How to Search for Large Files in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

You’re not alone — Windows 11 users often notice their storage filling up mysteriously over time. Whether it’s videos, ISO files, old backups, or hidden temporary data, these large files can hog valuable gigabytes.

But here’s the good news — you can easily find and manage large files using tools already built into Windows 11.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to search for large files in Windows 11 using:

• File Explorer

• Advanced search filters

• Command Prompt

• PowerShell

• Storage Sense

• And reliable third-party apps

By the end, you’ll know exactly where your space is going — and how to clean it efficiently.

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💡 Why Finding Large Files Matters

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand why it’s important to locate big files:

• 🧹 Free up space: Deleting unused large files can reclaim gigabytes of storage.

• ⚡ Improve performance: A cleaner drive helps Windows run faster and smoother.

• 🔄 Backup efficiently: Knowing where big files are helps prioritize what to move or back up.

• 🧾 Avoid duplicate data: Detect large duplicates you don’t need.

💬 Think of it like decluttering your home — you don’t have to throw everything out, but organizing and removing the “space hogs” makes life easier.

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🪜 Step 1: Search for Large Files Using File Explorer

The most straightforward method to find large files is using File Explorer, built into Windows 11.

✅ Steps:

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

2. Go to the drive or folder you want to search (e.g., This PC or C: drive).

3. Click the Search box in the top-right corner.

4. Type the following:

   size:>1GB


   This filters and shows all files larger than 1 GB in the selected location.

📊 Size Filters You Can Use:

You can also use pre-defined options in the Search → Size dropdown:

• Empty

• Tiny (0–10 KB)

• Small (10–100 KB)

• Medium (100 KB–1 MB)

• Large (1–16 MB)

• Huge (16–128 MB)

• Gigantic (>128 MB)

🧠 Pro Tip: Type size:>1GB kind:=video to find only large video files.

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🪜 Step 2: Use File Explorer’s Search Filters for Precision

You can combine multiple filters for a more targeted search — for example, searching for large files modified recently or by file type.

✅ Examples:

These filters help you pinpoint space-heavy files without digging manually.

💡 Shortcut: Press Ctrl + F in File Explorer to quickly focus on the search bar.

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🪜 Step 3: Use Command Prompt to Find Large Files

If you prefer command-line tools, Command Prompt is a powerful way to locate large files fast.

✅ Steps:

1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, then click Run as Administrator.

2. Type this command and press Enter:

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


   • 104857600 = 100 MB (in bytes)

This will list all files 100 MB or larger in the current directory and subfolders.

🧾 Example Output:

💡 To change the size threshold:

• For 500 MB: 524288000

• For 1 GB: 1073741824

⚙️ Tip: Combine with > results.txt to save results to a text file.

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🪜 Step 4: Find Large Files Using PowerShell

PowerShell offers even more control and can display large files with readable sizes.

✅ Steps:

1. Right-click Start → choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. Enter this command:

   Get-ChildItem -Path C:\ -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Where-Object {$_.Length -gt 1GB} |
Select-Object FullName, @{Name="Size(GB)";Expression={[math]::Round($_.Length/1GB,2)}} |
Sort-Object "Size(GB)" -Descending


🧾 What It Does:

• Scans the *C:* drive

• Finds all files larger than 1 GB

• Displays size in GB (rounded)

• Sorts largest first

⚡ Pro Tip: Change C:\ to any other drive letter (like D:\ or E:\) to scan other drives.

Example Output:

This method is perfect for power users who want advanced control and reporting.

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🪜 Step 5: Find Large Files with Windows 11 Storage Sense

If you prefer a visual overview, Storage Sense (in Windows Settings) is your best friend.

✅ Steps:

1. Press Windows + I → open Settings.

2. Go to System → Storage.

3. Click Show more categories.

4. Under “Storage usage,” you’ll see:

   • Apps & features

   • Temporary files

   • Documents

   • Videos

   • Other files

Click on any category to view file sizes and locations.

