How to fix Windows 11 system using too much data

If Windows 11 system uses too much data, you can remove the junk, temp and cache files to free up more space.

Windows 11 has a built-in Storage Sense feature that automatically clears temporary files, old Windows Update leftovers, and Recycle Bin contents on a schedule. You can also run it manually via Settings → System → Storage → Storage Sense, or use the classic Disk Cleanup tool (cleanmgr.exe) which lets you delete system files including old Windows installations, update caches, and error reports that can collectively take up several gigabytes.

For deeper cache clearing, flush specific caches manually. The Windows Update cache sits at C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download — stop the Windows Update service first (services.msc), delete the folder contents, then restart the service.

Similarly, the DNS cache can be flushed with ipconfig /flushdns in an elevated command prompt, the Microsoft Store cache with wsreset.exe, and the thumbnail cache via Disk Cleanup or by deleting contents of C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer.