C drive is full. How can I extend C drive without losing data on Windows 10 PC?

Dylanopen 

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I have a old Windows 10 PC with only 128 GB SSD. I did a mistake when partitioning the drive. The C drive only has 60GB space

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You need at least an external USB hard drive. You can buy it or buy bare bone HDD/SSD and USB external enclosure separately at BestBuy, Microcenter, Walmart, Amazon.com and so on. 

Then, you move all other 60GB data (not C drive) to the external enclosure.

Next, you go to the "Disk management." You can expand the C drive portion to the MAX (Around 120GB) there with simple steps.

That's it!

In addition, you can replace the 120GB with larger amount of drive like 500GB or more. The sales person may know the max size for the PC model. Then clone disk software clones the small drive to larger one. 

Finally, it replace the small drive with the larger drive.

Do not arbitrarily extend C disk on Windows 10 computer. One big risk is data loss. When you're resizing partitions, there's a chance that something could go wrong, and you might lose files. I’ve seen friends who tried to extend their C drive end up with a blank partition or, even worse, corrupted data. It’s crucial to back up everything before diving into partition management.

If things go south, having a bloated C drive could mess up system recovery options, making it harder to restore your system to a previous state. You want enough space in that C drive for recovery tools and backups, not just a crammed space for everything.

Dylanopen The recommended C drive size for Windows 10 is at least 100–120 GB to ensure smooth system performance. With this storage range, you won't have c drive full issue in Windows 10 and no need to increase C drive size. This size accommodates the operating system, essential system files, updates, and a few applications.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown based on usage:

Basic Usage (OS and essential programs only): 100-120 GB is generally sufficient, covering Windows 10 itself (around 20-30 GB) and leaving room for updates and system files.

Moderate Usage (OS, essential programs, and common applications): 150-200 GB is ideal if you install programs like Office, browsers, and light editing software.

Heavy Usage (OS, large applications, and some games): 250+ GB is recommended if you install larger programs (like Adobe Creative Suite) or store games, which can consume significant space.

Allocating a larger C drive also helps avoid running out of space for updates and improves overall performance, as Windows requires extra space for virtual memory and temporary files.

When it comes to extending C drive on Windows 10 computer. One mistake I used to make was just deleting stuff without checking what’s actually hogging space. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve deleted a project file instead of that giant temp folder!

Tip: Use WinDirSat or the built-in Storage settings (Settings > System > Storage) to visualize what’s eating up space before making any deletions.

I used to think that window cleaners like Disk Cleanup were a one-time deal. But those temp files and caches just keep piling up! Ignoring them is like leaving dirty dishes in the sink—nobody wants to deal with that later.

DylanopenMoving files from your C drive to another drive or cloud storage is an effective way to free up space on Windows 10. If your C drive was full and want to do a clean up before extending the C drive size, this could be a good option.

Go to This PC, right-click folders like Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc., and select Properties > Location tab > Move. Choose another drive, and Windows will automatically transfer and redirect these folders.

Windows 10 has built-in OneDrive integration. Move files or folders to the OneDrive folder, and they’ll sync with your OneDrive account online. Files in OneDrive can be accessed from any device, reducing local storage usage.

How to extend C drive when C drive is full? It is necessary to uninstall programs you don't use, let's to kick out some unwanted guests!

• Go to Settings: Open the Settings app (Windows + I), then head to “Apps” > “Apps & features.”
• Look Through the List: Find programs you don’t use anymore and click “Uninstall.” If there’s something taking up a lot of space but you’re not using, out it goes!

You can shrink other partitions and extend C drive when C partition is full but nothing to delete. The free Disk Management utility is able to do this on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PC.

1. In Disk Management, right-click on an adjacent partition (like D drive) and select Shrink Volume.
2. Choose the amount of space to shrink, then shrink the volume. This will create unallocated space.
3. Right-click on the C drive and choose Extend Volume to incorporate this unallocated space.

Warning: Tip: If the unallocated space is not adjacent to C drive, this method may not work.

Dylanopen The Disk Management tool has a built-in utility that allows users to increase the size of a drive partition, like the C drive, by adding unallocated disk space. This feature is especially useful when a partition runs out of space, as it enables users to expand the existing partition without deleting files or reinstalling the operating system.

How extend c drive when C drive is full in Windows 10:

1. Right-click on This PC and select Manage. Then go to Disk Management.
2. If there’s unallocated space next to the C drive, right-click the C drive and select Extend Volume.
3. Follow the prompts to add the unallocated space to your C drive.

Note: Disk Management only allows extending if there’s unallocated space directly next to the C drive.

Once C drive is full on Windows 10 computer. If you have stuff like photos, videos, or documents that are just chillin’ on your C drive, consider moving them.

• External Drive: If you have an external hard drive, just drag and drop those hefty folders onto it.
• OneDrive: Microsoft’s OneDrive is great for cloud storage. Just set it up and you can back up files and free up space on your local drive.

Browsers collect cache and junk over time, which can fill up space:

• For Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data. Select cached images and files.
• For Edge: Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.

C drive full? First things first, let's hit up the built-in Disk Cleanup tool. This bad boy can sift through your system and find a ton of stuff you can safely toss:

• Open Disk Cleanup: Just search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu. Select your C drive when prompted.
• Choose What to Clean: It’ll scan and give you a checklist. You’ll see stuff like “Temporary Files,” “Recycle Bin,” and “Thumbnails.” Check the boxes for what you want to delete. If you see “Windows Update Cleanup” in there, that can reclaim a good chunk of space too.
• Run It: Press “OK,” and it’ll do its thing.