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How To Free Up Disk Space On My Computer

Performance & Troubleshooting KB-1355

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How To Free Up Disk Space On My Computer. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

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Common Causes

Running out of disk space can cause your computer to run slowly, prevent applications from opening, and trigger system errors. This guide explains how to check available storage on your Windows or macOS device, identify large files and folders, and safely remove unnecessary data to restore system performance.

Quick Fix Steps

  1. Check how much free space is available on your main drive.
  2. Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.
  3. Remove temporary files and system caches.
  4. Clear out old downloads and unused installer files.
  5. Uninstall programs you no longer use.

Detailed Instructions

Windows 10 and Windows 11

Check available disk space

  1. Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Select This PC from the left navigation pane.
  3. Look under Devices and drives to see the available space on your C: drive.

Use Storage Sense to remove temporary files

  1. Select Start, then select Settings.
  2. Go to System > Storage.
  3. Turn on Storage Sense, or select Temporary files to review and remove items manually.
  4. Select the file types you want to delete, such as Temporary files, Downloads, and Previous Windows installations.
  5. Select Remove files.

Empty the Recycle Bin

  1. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
  2. Select Empty Recycle Bin.
  3. Select Yes to confirm.

Uninstall unused programs

  1. Select Start, then select Settings.
  2. Go to Apps > Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps > Apps & features (Windows 10).
  3. Sort by size to identify large applications.
  4. Select the three dots ... next to an app you no longer need, then select Uninstall.
  5. Follow the prompts to complete the removal.

macOS

Check available disk space

  1. Select the Apple menu > System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (earlier macOS versions).
  2. Select General > Storage.
  3. Review the storage bar to see how much space is available and what categories are using the most room.

Use macOS storage recommendations

  1. In the Storage section, select All Volumes if available.
  2. Review recommendations such as Store in iCloud, Optimize Storage, Empty Trash Automatically, and Reduce Clutter.
  3. Select Review Files under Reduce Clutter to identify large files, downloads, and unsupported apps.
  4. Select items you want to remove and click Delete.

Empty the Trash

  1. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock.
  2. Select Empty Trash.
  3. Select Empty Trash again to confirm.

Troubleshooting

Disk space is full but I cannot find large files

Computer is still slow after freeing space

Regularly reviewing your Downloads folder and emptying the Recycle Bin or Trash can prevent storage issues from building up over time.

Avoid deleting files inside the Windows or Program Files folders unless you are certain they are safe to remove. Deleting critical system files can prevent your computer from starting correctly.

Insufficient disk space can contribute to application errors, browser issues, and system crashes. If you continue to experience applications freezing or crashing, browser not loading pages, or a blue screen of death (BSOD), review those guides for additional steps.

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If you have completed these steps and are still experiencing disk space or performance issues, Open a Ticket and our support team will assist you.

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