How to See What’s Taking Up Space on PC Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / October 16, 2025

If your PC feels sluggish or you’re running low on disk space, you might be wondering: what exactly is taking up all that space? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. Windows 11 comes with several built-in tools that make it easy to find what’s eating up your storage.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to see what’s taking up space on your Windows 11 PC, using both built-in features and third-party options. We’ll also cover how to clean up unnecessary files to free up space and keep your system running smoothly.

Let’s dive right in.

Why It’s Important to Know What’s Taking Up Space on Your PC

Over time, your computer accumulates a ton of data — apps, downloads, temporary files, old updates, and even cached content.

Knowing what’s taking up space helps you:

  • Identify large, unused files or apps you can safely remove.

  • Prevent your hard drive or SSD from getting full.

  • Improve PC performance and speed.

  • Avoid running into “Low Disk Space” errors.

1. Check Storage Usage via Windows Settings

The easiest way to check storage space on Windows 11 is through the Settings app.

Step-by-Step:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Click System → Storage.

  3. Wait a few seconds while Windows analyzes your drive.

You’ll see a breakdown showing categories like:

  • Apps & features

  • Temporary files

  • Documents

  • Pictures

  • Videos

  • System & reserved

Each category displays how much space it occupies.

💡 Tip: Click any category to explore more details and find cleanup options.

2. Use Storage Sense for Automatic Cleanup

Windows 11 includes Storage Sense, a built-in tool that automatically deletes junk files.

How to Enable Storage Sense:

  1. Open Settings → System → Storage.

  2. Scroll down and click Storage Sense.

  3. Toggle Storage Sense On.

  4. Configure cleanup preferences — like how often to delete temporary files or empty the recycle bin.

Why Use It:

  • Keeps your drive clean automatically.

  • Reduces manual maintenance.

  • Ensures your system always has free space.

3. Analyze Storage with “Show More Categories”

By default, Windows 11 only shows a few storage categories.

To get a detailed breakdown, do this:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Storage.

  2. Click Show more categories.

  3. Review each section — especially:

    • Other — may contain miscellaneous files or folders.

    • System & reserved — includes restore points, system files, and virtual memory.

🧠 Note: Be cautious when deleting system-related files; they’re essential for Windows to run properly.

4. Check File Sizes with File Explorer

You can use File Explorer to manually check which folders or files are using the most space.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

  2. Navigate to This PC.

  3. Select your main drive (usually Local Disk (C:)).

  4. Right-click and choose Properties to see used and free space.

To View Folder Sizes:

  1. In File Explorer, right-click any folder → Properties.

  2. The Size field shows total space used by that folder.

You can sort files by size to find the biggest ones:

  • Click View → Details.

  • Right-click the column header → Select Size.

  • Sort from largest to smallest.

5. Use the Disk Cleanup Tool

Disk Cleanup is a classic Windows utility that still works great in Windows 11.

How to Use Disk Cleanup:

  1. Press Windows + S, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.

  2. Select your system drive (usually C:).

  3. Wait for the scan to complete.

  4. Check boxes next to items you want to delete:

    • Temporary Internet Files

    • Recycle Bin

    • Delivery Optimization Files

    • System Error Memory Dump Files

  5. Click OK → Delete Files.

Optional Step:

Click Clean up system files to remove old Windows updates and other system files.

6. Use “Apps & Features” to Remove Large Programs

Some apps take up several gigabytes of space. You can easily find and remove them.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

  2. Click the Sort by dropdown and choose Size (largest to smallest).

  3. Review the biggest apps — uninstall the ones you no longer need.

Pro Tip:

If you have games installed via Xbox Game Pass or Steam, check their folders separately — game installations can consume a lot of space.

7. Use WinDirStat for Advanced Storage Analysis

If you want a visual representation of what’s eating your storage, try WinDirStat (Windows Directory Statistics).

How to Use:

  1. Download and install WinDirStat from its official website.

  2. Launch it and select the drive you want to scan.

  3. Wait for the analysis to finish.

You’ll get:

  • A colorful treemap view showing file sizes.

  • A detailed list of folders sorted by usage.

  • The ability to delete or explore files directly.

This tool helps you spot hidden large files easily.

8. Check Temporary Files and Cache

Windows and applications generate temporary files regularly. They can quickly add up.

To Clear Temp Files:

  1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.

  2. Select all files and press Delete.

  3. Confirm and skip any files in use.

Also Clear:

  • C:\Windows\Temp

  • Prefetch folder (Windows + R → prefetch)

⚠️ Note: Don’t delete system-critical files — stick to temp and cache data only.

