10 Quick Methods to Free Up Space on Windows 11 PC – In 2023
Overview– After upgrading to Windows 11, the lack of storage space is quite annoying. Additionally, it has an impact on your PC’s performance and productivity. This post lists 10 easy methods to free up storage space on your Windows 11 computer.
The primary reason your Windows 11 computer’s disc space fills up is the accumulation of temporary cookies, redundant files, caches, files, etc. Large files that you download frequently from the internet or through email attachments may build up over time and cause a space shortage. Moreover, if you preserved the backup files from your previous operating system after upgrading to Windows 11 then this is also one of the contributing reasons for your PC’s shortage of storage. You can have performance issues and other issues if the storage capacity of your computer reaches its limit.
If there is a lack of storage space on your computer, follow the multiple ways listed in this article to free up space on Windows 11 PCs.
10 Simple Methods to Free Up Storage Space on Windows 11
Here are a few quick techniques to erase needless data and free up space on your Win 11 PC.
Technique #1- On a Windows 11 computer, remove Temporary Files to Clear Up Space
On your computer, the Windows 11 OS and other applications create temporary files for a variety of brief uses. Once that purpose has been achieved, these files are no longer valuable and ought to be removed. By doing the following steps, you can manually erase these files:
#1- From the Start menu, select Settings and then System >> Storage.
#2- Click the Right-Panel and choose Temporary Files.
#3- Choose the temp file category by checking the boxes next to each type, such as Downloads, Windows Update Cleaner, Recycle Bin, and so on.
#4- Delete the opted files by clicking the Remove files option.
Important Note: Make sure all of your current data, including documents, media files, etc., are saved before erasing the temporary files.
By doing this, you can clear up disk space on your Windows 11 PC and remove the chosen files.
Technique #2- Utilize Storage Sense
With the help of Storage Sense, a built-in feature of Windows, you can quickly delete various file types, including temporary app data, junk files, installation files, and so on. On your Windows 11 PC, you must first enable Storage Sense if you want to utilize it. Here’s how to go about it.
#1- Select Storage under Settings >> System.
#2- Turn on the toggle switch next to Storage Sense under Storage Management in the right panel.
#3- To access settings, click the ‘>’ symbol to the very right of the Storage Sense selection.
#4- Click the Keep Windows running efficiently by automatically cleaning up the temporary system & app files option. It allows Windows to remove trash files as and when necessary.
#5- The toggle under the Automatic User content cleanup section should be turned on.
#6- Select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu by clicking Run Storage Sense under Configure cleanup schedule.
#7- Set the time period for erasing files from the Downloads and Recycle Bin sections.
#8- Under the OneDrive – Personal section, specify the time period after which the data becomes online-only.
Important Note: To immediately free up disk space on a Windows 11 PC, select the Run Storage Sense now an option at the window’s bottom.
Technique #3- To free up space on a Windows 11 computer, Utilize Disk Cleanup
Since Windows 98, the Disk Cleanup program has been a built-in feature of Windows. Here’s how to use Disk Cleanup to free up space on a Windows 11 PC.
#1- In the taskbar’s search box, enter “Disk Cleanup.”
#2- Click the boxes in front of multiple sections like Temporary Internet Files, Thumbnails, Downloaded Program Files, etc. in the Disk Cleanup window. Keep in mind to only check the boxes that need cleaning.
#3- By choosing the system files you want to remove from the list when you click the Clean up system files option in the bottom left, you may make more space available.
#4- When the confirmation dialogue box appears, click Delete Files after clicking OK to confirm your selection of the files.
Attention: If you just (within the last 10-15 days) upgraded to Windows 11, the old Windows 10 system files will appear in Disk Cleanup’s list of system files. In the future, you won’t be able to go back to Windows 10 if you decide to delete them. It requires a clean installation.
Reminder: You can use Disk Cleanup to compress the OS drive if you do not want to remove the system files. Select the Compress your OS drive checkbox under the Files to erase column, and then click OK.
Technique #4- Utilize OneDrive Files On-Demand Feature
You can view the files stored on OneDrive using OneDrive Files On-Demand without downloading them to your Windows PC and taking up space. By storing a smaller placeholder file on your PC’s hard drive rather than the entire large-volume files, this function allows you to save storage space. You can access these files via file explorer just like any other file on your computer if you have an internet connection. Here is a guide on how to use OneDrive Files On-Demand.
#1- Launch OneDrive by selecting Help & Settings >> Settings in the taskbar’s lower right corner.
#2- Check the Save space and download files as you use them checkbox under the Settings button in the Microsoft OneDrive window.
#3- To launch File Explorer, press OK.
#4- Select the necessary files & folders by clicking the OneDrive folder in the left panel.
#5- Right-click and select “Free up space.”
