How to Free Up Space on Windows 10: Essential Tips for a Cleaner PC

By / November 4, 2025

Is your Windows 10 computer running slower than usual? Are you constantly getting that annoying “Low Disk Space” warning? You’re not alone. Over time, temporary files, unused apps, and digital clutter pile up, eating away your storage and slowing performance.

In this detailed guide, we’ll show you how to free up space on Windows 10 with step-by-step instructions, smart tips, and built-in tools that can make your PC feel brand new again. Whether you’re a casual user or a power user, these techniques will help you reclaim valuable disk space safely and efficiently.

Why Freeing Up Space on Windows 10 Matters

A cluttered PC doesn’t just waste storage — it also slows down your system, increases startup time, and can even cause software errors.

When your hard drive is nearly full, Windows struggles to find room for temporary files and virtual memory, leading to lag and instability. Freeing up space helps:

  • Improve overall performance

  • Speed up system boot time

  • Prevent system crashes

  • Create room for new files and updates

Think of it as giving your computer a deep clean — it breathes easier and performs better afterward.

2. Check Your Storage Usage First

Before deleting anything, you need to see what’s taking up space on your PC.

Steps to Check Storage:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Click on System → Storage.

  3. You’ll see a breakdown of your drive usage (Apps, Pictures, Temporary files, etc.).

This view helps you identify which categories consume the most storage. For example, if “Apps & features” takes up a large chunk, uninstalling unused programs will be more effective than deleting personal files.

💡 Tip: Click on any category to see more details and options for freeing up space.

3. Use Storage Sense to Automatically Clean Up Files

Storage Sense is a built-in Windows 10 feature that automatically deletes unnecessary files like temp data and Recycle Bin contents.

How to Turn On Storage Sense:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Storage.

  2. Toggle on Storage Sense.

  3. Click Configure Storage Sense or run it now.

  4. Choose how often it runs — daily, weekly, or monthly.

  5. Under Temporary Files, check what you want Windows to delete automatically (e.g., Recycle Bin files older than 30 days).

✅ Pro Tip: You can also select “Clean now” to immediately trigger a cleanup.

4. Delete Temporary Files Manually

Even with Storage Sense, temporary files build up from app installations, updates, and browsing.

Steps to Remove Temporary Files Manually:

  1. Press Windows + R, type temp, and hit Enter.

  2. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and press Delete.

  3. Repeat the same with %temp% and prefetch folders.

🧹 Note: Some files might be “in use.” Skip those — they’ll be recreated automatically when needed.

5. Empty the Recycle Bin

It’s easy to forget that deleted files remain in the Recycle Bin until you empty it.

Steps:

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

  2. Click Empty Recycle Bin.

  3. Confirm when prompted.

Alternatively, use Storage Settings → Temporary Files to clear Recycle Bin contents automatically.

6. Uninstall Unnecessary Apps and Programs

Old software can hog several gigabytes of storage.

How to Uninstall Apps via Settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → Apps & features.

  2. Sort by Size to identify large programs.

  3. Click on any app and select Uninstall.

🧠 Example: If you no longer use games, heavy editing software, or trial programs, removing them can instantly reclaim space.

7. Clear the Windows Update Cache

Windows Update temporarily stores installation files, which can take up several gigabytes.

Steps to Clear Windows Update Cache:

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.

  2. Locate Windows Update in the list and right-click → Stop.

  3. Open File Explorer and navigate to:

    C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

  4. Delete all files in that folder.

  5. Go back to Services and Start the Windows Update service again.

💡 Pro Tip: This process doesn’t affect updates already installed — it only removes temporary files.

8. Remove Large Files Using File Explorer

Windows 10 allows you to find large files easily using built-in search filters.

Steps to Locate Large Files:

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. In the search box, type size:>1GB (or size:>500MB).

  3. Review the list and delete or move unnecessary large files.

You can also sort folders by Size to quickly see which ones are the heaviest.

9. Move Files to an External Drive or Cloud Storage

If you have important files you don’t use often, moving them frees up local space without losing access.

Options to Move Files:

  • External Drive: Copy files to a USB or external HDD.

  • Cloud Storage: Use OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

💡 Bonus Tip: With OneDrive Files On-Demand, you can see cloud files in File Explorer without storing them locally.