🧩 To Automatically Free Space:

1. Scroll to Storage Sense → click Configure cleanup schedules.

2. Turn on Storage Sense and configure:

   • Delete temporary files

   • Empty Recycle Bin automatically

   • Remove unused downloads

🧠 Smart Tip: You can set Storage Sense to run automatically when disk space is low.

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🪜 Step 6: Find Large Files Using Disk Cleanup

Another built-in Windows tool is Disk Cleanup, which helps identify and delete large system files.

✅ Steps:

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

2. Choose the drive you want to clean (e.g., C:).

3. Wait for it to calculate space.

4. Check items like:

   • Temporary files

   • Windows update files

   • Recycle Bin

Click Clean up system files for deeper cleanup.

🧩 This won’t show every large file, but it’s excellent for reclaiming system-level space.

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🪜 Step 7: Use Free Third-Party Tools for Visual Results

For a deeper, visual breakdown of storage usage, third-party tools make the process faster and clearer.

🧰 Recommended Tools

🪄 Example (WinDirStat):

1. Download from windirstat.net.

2. Run the scan for your drive.

3. View colored blocks representing file types and sizes.

💡 Hover over a block to instantly see the file name, path, and size — then delete or move as needed.

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🧠 Step 8: Sort Files by Size Manually

You can also simply sort folders by file size in File Explorer.

✅ Steps:

1. Open the folder you want to inspect.

2. Right-click in the blank area → choose Sort by → Size → Descending.

3. The largest files will appear at the top.

🧩 Works best when inspecting Downloads, Documents, or Videos folders.

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🪜 Step 9: Find Large Hidden Files

Sometimes, hidden files or system folders contain large data you don’t normally see.

✅ Steps:

1. Open File Explorer → click View → Show → Hidden items.

2. Now search with size:>1GB again.

3. You’ll see hidden files included.

⚠️ Be cautious before deleting system or hidden files — they may be essential for Windows.

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🧩 Step 10: Use Advanced Search Query Examples

Here are a few more advanced searches you can copy-paste directly into File Explorer:

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🧮 Bonus Tip: Clean Temporary Files and Cache

After identifying large files, you can also free up disk space by deleting:

• Temporary files (%temp% folder)

• Browser caches

• Windows update leftovers

✅ Steps:

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

2. Select all (Ctrl + A) → press Shift + Delete to permanently remove.

⚙️ This alone can free several gigabytes!

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⚙️ Troubleshooting: If Search Doesn’t Work

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🧾 Summary: All Ways to Search for Large Files in Windows 11

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🎯 Key Takeaways

• Use size: filters in File Explorer for quick results.

• Combine filters like kind:, ext:, and datemodified: for precision.

• Use PowerShell or CMD for automated searches.

• Storage Sense helps manage space automatically.

• For deep analysis, try WinDirStat or TreeSize.

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🧠 Conclusion

Learning how to search for large files in Windows 11 helps you regain storage, speed up performance, and organize your system better.

Start with File Explorer’s size filters, then move to PowerShell or third-party tools for detailed results.
Once you’ve identified what’s taking up space, you can decide what to delete, move, or back up.

💬 Think of it like giving your PC a digital detox — a clean system is a happy system!

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❓ FAQs: How to Search for Large Files in Windows 11

1. How do I quickly find large files in Windows 11?

Open File Explorer, type size:>1GB in the search bar, and press Enter.

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2. Can I find large files on an external drive?

Yes. Open the drive in File Explorer and use the same size filter — e.g., size:>500MB.

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3. What’s the best free app to find large files?

WinDirStat and TreeSize Free are top-rated tools for visual storage analysis.

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4. How do I delete large hidden files safely?

Show hidden items, locate files, then Google their name before deleting to ensure they’re not system files.

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5. How can I automate large file searches?

Use a PowerShell script with the Get-ChildItem command to scan your drives regularly.