How do I free up storage space on my Windows 11 PC?

Disk cleanup tool

Windows automatically creates restore points that help you revert your system to a previous state. However, these points can accumulate and take up valuable space over time.

It allows you to remove old restore points in one go, but using this feature requires caution to avoid deleting the only valid restore point.

First, open Settings: Go to Settings > System > About. Under Related settings, click on System Protection. Select the C: drive and click Configure.

Once in the configuration menu, you’ll see an option to Delete old restore points. If you don’t need them, deleting them will free up storage on pc. Just make sure you have a recent restore point before you delete old ones, just in case something goes wrong.

Once the deletion is complete, you can close the window and continue using your PC normally.

This method only targets restore points, but it is a safe and straightforward way to free up storage on pc without risking system stability.

If you don’t want to use third-party cleaning software, you can try this method. This is a simple maintenance measure, but you should make sure to keep at least one restore point available.

Removing apps you no longer need is an effective way to free up storage on pc and reduce unnecessary system load. Cleaning out redundant software regularly also helps greatly free up storage on pc for smoother computer operation.

How to free up storage on pc

Step 1: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features

Step 2: Sort by size under Apps & features to organize your installed apps by size, making it easier to quickly identify unused apps that are taking up a lot of space.

Step 3: Uninstall unnecessary apps. Review the list of apps, select the ones you rarely use, and then tap Uninstall.

Step 4: Uninstall pre-installed bloatware to further reduce unnecessary files.

Tip: Be careful not to uninstall system apps unless you are absolutely sure they are not important for your PC's functioning.

Regularly performing this simple cleanup habit keeps your disk space organized, reduces background resource consumption, and maintains long-term stable performance for your Windows device.

Cons

• Accidental deletion of system-related apps may cause system errors or function failures.
• Some residual files and registry entries still remain after uninstallation, limiting storage cleaning effects.
• Batch uninstallation is not supported, and manual operation takes time when there are many apps.

Knowing which files are best thing to delete to free up storage space can help you quickly reclaim disk space on your Windows device.

Running Disk Cleanup is the simplest built-in method and the best thing to delete to free up storage space to ensure a quick and secure system cleanup.

How to determine which files to best thing to delete to free up storage

1. Type Disk Cleanup in the Start menu

2. Select the C: drive, then click OK

3. Click Clean up system files to scan for more junk files

4. Check the following items:

• Temporary files
• Recycle Bin
• Delivery Optimization files
• Windows Update cleanup
• Previous Windows installations

5. Click OK and confirm the deletion of the files

This alone can free 10-20GB of space safely without uninstalling programs or deleting personal data.

Notes

• Do not select unknown options such as drivers or system cache at random to avoid system malfunctions.

• Once old system files have been cleaned up, you will not be able to revert to the previous version of Windows.

• Back up important files in advance; data cannot be directly recovered once the Recycle Bin has been emptied.

Manual cleanup means you personally decide which files to delete, rather than letting an automated tool do it. This gives you more control and is actually safer than automatic tools because you can see exactly what you're removing for free up storage on Windows 11 PC.

Step-by-Step Manual Cleanup

1. Empty the Recycle Bin

   Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop

   Select Empty Recycle Bin

   Click Yes to confirm

2. Clear Browser Cache (Chrome as example)

   Open Chrome

   Click the three dots (top right) → Settings

   Privacy and security → Clear browsing data

   Set Time range to "All time"

   Check only "Cached images and files" (uncheck passwords and history)

   Click Clear data

3. Delete Temporary Files Manually

   Press Windows + R on your keyboard

   Type %temp% and press Enter

   Press Ctrl + A to select everything

   Press Delete on your keyboard

   If any files say "in use," click Skip — that's normal

   Empty Recycle Bin afterward

Manual cleanup is completely free, safe when you follow these guidelines to free up storage on Windows 11 PC, and often recovers more space than automated tools because you're making conscious decisions about what to keep.

There are some useful methods in this video guide, it may help you:

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:

1. Open File Explorer
2. Right-click on Documents (or any personal folder)
3. Select Properties → Location tab
4. Click Move
5. Choose a folder on your D: drive or external drive
6. 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.

Let's talking about how to free up storage on Windows 11 PC. Hibernation saves everything in your memory to a hidden file on your C: drive called hiberfil. sys. This file is roughly equal to the amount of RAM you have.

How much space this frees: If you have 16GB of RAM, you free about 12GB to 16GB.

What you lose: The "Hibernate" option in your power menu (Sleep and Shut Down still work). Your computer may also take slightly longer to start up .

Here's how to disable it for free up storage on Windows 11 PC:

1. Right-click the Start button and select "Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)"

2. Type this command and press Enter:

text

powercfg -h off

3. That's it — the file is deleted immediately

4. To turn hibernation back on later, run the same steps with powercfg -h on.

Running out of storage is the digital equivalent of trying to shove a sleeping bag back into its original sack—frustrating and seemingly impossible. If your PC is starting to "breathe through a straw," here are the most effective things to clear out, ranked from easiest to most impactful.

Best things to delete for freeing up storage on Windows pc

1. The "Junk Drawer": The Downloads Folder

This is almost always the biggest culprit. We download installers ($EXE$ or $MSI$ files), PDFs, and zipped folders, use them once, and forget them.The

Fix: Sort your Downloads folder by File Size. You’ll likely find massive installers for programs you’ve already installed. Delete them—you can always download them again later if needed.

2. Large Applications and Games

Modern games can easily take up 50GB to 150GB each. If you haven't played Call of Duty or The Sims in six months, they are holding your hard drive hostage.

The Fix: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Sort by Size. Be ruthless. If you use Steam, use its built-in manager to move games to an external drive or uninstall them.

3. Temporary System Files

Windows keeps a lot of "just in case" files that it rarely actually needs, including old Windows Update files (which can be massive).