10. Clear Browser Cache and Downloads

Browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox store cache, cookies, and downloads that accumulate over time.

Clear Browser Cache (Example: Chrome):

  1. Open Chrome and press Ctrl + Shift + Delete.

  2. Select Cached images and files and Browsing history.

  3. Choose All time and click Clear data.

Repeat this process for other browsers you use.

11. Disable Hibernation to Save Disk Space

Hibernation saves your system state to a file (hiberfil.sys), which can take up several gigabytes.

To Disable Hibernation:

  1. Press Windows + X → select Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Type:

    powercfg -h off

  3. Press Enter and restart your PC.

This will remove the hibernation file and disable the feature.

12. Clean Up System Restore and Shadow Copies

System Restore is helpful but can store multiple restore points, using large amounts of space.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type sysdm.cpl, and hit Enter.

  2. Under System Protection, click Configure.

  3. Click Delete to remove old restore points.

  4. You can also reduce the disk space usage slider to limit future storage.

13. Compress Files and Folders

Windows lets you compress rarely accessed files to save space without deleting them.

How to Compress a Folder:

  1. Right-click a folder → Properties.

  2. Click Advanced.

  3. Check Compress contents to save disk space → OK.

You’ll see a small blue arrow icon on compressed folders.

14. Use Disk Cleanup Tool (Legacy Method)

Before Storage Sense, Disk Cleanup was the go-to method — and it’s still very effective.

Steps:

  1. Type Disk Cleanup in the search bar and open it.

  2. Select your drive (usually C:).

  3. Check items like Temporary files, Recycle Bin, System error memory dump files, etc.

  4. Click Clean up system files for deeper cleaning.

  5. Confirm and let it complete.

15. Use Command Prompt for Advanced Cleanup

If you prefer command-line tools, Windows provides commands for automated cleanups.

Run Disk Cleanup via Command Line:

cleanmgr /sageset:1
cleanmgr /sagerun:1

You can schedule these tasks using Task Scheduler to run automatically.

16. Tips for Maintaining a Clean Windows 10 System

Keeping your PC clean is easier than deep cleaning it repeatedly. Here’s how to maintain free space:

  • 🧹 Run Storage Sense weekly

  • 🧾 Clear browser cache regularly

  • 💾 Use external or cloud storage for large media

  • 🧩 Avoid duplicate files (use a duplicate finder tool)

  • 🧠 Defragment your hard drive occasionally (for HDDs only)

A few minutes of regular maintenance can prevent the frustration of running out of space unexpectedly.

17. Key Takeaways

Action Description Result
Use Storage Sense Automate file cleanup Regular space recovery
Delete Temp Files Remove unnecessary data Quick performance boost
Uninstall Apps Remove unused programs Free several GBs
Move Files to Cloud Store files remotely Save local space
Disable Hibernation Remove hiberfil.sys Free up 3–6 GB

18. Conclusion

Freeing up space on Windows 10 doesn’t have to be complicated. By using built-in tools like Storage Sense, Disk Cleanup, and File Explorer filters, you can easily identify and remove unwanted files. Combine that with regular maintenance, and your PC will stay fast, responsive, and clutter-free.

So take a few minutes today to declutter your drive — your computer will thank you with smoother performance and quicker response times.

FAQs

1. How do I quickly free up space on Windows 10?

Use Storage Sense or Disk Cleanup for instant results. Both remove temporary files, system junk, and old update data.

2. Can I delete the Windows.old folder?

Yes, but only if you don’t plan to revert to the previous Windows version. Use Disk Cleanup → Clean up system files to safely remove it.

3. What happens if I disable hibernation?

Disabling hibernation removes the hiberfil.sys file, freeing several gigabytes of disk space. However, you won’t be able to use the Hibernate feature.

4. Is it safe to delete temporary files manually?

Yes, Windows recreates these files as needed. Just skip any files that are “in use.”

5. How often should I clean my Windows 10 system?

Run Storage Sense or Disk Cleanup at least once a month to keep your system running smoothly.

✅ Key Takeaways

  • Use Storage Sense to automate cleanups.

  • Delete temp and update files regularly.

  • Uninstall unused apps and move large files to cloud storage.

  • Disable hibernation and manage restore points for extra space.

  • Maintain your system monthly for lasting performance.

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