables you to extend the local C: drive.

There may be instances when you need to shrink the C drive due to various reasons. Fortunately, we have prepared a comprehensive guide for this purpose. Click on the link below to access more details.

How to Shrink C Drive without Losing Data [2023 Full Guide]

How to shrink the C drive on Windows 10? If you're searching for a detailed guide on shrinking your C drive, you've come to the right place. On this page, you'll find three free tools to safely shrink your C drive without data loss.

Bonus Tips for Increasing C Drive Space

Aside from the methods mentioned above, here are some additional tips to help you address the low C drive space issue and optimize your computer's performance.

Follow the tips below to get an even larger C drive and a faster computer:

< strong > 1. Backup Big Data to an External Storage Device

If you have a certain number of large files saved on your C drive that you don't need to access frequently, we recommend backing up those files to an external storage device.

You may apply reliable Windows file backup software for assistance.

2. Regularly Delete Unnecessary Large Files on the C Drive

Deleting old or unnecessary files on the system drive frees up space to ensure the normal operation of the Windows system. Follow the instructions to learn how to locate and delete large files in Windows 10/8/7.

3. If Extend Volume is Grayed Out, Turn to Partition Master Tools

When you're unable to extend a volume using Disk Management, it's most likely due to the absence of unallocated space behind the target volume. Tools like Partition Master can effectively address this issue with its Resize/Move function. This utility can also be utilized for partitioning the hard drive.

Summary - How to Extend C Drive in Windows 11/10/8/7

On this page, we discussed the reasons why individuals need to increase C drive space and presented the top 3 disk management tools for Windows 10/8/7 users to expand the system C drive and other partitions.

If you're a Windows Server user, you can also refer to the methods listed above to expand a hard drive partition.

"Increase C Drive Space FAQs"

Read on for more information if you have further questions on how to increase C drive space.

< strong >1. What should I do if my C drive is full, but my D drive is still empty?

One option is to transfer some of your files from drive C to drive D. This can be accomplished by right-clicking on the file and selecting "Move to." Another alternative is to delete unnecessary files from your C drive. You can do this by right-clicking on the file and choosing "Delete."

The last quick and easy option is, if your C drive has unallocated space, you can easily extend C drive space using tools like Partition Master. If not, you can also add space to C drive.

2. How to redistribute memory in a laptop if the C drive is full while the other drives are empty?

If your C drive is full while other drives remain empty, you can redistribute the storage using a Windows utility called Disk Management. To access it, press the Windows key + R, type 'diskmgmt.msc' in the dialog box, and hit Enter. In the Disk Management window, right-click on the C drive and choose "Shrink Volume." This will open a window where you can specify how much space you want to release. Afterward, right-click on the other drives and select "Extend Volume" to allocate the freed space to these drives. Lastly, restart your computer for the changes to apply.