Forum Discussion
How do I free up storage space on my Windows 11 PC?
Hi everyone, I have an legacy PC that was recently upgraded to Windows 11, and now I am running low on storage space. The computer has a 256GB SSD, and there is only about 20GB of free space left. I...
If your computer has a second drive (D: drive) or you have an external USB drive, you can move your personal folders like Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop to that drive. In this way, you are able to free up storage on Windows 11 PC.
How to move a folder:
- Open File Explorer
- Right-click on Documents (or any personal folder)
- Select Properties → Location tab
- Click Move
- Choose a folder on your D: drive or external drive
- Click Select Folder → OK → Yes to move all files
How much space this frees: Whatever those folders currently use — could be tens of GB.
Any file you don't recognize in C:\Windows\System32 or C:\Windows — leave system folders alone.
Important Tips of free up Storage on Windows 11 PC:
- Create Folders First: Make sure the destination folder exists before moving.
- Backup Data: Always back up important files before moving large folders, just in case.
- System Folders: Moving system-managed folders like Desktop or AppData is more complicated and generally not recommended unless you know what you're doing.