How to Free Up Disk Space on Windows 11

The C: drive is nearly full, updates are failing, and Windows keeps warning about low disk space. The built-in Storage settings can usually recover several gigabytes without deleting anything you actually use.

Open the Storage page

Press Windows + I, select System, then click Storage. Wait a moment while Windows scans the drive and shows a breakdown by category. On Windows 10 the same page is at Settings, System, Storage, with a slightly different layout.

Remove temporary files

Click Temporary files. Windows lists categories such as Windows Update Cleanup, Delivery Optimization Files, Temporary Internet Files, and Recycle Bin, with the size of each. Tick the ones you want to remove and click Remove files.

Leave Downloads unticked unless you have checked that folder yourself, because that option deletes everything in it. Previous Windows installation files, when present, are often the largest item and are safe to remove if the current version has been working for a while.

Review the cleanup recommendations

Back on the Storage page, click Cleanup recommendations. Windows suggests large or unused files, apps you have not opened in a long time, and files already synced to the cloud. Each group shows how much space it would free. Select what you want and click the Clean up button for that group.

Turn on Storage Sense

On the Storage page, switch Storage Sense on. Click it to set how often it runs and when it should clear the Recycle Bin and the Downloads folder. Once enabled, Windows handles temporary files on its own instead of waiting for the drive to fill up.

Empty the Recycle Bin and check Downloads

Right-click the Recycle Bin on the desktop and choose Empty Recycle Bin. Deleted files count against your drive until this is done. Then open File Explorer, go to Downloads, sort by size, and delete installers and archives you no longer need.

If you prefer the classic tool. Press Windows + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter. Disk Cleanup opens with a checklist of the same categories. Click Clean up system files to include Windows Update leftovers and previous installations.