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TannerFord's avatar
TannerFord
Iron Contributor
Jul 21, 2025

How to free up disk space in windows 11 laptop?

Hi all,

My budget Lenovo laptop has only 128 SSD and it is almost full now. There is only 6 GB free space left and the computer runs very slow now. Is there any simple way to free up disk space in Windows 11?

P.S. I already deleted the old windows install, tmp files and caches via the built-in disk cleanup tool.

7 Replies

  • Flori's avatar
    Flori
    Copper Contributor
    • Use Storage Sense
    1. Go to Settings → System → Storage
    2. Turn on Storage Sense
    3. Click “Temporary files”, check items like:
      • Delivery Optimization Files
      • Temporary Files
      • Recycle Bin
      • Thumbnails
    4. Click “Remove files”
    5. You can also click “Run Storage Sense now” for an instant clean-up.
    • Uninstall Unused Apps
    1. Go to Settings → Apps → Installed Apps
    2. Sort by Size to see the biggest apps
    3. Uninstall apps you no longer use (e.g., old games, trial software)
    • Delete Large Personal Files (or Move to Cloud/External Drive)
    1. Open File Explorer
    2. Go to your Downloads, Documents, Videos, and Pictures folders
    3. Sort files by Size or Date modified
    4. Delete or move files to:
      • External Hard Drive / USB
      • Cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox)
  • Mushroon's avatar
    Mushroon
    Iron Contributor

    Backup the large files and delete from your computer. This is the most effective way to free up disk space in Windows 11.

  • Pones's avatar
    Pones
    Iron Contributor

    BleachBit is a solid choice if you're looking for a free, open-source tool to help free up disk space on Windows 11. It’s especially good for cleaning junk files, cache, browser history, and other unnecessary data that can accumulate over time.

    Benefits of Using BleachBit:

    • Free and Open Source: No cost and transparent.
    • Deep Cleaning: Can clear cache, temporary files, logs, cookies, and more.
    • Privacy Focused: Helps delete browser history and cookies.
    • Reclaim Disk Space: Especially useful on small SSDs like yours.

     

    Caution:
    While BleachBit is generally safe, it’s good practice to:

    • Back up important files before freeing up disk space Windows 11.
    • Review the selected items carefully before executing the cleanup.

     

  • Consterop's avatar
    Consterop
    Iron Contributor

    Freeing up disk space on Windows 11 is generally safe if done carefully, but there are some potential risks to be aware of:

    1. Accidental Deletion of Important Files:
       - When deleting files manually, you might accidentally remove important documents, system files, or data needed for certain applications.
    2. Deleting System Files or Essential Files:
       - Using Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense might remove system files or cache files that are necessary for Windows to operate correctly if not carefully reviewed.
    3. Loss of Data in Recycle Bin:
       - Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently deletes files, so ensure you don’t need any files before emptying it.
    4. Uninstalling Critical Applications:
       - Uninstalling programs without reviewing what they do could remove software needed for work or system stability.
    5. Disabling Hibernation:
       - Turning off hibernation deletes the hibernation file, which saves the current state of your system. You won’t be able to use hibernate mode afterward.
    6. Potential for Data Recovery Issues:
       - Once files are deleted and not backed up, recovery can be difficult or impossible.

    By being cautious and aware of what you’re deleting, you can safely free up disk space Windows 11 without risking system stability or data loss.

  • Plutorprez's avatar
    Plutorprez
    Iron Contributor

    To free up disk space from Windows 11, one very good trick is to find and delete the large file in Windows 11. Or you can backup the large file to external drive and delete them from the computer.

    Method 1: Using Built-in Storage Analysis

    1. Open Settings (Windows key + I)
    2. Go to System > Storage
    3. Click on your main drive (usually C:)
    4. Under "Storage usage," click Show more categories
    5. Look through categories like Apps & features, Documents, Pictures, etc.
    6. Click any category to see the largest files within it

    Method 2: Find Large File Using Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator

    Run this command to list files >500MB:

    forfiles /S /M * /C "cmd /c if @fsize GTR 524288000 echo @path @fsize"

    (Change 524288000 to adjust size threshold in bytes)

    Method 3: Using Detailed Search Filters

    1. In File Explorer, go to the folder/drive to search
    2. Click the search box > Search tab in the ribbon
    3. Click Size > choose a size range (like Gigantic)
    4. For more precision: Click Advanced options > enable "File contents" and Use size:>1GB to find files over 1GB

    Once these big files was deleted, you will free up disk space in windows 11 dramatically.

  • Longblic's avatar
    Longblic
    Iron Contributor

    Here are three effective methods to free up disk space on Windows 11. This will increase a lot of free storage on your computer.

    Use Storage Sense (Automatic Cleaning)

    1. Open Settings (Windows key + I)
    2. Go to System > Storage
    3. Turn on "Storage Sense"
    4. Click "Storage Sense" to configure: Set it to run automatically (daily, weekly, or monthly)
    5. Choose when to delete temporary files and files in Recycle Bin

    Uninstall Unused Applications

    1. Settings > Apps > Installed apps
    2. Sort by size to find large programs
    3. Click the three dots next to apps you don't need
    4. Select "Uninstall"

    Clean Up System Files with Disk Cleanup

    1. Search for "Disk Cleanup" in Start menu
    2. Select your system drive (usually C:)
    3. Click "Clean up system files" (admin rights required)
    4. Select all file types you want to delete
    5. Click OK > Delete Files

    Let me know if you need help to free up space in Windows 11.

  • Olaann's avatar
    Olaann
    Iron Contributor

    To free up disk space Windows 11, you can follow these effective methods:

    1. 

    Delete Temporary Files:
    In the Storage settings, click on Temporary Files.
    Select the types of files you want to remove, then click Remove files.

    3.

    Empty Recycle Bin:
    Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
    Choose Empty Recycle Bin.

    4.

    Manage Large Files:
    Use File Explorer to find large files:
    Open File Explorer.
    Navigate to This PC.
    Use the search bar with size filters, e.g., size:>100MB.
    Delete or move unnecessary large files.

    5.

    Move Files to External Storage or Cloud:
    Transfer files to an external drive or cloud storage services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

    6.

    Disable Hibernation (if not needed):
    Open Command Prompt as administrator.
    Type: powercfg -h off and press Enter.
    This disables hibernation and deletes the hibernation file, free up disk space Windows 11.

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