How to Check How Much Storage You Have on Windows 11 – A Guide

By / October 3, 2025

Why Knowing Your Storage Space Matters

Ever tried to install a big game or software update only to get a “Not enough disk space” warning? That’s why it’s crucial to know how much storage your PC has.

Storage management helps you:

  • Avoid running out of space unexpectedly.

  • Monitor disk usage by apps and files.

  • Optimize performance with tools like Storage Sense.

Let’s explore all the ways to check storage on Windows 11 quickly and easily.

Method 1: Check Storage via Windows Settings

This is the easiest method for most users.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Click System → Storage.

  3. You’ll see a breakdown of your drives with:

    • Total storage

    • Used storage

    • Free space

💡 Tip: Click on any drive to see detailed usage by file type like apps, documents, pictures, and temporary files.

Method 2: Use File Explorer

File Explorer gives a visual representation of disk space.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

  2. Click This PC on the left pane.

  3. Under Devices and drives, you’ll see all your drives with a blue bar showing used space and total storage.

  4. Right-click a drive → Properties → see Used space, Free space, and Capacity.

Method 3: Use Command Prompt

For users who prefer command-line tools:

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    wmic logicaldisk get size,freespace,caption

  3. The output shows Drive letter, Free space, and Total size in bytes.

💡 Tip: Convert bytes to GB by dividing the number by 1,073,741,824.

Method 4: Use PowerShell

PowerShell gives a more readable view:

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + X → select Windows Terminal (Admin).

  2. Enter:

    Get-PSDrive -PSProvider FileSystem

  3. You’ll see all drives with Used, Free, and Total space in a clean table format.

Method 5: Check Storage Using Disk Management

Disk Management is useful if you want to see partitions and drive layouts.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + X → select Disk Management.

  2. You’ll see all physical drives and partitions, including:

    • Capacity

    • Free space

    • File system type (NTFS, FAT32, etc.)

💡 Tip: This is also where you can shrink, extend, or create new partitions if needed.

Method 6: Use Third-Party Tools

If you want a more detailed view of storage usage:

  • WinDirStat – shows a visual map of all files and folders.

  • TreeSize Free – lets you see which folders use the most space.

  • SpaceSniffer – interactive visualization of disk space usage.

How to Free Up Storage on Windows 11

Once you know your storage, you may want to free up space:

  • Delete temporary files → Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files

  • Uninstall unused apps → Settings → Apps → Installed apps

  • Move files to external drives or cloud storage

  • Enable Storage Sense → automatically cleans junk files

  • Empty Recycle Bin regularly

Table: Quick Comparison of Storage Check Methods

Method Difficulty Best For Notes
Settings Easy Quick overview Shows detailed breakdown
File Explorer Easy Visual representation Also shows drive bars
Command Prompt Medium CLI users Shows space in bytes
PowerShell Medium Developers/Power users Clean table output
Disk Management Medium Partition info & advanced tasks Useful for resizing/creating partitions
Third-Party Tools Easy Detailed analysis & visuals WinDirStat, TreeSize, SpaceSniffer

Troubleshooting: Common Issues

  • Drive shows incorrect free space → Run chkdsk to check for errors.

  • Some space missing in File Explorer → Hidden/system files may occupy space; enable View hidden files.

  • Low storage warnings → Consider upgrading your SSD or using cloud storage.

Conclusion

Checking your storage on Windows 11 is simple and can prevent unexpected problems with apps, updates, and performance. Whether you use Settings, File Explorer, Command Prompt, PowerShell, or third-party tools, you can always monitor total, used, and free space. Combine this with Storage Sense and regular maintenance to keep your PC running smoothly.

FAQs

1. How do I check storage for each partition?
Use File Explorer → This PC or Disk Management for a detailed view of each partition.

2. Can I check storage using commands?
Yes — wmic logicaldisk get size,freespace,caption in Command Prompt or Get-PSDrive -PSProvider FileSystem in PowerShell.

3. What’s the difference between used space and free space?
Used space is taken by files/apps, while free space is what’s available for new files.

4. How can I free up storage on Windows 11?
Delete temporary files, uninstall unused apps, move files to cloud/external drives, or enable Storage Sense.

5. Does storage check include hidden files?
Settings and Disk Management count hidden files, but File Explorer may not show them unless View hidden files is enabled.

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