Running out of disk space is a common issue for many Windows users. When installing new software or saving important files, you may receive the dreaded “Low Disk Space” warning.
Common causes of disk space shortage include:
– Accumulation of temporary files and cache
– Windows update leftovers taking up GBs of space
– Recycle Bin not emptied regularly
– Large, unused applications still installed
Regular disk cleanup can free up valuable space, improve system performance, and prevent unnecessary slowdowns.
1. Method 1: Using the Disk Cleanup Tool (cleanmgr)
The Disk Cleanup tool is a built-in Windows utility designed to remove unnecessary files and free up disk space.
✅ Step 1: Open Disk Cleanup
1. Press `Win + R` to open the “Run” dialog box.
2. Type `cleanmgr` and click OK.
3. Select the disk you want to clean (usually `C:`) and click OK.
✅ Step 2: Choose Files to Clean
In the cleanup window, select the file types you want to delete:
– Temporary Files: Cache and temporary system files.
– Windows Update Cleanup: Removes old update files, freeing up GBs of space.
– Recycle Bin: Deletes all files in the Recycle Bin.
✅ Step 3: Clean System Files
For deeper cleaning, click Clean up system files:
1. The system will rescan the disk.
2. Select large files like Windows Update Cleanup.
3. Click OK to execute the cleanup.
📌 Tip: Windows Update Cleanup can free several gigabytes of space, significantly improving disk availability.
2. Method 2: Enable Storage Sense
Storage Sense is an automatic cleanup feature in Windows 10 and 11. It automatically deletes unnecessary files, such as temporary files and old Recycle Bin items.
✅ Step 1: Enable Storage Sense
1. Go to Start → Settings → System → Storage.
2. Toggle the Storage Sense switch to On.
3. Windows will automatically clean temporary files and empty the Recycle Bin.
✅ Step 2: Configure Storage Sense
You can customize how frequently Storage Sense runs:
– Daily
– Weekly
– Monthly
– Only when disk space is low (recommended)
✅ Step 3: Set Automatic Cleanup Rules
Under Configure Storage Sense, you can adjust the following settings:
– Empty Recycle Bin: Automatically delete files older than a specified number of days.
– Delete files in Downloads folder: Remove files that haven’t been opened in a specified time.
– Run Cleanup Now: Click this button to immediately free up disk space.
3. Benefits of Cleaning Disk Space
– ✅ Free up GBs of storage: Recover valuable disk space.
– ✅ Improve performance: Fewer temporary files result in a smoother Windows experience.
– ✅ Automatic cleanup: Storage Sense saves you time with automatic maintenance.
4. Conclusion
Cleaning up disk space is essential for keeping your Windows system running smoothly. By using the Disk Cleanup Tool and Storage Sense, you can quickly free up disk space and prevent performance issues. Make disk cleanup part of your regular maintenance routine to keep your computer fast and efficient!
5. Demo Video.
You can watch the following demo video by select the subtitle to your preferred subtitle language.