How to quickly find and delete large files on windows 11

It could take hours to find all large files across different folders on the drive. However, it only takes a couple of minutes to find and delete all large files on Windows 11. You can try this quick and safe method instead:

https://www.bincodelab.com/find-and-delete-large-files-on-windows

Open File Explorer. Navigate to This PC. In the search bar, type: size:>1GB This will list files larger than 1GB. Sort by Size or Date Modified to identify old, large files. Select a range and delete.

What to AVOID Deleting

To keep your system healthy, follow these "Golden Rules":

• Never delete from C:\Windows: This folder contains the "brain" of your computer. Deleting anything here can cause Windows to stop booting.
• Avoid Program Files or Program Files (x86): If you see a large folder here, do not just delete it. Instead, go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and use the Uninstall button.
• Hidden Files: If you don't recognize a file and it has a strange name (like pagefile.sys or hiberfil.sys), leave it alone. These are system-managed files used for memory and power management.

With only 10GB left, it's crucial to proceed carefully. Follow these steps regardless of which tool you choose to find and delete large files on Windows 11:

1. Start with a Safe Cleanup: Before hunting for large files, run Windows' built-in Disk Cleanup. It safely removes system junk like temporary files and update caches that can be several gigabytes. You can run it by searching for "Disk Cleanup" in the Start Menu.

2. Scan Your Main Drive: Open your chosen software and select your C: drive to start the scan.

3. Identify Your Targets: Focus on large files in safe locations like:

C:\Users\[YourName]\Videos, Downloads, Desktop

C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) (but only for game folders you recognize and want to uninstall).

4. Delete with Care:

Always check the file path before deleting. If you're unsure, don't delete it.

Use the software's option to send files to the Recycle Bin first, not to permanently delete.

For games, use the Settings > Apps > Installed apps feature to uninstall properly, rather than just deleting the folder.

What to Absolutely Avoid Deleting

* inside C:\Windows or C:\ProgramData.

* Files with extensions like .sys, .dll, .ini in system folders.

* Anything you don't recognize from folders like AppData or Local.

Given your situation with an SSD and a need for speed, A professional cleaning tool to start with when finding and deleting large files on Windows 11. Its visual layout will quickly show you the largest space hogs.

Microsoft PC Manager is a system optimization and security tool provided by Microsoft that can help with various maintenance tasks on Windows 11. While its primary functions include cleaning junk files, managing startup items, and optimizing system performance, it does not specifically feature a dedicated tool solely for finding and deleting large files on Windows 11.

1. User-Friendly Interface:
   • PC Manager provides an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface designed for quick system cleanup, making it accessible even for users unfamiliar with advanced search commands.
2. Automated Scanning and Cleanup:
   • It automatically scans your system for large, unnecessary, or duplicate files, saving time and effort compared to manual searches.
3. One-Click Optimization:
   • To find and delete large files on Windows 11. With features like "Memory Cleanup" and "Storage Management," you can easily identify and remove large files, temporary files, cache, and other junk files with a single click.
4. Comprehensive System Analysis:
   • PC Manager evaluates various system components, including large files, startup items, and background processes, providing a holistic view of what’s consuming space.

How to find and delete large files on Windows 11? Disk Cleanup on Windows 11 is a useful tool for freeing up disk space by removing unnecessary files like temporary data, system cache, and old system files. However, it doesn't specifically help you find or target large individual files for deletion. Instead, it works by cleaning up broad categories of junk files automatically.

In essence, Disk Cleanup is designed to quickly reclaim space without requiring you to manually select large files. You just run the tool, select the types of files to delete, and it handles the rest. It’s a convenient way to clear up space without needing detailed knowledge of your files.

But if your goal is specifically to find and delete large files on Windows 11, Disk Cleanup isn’t the ideal tool. For that, you'd need to use search features in File Explorer or specialized disk space analysis tools that let you identify large files and manually delete them.

Finding large files is easy; knowing which ones to delete is crucial. Here is how to proceed safely:

Check the Location: Files in your Downloads, Videos, Desktop, or personal folders are generally safe to review and delete if unneeded. Be very cautious with files inside C:\Windows, C:\Program Files, or C:\Program Files (x86).

Research Unknown Files: If you find a very large file with an unfamiliar name (e.g., a .sys, .dll, or .log file in a system folder), search for the filename online before deleting it.

Use Recycle Bin: When you delete files through these tools or Explorer, they typically go to the Recycle Bin, giving you a chance to restore them if you make a mistake.

Target Safe Categories: Common safe deletions include old downloaded installer files, duplicated videos/photos, cached game data, and completed project files you no longer need.

Storage Sense is a built-in feature in Windows 11 designed to help manage disk space automatically, but it doesn't specifically target large files for manual review. Instead, it automates cleanup tasks like deleting temporary files, Recycle Bin contents, and previous Windows versions.

How Storage Sense can help find and delete large files on Windows 11:

It frees up space by cleaning up unnecessary files without requiring manual intervention.
You can configure it to run automatically or manually.

However, for finding and deleting large files on Windows 11 manually, Storage Sense has limitations:

It doesn't provide a detailed view or filter by file size.
You can't browse or select specific large files directly within Storage Sense.

Using PowerShell is an excellent way to find and delete large files on Windows 11 efficiently. You can leverage PowerShell's powerful cmdlets to search for files exceeding a certain size and then delete them if needed.

Here's a "PowerShell Magic" script to find and delete large files on Windows 11:

Find Large Files with PowerShell
This script searches a specified directory (e.g., your C: drive) for files larger than a specified size (e.g., 100MB):

# Define the directory to scan
$directory = "C:\"

# Define the minimum file size (in bytes), e.g., 100MB = 100 * 1024 * 1024
$minSizeBytes = 100MB

# Find files larger than the specified size
Get-ChildItem -Path $directory -Recurse -File | Where-Object { $_.Length -gt $minSizeBytes } | Select-Object FullName, Length

Delete Large Files
If you are sure you want to delete these files, add a removal command:

# WARNING: This will permanently delete files!
Get-ChildItem -Path $directory -Recurse -File | Where-Object { $_.Length -gt $minSizeBytes } | ForEach-Object {
    try {
        Remove-Item $_.FullName -Force
        Write-Output "Deleted: $($_.FullName)"
    } catch {
        Write-Output "Failed to delete: $($_.FullName) - $_"
    }
}

Tips:
Always review the list first before deleting.

Using File Explorer's Search feature to find and delete large files on Windows 11 is an effective method.

Here's how you can do it:

1. Open File Explorer:
Click on the folder icon on the taskbar or press Win + E.
2. Navigate to the Drive or Folder:
Go to the drive (e.g., C:) or specific folder where you want to search for large files.
3. Use the Search Box:
Click on the search box in the top right corner of File Explorer.
4. Search for Large Files:
Type the following search query to find files larger than a certain size (e.g., 100 MB):

size:>100MB

You can adjust the size as needed (e.g., size:>1GB for files larger than 1 GB).
5. Sort the Results:
Once the search results appear, click on the "Size" column header to sort files by size, with the largest files at the top.
6. Review and Delete:
Carefully review the files to ensure they are safe to delete.
Select the files and press Delete, or right-click and choose "Delete."

Tips for Effective find and delete large files on Windows 11:

* Use the "This PC" view to search across all drives.
* Combine size search with date filters to find old large files.
* Be cautious when deleting system or program files to avoid issues.