You can free up disk space without changing your drive’s partitions. Start by reviewing what uses storage, then remove files or apps you no longer need, or move files you want to keep to external or supported cloud storage. Windows and Mac both include built-in tools for this; no cleaner app or new drive is required for basic cleanup.
Choose a cleanup method that fits what you want to keep
| Method | What happens to files | Offline access | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in cleanup tools | Selected temporary, system, or other reviewed items are deleted. | Deleted items are no longer available. | Reviewing the categories before confirming cleanup. |
| Manual file review | You delete selected personal files or move them elsewhere. | Files kept on the computer remain available offline; moved files depend on their destination. | Your judgment about which files are no longer needed. |
| External storage | Files are preserved on a separate drive rather than the internal drive. | Available when the external drive is connected. | An external drive with enough capacity and a compatible connection. |
| Cloud offloading | A local copy may be removed while a copy remains in a cloud service. | Depends on the service, account, settings, and whether the file is stored locally. | Internet or service access when the file is not available offline; a cloud copy is not automatically a separate backup. |
Free up space in Windows 11 or Windows 10
Microsoft’s built-in storage tools let you inspect suggested cleanup categories and estimated savings before removing items. Microsoft Support describes Storage Sense as a way to “automatically free up drive space for you by getting rid of items that you don’t need, like temporary files and items in your Recycle Bin.” See Microsoft’s Windows drive-space guidance.
Review Cleanup recommendations first
- In File Explorer, select This PC to check available space.
- Open Start > Settings > System > Storage.
- Open Cleanup recommendations and review each category, such as temporary files, large or unused files, cloud-synced files, and unused apps.
- Check the estimated space savings and inspect the items selected in each category. Deselect anything you may need, then confirm the cleanup.
Recommendations are a review aid, not a reason to delete blindly. In particular, removing the previous Windows installation can free space but removes the option to return to the earlier Windows version.
Configure Storage Sense before enabling automatic cleanup
Storage Sense operates on the system drive, usually C:. Its default behavior does not manage the Downloads folder or cloud content unless you configure those options. Open Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense to choose when it runs and set conditions for items in the Recycle Bin or Downloads. Make sure the retention conditions match your needs before turning on automatic deletion. Details are in Microsoft’s Storage Sense guide.
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Use Disk Cleanup if needed
If Storage Sense is unavailable, Microsoft documents Disk Cleanup as another option. Search for Disk Cleanup from Start, choose the drive, and review the file types listed before selecting them. The Clean up system files button can reveal additional categories. Read each category carefully; deleting the previous Windows installation prevents rollback to the prior version.
Find and remove or move large personal files
- In File Explorer, review Videos, Music, Pictures, and Downloads.
- Sort files by size to find large items worth reviewing.
- Delete items you no longer need, or move files you want to keep to a USB drive, SD card, or other external storage.
- Open the Recycle Bin and empty it when you are sure you do not need to restore its contents. Deleted files continue to occupy space there until it is emptied.
How much space this recovers depends on the files present; there is no dependable generic amount.
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Use OneDrive Files On-Demand with care
OneDrive Files On-Demand can keep a smaller placeholder on the computer while the full file remains in OneDrive. A file that is online-only may not be available without a connection or access to the OneDrive account. Storage Sense can also manage locally available cloud content when configured, so review those settings before allowing automatic cleanup. Neither an online-only copy nor a synced copy should be treated as a separate backup by default.
Free up space on a Mac
macOS groups storage by category and offers management options. On macOS Ventura 13 or later, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage. On earlier macOS versions, use Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage. Apple’s guidance is at Free up storage space on Mac.
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Review categories and management options
Select More Info where available to inspect categories such as Applications, Documents, Messages, Music Creation, Podcasts, Recycle Bin, and TV. Apple labels files that do not fit a more specific category as System Data (or Other in some versions). This is a general category for Apple and third-party files, not one identifiable folder; do not assume the entire category is safe to delete.
Remove, move, or compress items deliberately
- Delete media or items in Downloads that you no longer need.
- Uninstall apps you no longer use.
- Remove old iPhone or iPad backups if they are no longer needed.
- Clear junk and deleted mail in Mail when appropriate.
- Move files or media libraries to another storage device if you want to retain them without keeping them on the Mac’s internal drive.
- Compress files you need to keep but do not need to access in their original form all the time.
- Use Apple’s storage optimization options with iCloud only if the online-access and account dependencies suit you.
A moved file or library is available only when its destination storage can be accessed. Safe Mode can clear certain system caches that macOS recreates automatically and may temporarily provide enough room for a task such as installing macOS. Treat that as temporary troubleshooting, not durable cleanup or a guaranteed amount of recovered space.
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When external storage or cloud storage makes sense
If large photos, videos, or archives are worth keeping but not needed on the computer every day, moving them to an external drive preserves them while freeing internal storage. A portable external SSD or hard drive is optional; choose capacity and connection type based on your files, budget, computer ports, and backup needs. You will need the drive available to open files stored on it.
Cloud offloading can reduce local copies when you already use a supported service, but it introduces account and connectivity dependencies. Keep files offline when you need reliable access without internet, and maintain a separate backup for important files rather than relying only on synchronization.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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Free space for a Windows update
Space requirements for Windows updates vary by update path, optional content, and what else is installed on the device. Microsoft documents an external-storage workflow for updates that need more room; that specific workflow calls for an external device with at least 10 GB free. This is not a universal amount every PC must free internally. See Microsoft’s Windows update storage instructions.
Windows 10 support status
Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Freeing disk space does not change that support status. See Microsoft’s update guidance for related Windows update storage information.
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