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Lanesy's avatar
Lanesy
Brass Contributor
Jul 24, 2026

Storage space running out

The storage space of my Windows computer is about to run out, but I'm not sure what has occupied so much disk space. I have deleted some unnecessary files and programs, but the available space keeps decreasing over time.

2 Replies

  • Hello,

    I highly recommend to turn on Storage Sense, to automatically free up the disk space:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/storage-filemanagement/manage-drive-space-with-storage-sense

    If you already have the Storage Sense turned On but still you're not able to claim the disk space, try manual disk cleanup. 

    This article shares more ideas to reclaim free space on your disk, you can review the suggestions:

    https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-free-up-drive-space-in-windows-11

    Let us know if this helps!

    Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog by a trusted Microsoft MVP.

     

  • The storage warning means the system volume no longer has enough free space for normal updates, temporary files, and application growth; deleting random Windows folders can make the installation unserviceable. Open Settings, System, Storage and review the category breakdown first. Use Cleanup recommendations and Storage Sense to remove temporary files, old Recycle Bin content, and downloads only after checking them. Run Disk Cleanup as administrator if Windows Update cleanup is offered. Move large personal files to another drive or cloud storage, and enable OneDrive Files On-Demand where appropriate. Uninstall applications or games that are no longer needed, and check whether restore points, virtual machines, mail archives, or log files are consuming unusual space. Do not manually delete WinSxS, Installer, or system-profile folders. After cleanup, run a Defender scan and verify free space again. If usage immediately grows back, identify the expanding folder before removing anything else.