How to Easily Free Up Gigabytes of Space on Your Windows PC

Windows storage fills up fast—especially after major updates, game installs, or video downloads. Fortunately, freeing up gigabytes of space doesn’t require advanced knowledge or risky tools.

Here’s how to clean up your PC safely using built-in features and reliable apps.

1. Use Windows’ Built-In Cleanup Tools

Storage Settings & Cleanup Recommendations

Go to Settings → System → Storage, then click Cleanup recommendations. Windows scans your system and shows removable items like:

Temporary files
Old Windows update backups
Unused personal files

Deleting the Windows.old folder alone can recover 20–30 GB after an update.

Enable Storage Sense

Storage Sense automates file cleanup. Turn it on under System → Storage → Storage Sense, and set it to:

Delete temp files
Clear Downloads after 30 days
Empty Recycle Bin periodically

Disk Cleanup (Legacy)

Launch cleanmgr.exe → choose a drive → click Clean up system files. This allows removal of:

Windows Update files
Device driver packages
System restore points

Deleting these can often reclaim 10–15 GB of space.

2. Clear Temporary Files and Caches

Manual Temp Cleanup

Press Win + R, type %temp%, and delete all visible files.
Then go to C:\Windows\Temp and do the same.

Reset Microsoft Store Cache

Press Win + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter. This resets the Microsoft Store and clears any bloated local cache (Windows Central).

3. Find and Delete Large Unused Files

Use a disk analyzer like WizTree or TreeSize Free to scan and visualize large files taking up space.

Look in:

Downloads
Videos
Documents

Sort by size and delete or move large items to an external drive or cloud.

4. Uninstall Large or Unused Programs

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed Apps, and sort by size. You’ll likely find large applications, games, or tools you no longer use. Uninstall anything unnecessary.

Steam, Adobe apps, and video editors can easily take 10–100 GB each.

5. Compress Windows System Files (Optional)

Run this command in Admin PowerShell:

compact.exe /compactOS:always

This activates CompactOS, a Windows feature that compresses system files without harming performance. It can free 1–3 GB, especially useful on low-storage SSDs (Microsoft Learn).

6. Disable Hibernation (Optional)

Hibernation reserves a file (hiberfil.sys) equal to your system’s RAM. To remove it:

Open Command Prompt as Admin
Type: powercfg /hibernate off

This deletes the file and can free 8–16 GB, depending on your RAM.

7. Delete System Restore and Shadow Copies

Go to Disk Cleanup → More Options → System Restore and Shadow Copies, and click Delete. This erases all but your most recent restore point.

Great way to free up multiple gigabytes, but do this only if your system is stable.

8. Offload to External or Cloud Storage

For large files you want to keep, move them to:

An external SSD or hard drive
OneDrive with Files On-Demand (lets you view files locally, but stores them in the cloud)

Learn more from Microsoft’s Files On-Demand Guide.

9. Monitor Space Over Time

Re-run WizTree or check Settings → System → Storage → Show more categories to understand space consumption.

You’ll likely find that games, cached videos, or unused installers are the top offenders.

10. Automate Cleanups

Configure Storage Sense to:

Run when space is low
Delete Recycle Bin items every 14 days
Clear temporary files older than 7 days

This helps maintain gigabytes of free space without needing to remember routine cleanups.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to reinstall Windows or buy new storage to reclaim 20–100 GB of space. With native tools like Storage Sense, Disk Cleanup, and compacting features—plus smart third-party apps—you can clean up safely and improve system responsiveness.

Just remember: