7 Ways to Free Up Space in Windows

 

Microsoft Windows 10 is nearing its six-year milestone. And if you have been using this operating system since the beginning, you might be running out of hard-drive space. Searching for some answers to help clear out the clutter and create more space for all those new applications? You have come to the right place.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to free up space on Windows 10.

 

 

1. Empty the Recycle Bin 

       

Deleted files and photos do not immediately disappear from your laptop. As a result, they sit in the Recycle Bin and continue to eat up hard-drive space.

You can empty the Recycle Bin by going to your desktop, right clicking on the Recycle Bin, and clicking Empty Recycle Bin. There will be a pop-up asking if you want to permanently delete items from the Recycle Bin. To continue, click yes.

 

2. Disk Cleanup    

            

Windows comes with a handy tool called Disk Cleanup, which can make your hard drive free up space by removing temporary internet files, system error memory dump files, and even leftover installation files from previous Windows installations.

In the Start menu, find Disk Cleanup under Windows Administrative Tools > Disk Cleanup or search for it directly. From Downloaded Program Files to Thumbnails, choose the file types you wish to delete. Before you continue, click the View Files button to find out what files each item includes.

 

3. Delete Temporary & Downloaded Files

           

You can delete temporary files and downloads that you no longer need. Select Storage from the left-hand panel after clicking Settings > System. Next, click Temporary Files under Use of Storage that shows how your C: drive storage is being utilized, then check any boxes that relate to the types of temporary files you wish to wipe out before clicking the Eraser button to get rid of them.

 

4. Turn on Storage Sense

       

The Storage page in Settings offers some automation for cleaning up stored data by turning on Storage Sense. Using the Windows Settings dialogue box, you can have Windows automatically delete unused temporary files, including files sitting in the Recycle Bin and Downloads folder. If you haven’t opened local files for a period of time, you can also move them to OneDrive to free up more space.

 

5. Save Files to A Different Drive

        

Whether your computer has multiple hard drives or separate drives, you may find that you are running out of space. Thanks to a few simple settings, you can switch where you save files for apps, documents, music, pictures, and videos. Start by opening the Settings menu and go to System > Storage. Then, click the link at the bottom for Change where new content is saved. You can choose one or more partitions or drives to save files for specific categories. You can even use a removable drive, such as a USB flash drive or memory card.

 

6. Uninstall apps

   

You have likely installed and forgotten about certain apps and programs on your PC – or you may have preinstalled programs that were bundled with your computer. In the Settings menu, open Apps > Apps & Features, then choose the Sort by Size option to determine which apps are taking up space. Click the app and then click Uninstall to remove it from this menu.

 

7. Store files in OneDrive

      

If you need more storage space, you can always move your files and folders to OneDrive. In your system tray, right-click the OneDrive icon and select Settings. In the Settings tab, check the box for Save space and download files.

If your drive is filling up, following these helpful tricks above will help you create more space on your hard drive.

 

For more space-saving tips in Windows, reach out to Safe Harbour.

Safe Harbor Cybersecurity & IT Solutions Simplified OWN IT. SECURE IT. PROTECT IT