Storage full: tidying up the drive on Windows

In short: When storage is full it usually helps to first find large files and downloads, empty the recycle bin and temporary files, remove unused programs and move photos or videos elsewhere.

In more detail: If an SSD is nearly full, the computer slows down and updates fail. Rule of thumb: keep 10–20% free.

In Depth

Where did the space go?

• Settings → System → Storage shows a breakdown (apps, temporary files, documents, videos).
• The Downloads folder often holds installers and old PDFs.
• Videos, games, virtual machines and photos are the biggest chunks.
• Programs such as WinDirStat or TreeSize Free show the biggest folders graphically.

Cleaning up step by step

1. Empty the recycle bin.
2. Turn on Storage Sense: automatically deletes temporary files and old downloads (check the setting!).
3. Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr): Windows Update cleanup, thumbnails, error reports.
4. Uninstall programs you do not need (Settings → Apps).
5. Move large files to the cloud or an external drive (make a backup first).
6. Turn off the hibernation file only in an emergency (powercfg -h off); do not touch the page file.

Caution

• Do not empty system folders (Windows, Program Files) by hand.
• Do not install “registry cleaners” or “booster” programs; they achieve little and can do harm.
• Make a backup before big deletions.
• Permanently too small? Install a larger SSD or use external storage.

See also: Searching for and finding files, Backups, Using the recycle bin