9. Check OneDrive and Cloud Storage Folders

If you use OneDrive, synced files can take up local space unless you use “Files On-Demand.”

How to Turn On Files On-Demand:

  1. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.

  2. Go to Settings → Sync and Backup → Advanced settings.

  3. Enable Files On-Demand.

Now, files you don’t open regularly will stay in the cloud, freeing local space.

10. Find Large Files with Command Prompt

You can also use Command Prompt to locate large files.

Command Example:

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

  2. Type:

    forfiles /s /m *.* /c "cmd /c if @fsize GTR 104857600 echo @path @fsize"

    This lists files larger than 100 MB on your drive.

You can adjust the number to find even bigger or smaller files.

11. Analyze Storage Per Drive

If you have multiple drives, you can check space usage for each one separately.

Steps:

  1. Open File Explorer → This PC.

  2. View all drives — C:, D:, E:, etc.

  3. Check each drive’s blue bar (usage indicator).

  4. Right-click → Properties for detailed info.

This helps identify which drive is nearing capacity.

12. Check Hidden Files and Folders

Sometimes hidden files consume significant space.

How to Reveal Hidden Files:

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. Click View → Show → Hidden items.

  3. Explore your folders — you may discover hidden data like old backups or logs.

Delete only what you recognize as safe.

13. Check Windows System Restore and Shadow Copies

System Restore can occupy several gigabytes.

To Manage Restore Points:

  1. Search for Create a Restore Point → Open it.

  2. Under your drive, click Configure.

  3. Adjust Disk Space Usage or Delete old restore points.

⚠️ Be cautious: deleting restore points means you’ll lose rollback options.

14. Manage Recycle Bin Storage

Files in the Recycle Bin still take up space until you empty it.

How to Empty the Recycle Bin:

  1. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

  2. Click Empty Recycle Bin.

  3. Confirm deletion.

You can also configure its size limit:

  • Right-click Recycle Bin → Properties → Adjust Maximum size (MB).

15. Use Windows Storage Recommendations

Windows 11’s Storage Recommendations feature suggests files you can safely remove.

Steps:

  1. Open Settings → System → Storage → Storage Recommendations.

  2. Review suggestions under:

    • Large or unused files

    • Files in Recycle Bin

    • Temporary files

  3. Select what you want to remove → Clean up.

This smart feature automatically highlights unnecessary clutter.

Bonus: Tips to Keep Your PC Storage Optimized

  • Regularly run Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense.

  • Keep Downloads and Desktop folders organized.

  • Move large files to external drives or cloud storage.

  • Uninstall unused apps every few months.

  • Use compression tools like 7-Zip for rarely used archives.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Windows 11 Storage

By now, you know exactly how to see what’s taking up space on your Windows 11 PC and how to clean it up efficiently. From using Windows Settings and Disk Cleanup to advanced tools like WinDirStat, these steps will help you reclaim valuable storage and improve overall system performance.

Regular maintenance not only frees up space but also keeps your PC running fast, smooth, and clutter-free.

So, open your Storage Settings today — you might be surprised how much space you can free up in just a few clicks.

FAQs About Checking What’s Taking Up Space on Windows 11

1. How do I find the largest files on Windows 11?

Use WinDirStat or File Explorer’s search filters (like size:>1GB) to locate large files quickly.

2. Is it safe to delete temporary files on Windows 11?

Yes. Temporary files are safe to delete and can often free several gigabytes without affecting system performance.

3. Why is my C: drive full even after deleting files?

System files, restore points, and hibernation files may still occupy space. Check “System & reserved” in Storage settings.

4. How can I free up space without deleting personal files?

Enable Storage Sense, move media to external drives, and use OneDrive’s Files On-Demand feature.

5. What’s the best third-party tool to analyze disk usage?

WinDirStat and TreeSize Free are two excellent options for visualizing what’s taking up your disk space.

Summary: Key Takeaways

Action Tool/Method Purpose
Check storage breakdown Settings → System → Storage View what’s using space
Enable Storage Sense Storage Settings Automatic cleanup
Use Disk Cleanup Built-in tool Remove junk/system files
Analyze storage visually WinDirStat Identify large files
Manage apps Settings → Apps Remove unused software
Check OneDrive Files On-Demand Save local storage space

By following these steps, you can keep your Windows 11 PC clean, efficient, and running like new. 🚀

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