How to fix and clear 'Low Disk Space' warnings on Windows 10/11

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix and clear 'Low Disk Space' warnings on Windows 10/11. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Running low on disk space can significantly impact your computer's performance, often leading to a computer running slow or causing applications to freeze or crash. This guide will walk you through the most effective ways to reclaim storage on Windows 10 and 11 using built-in system tools.

Quick Fix Steps

If you need to clear space immediately to resolve a system warning, follow these rapid steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.
2. Select the (C:) drive and click OK.
3. Check the boxes for Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Thumbnails.
4. Click OK and then Delete Files.

Detailed Instructions for Reclaiming Space

Using Disk Cleanup for System Files

Standard cleanup removes user temporary files, but "System File" cleanup removes old Windows Update installations and driver packages which can take up several gigabytes.

1. Open the Start Menu, type Disk Cleanup, and select the app.
2. Once the tool opens, click the button labelled Clean up system files. You may be prompted by User Account Control; click Yes.
3. The tool will recalculate the space. Look for Windows Update Cleanup and Previous Windows installation(s) in the list.
4. Check all applicable boxes and click OK.

Configuring Storage Sense (Automatic Cleanup)

Storage Sense is a built-in Windows feature that automatically clears out unnecessary files when your disk space gets low.

1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.
2. Toggle the Storage Sense switch to On.
3. Click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now to customise the frequency.
4. Under "Temporary Files", check the box for Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using.
5. Set the "Delete files in my recycle bin" dropdown to 30 days to ensure old deleted files are purged automatically.

Analysing Large Folders and Files

If the automated tools haven't cleared enough space, you may have large personal files or forgotten downloads taking up room.

• Downloads Folder: Open File Explorer, go to C:\Users\YourName\Downloads, and sort by Size to find and remove large installers.
• Uninstall Unused Apps: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Sort the list by Size to identify software that is no longer needed.

Troubleshooting Persistent Space Issues

Dealing with Hidden Temporary Files

Sometimes the standard cleanup tools miss certain application caches. You can clear these manually:

1. Press Windows Key + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
2. Press Ctrl + A to select all files in the folder.
3. Press the Delete key. If a message appears saying a file is in use, simply click Skip.

If you have followed these steps and your disk space remains full despite deleting files, or if you suspect a hardware failure, please Open a Ticket for further technical analysis.

Still Having Issues?