When you’re finished, use File Explorer, which requires a working internet connection, to view the opted files. The free OneDrive edition only allows for 5 GB of storage. For an extra 1 TB of storage, you can upgrade to Microsoft 365 Family.
Technique #5- Use the Cleanup Recommendations
Cleanup recommendations, a feature exclusive to Windows 11, suggest removable stuff to clear up disc space on your Windows PC. It recognizes enormous large files, dormant applications, data synced to OneDrive, etc., and makes removal recommendations based on usage and activity. To make space on your PC, follow these instructions.
#1- Go to Settings >> System >> Storage.
#2- Under the Storage Management section, choose Cleanup Recommendations.
#3- To free up space on the computer, tick Temporary Files, choose the files you want to wipe, and then press the Clean up tab at the bottom.
#4- Pick the files by clicking Large or Unused files, then tick the Clean up option.
#5- Choose the files by clicking Clean up after selecting Files synced to the cloud.
#6- Finally, hit on Unused apps, choose one app from the suggested apps, and then press Clean up.
The selected data, programs, folders, files, etc. will be erased.
Technique #6- Turn Off Hibernation
Windows enters Hibernation mode on your computer when it has been dormant for a predetermined amount of time in order to conserve power. However, Windows saves a temporary copy of all the unsaved work to prevent it from being corrupted or wiped. To save space, you can turn off hibernation. The steps are as follows:
#1- In the search box, type cmd, and then hit the Run as Administrator.
#2- Hit Enter after entering the command powercfg /hibernate off in the Command Prompt.
Hibernation will be disabled as a result, and Windows will also delete the hiberfil.sys file to make some space available. Hibernation can always be enabled by replacing the powercfg /hibernate on command for the command in Step 2.
Technique #7- Utilize the Compact OS Command-line Tool
The Compact OS tool can be used to reduce the size of Windows 11 and other applications during installation. Use the Compact OS utility to reclaim space used by installation files and other applications if you urgently need some extra storage. Follow these guidelines:
#1- Choose Run as Administrator when you search for Command Prompt.
#2- Press Enter after entering the command compact.exe /compactOS: always.
You can free up at least 2 GB of disk space using this procedure.
Attention: Because this method changes system files and could result in data loss, it’s a little risky. Take a temporary backup of your data to prepare for such a situation.
Technique #8- Transfer Data to External Storage Drive
You can move some data to an extra external storage drive, such as an external HDD or SSD if you have one. You’ll be able to free up storage space on the hard drive by doing this. Connect the external drive to your computer and take the steps listed below to move the data.
#1- Search for files & folders that are using up a lot of space by opening File Explorer.
#2- Right-click on the files & folders you want to transfer, then choose Cut from the menu. You can also choose the data and hit Ctrl + X.
#3- Select a location to save the data and then access the external drive.
#4- Hit Ctrl + V or the Paste option from the right-click menu.
Technique #9- To Permanently Erase Unwanted Data, Utilize the Data Eraser Tool
You can use a safe and secure data erasure tool, like CubexSoft Data Eraser Software, to free up space on your Windows 11 PC and completely wipe unnecessary files. On your Windows computer, it functions as a personal cleaner which helps in data management.
Using some of the most protected erasure techniques available, including US DoD – 5220.22-M (3 passes), this DIY program permanently erases the data without damaging any other important files. The files is repeatedly overwritten with useless binary values, rendering it difficult to recover the data.
With this certified solution, one can easily permanently erase data without any technical support or skills. Simply scan your Windows PC with this tool, choose the files and folders you want to erase, then tick Erase. Moreover, the software comes with a free trial version which allows you to delete the first 10 items, not exceeding 5 MB in size.
Technique #10- Utilize NTFS Compression
Another standout feature included in Windows 11 is New Technology File System (NTFS) Compression. While allowing normal access, it compresses data. Even a whole drive can be compressed with it. You should only use this process if you’ve no other choice because it may have an impact on the PC’s performance. Here’s how to enable NTFS compression for a folder on your Windows operating system.
#1- Locate the folder you need to compress in File Explorer. Pick Properties by right-clicking on the folder.
#2- Press on the Advanced tab.
#3- Check the box next to Compress contents to save disc space in the Advanced Attributes window. To apply, hit OK.
#4- Press OK after choosing Apply changes to this folder, its subfolders, and its files.
Important Note: The size, quantity, and number of files and subfolders in the selected folder affect the amount of time required for compression.
The size of individual files can be reduced using the same method. To decompress the folder/file, follow the steps above and uncheck the box next to Compress contents to save disk space.
Ending Words
Your Windows computer’s speed could be impacted and may experience a number of problems if you don’t have enough storage. It is suggested to constantly clean up unnecessary data and other files in order to avoid any severe setbacks. These include deleting residual files, cleaning temporary files, deleting the cache and cookies, uninstalling pointless applications, and more. The methods listed in this article can be used to free up space on a Windows 11 PC.
