Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYou can reclaim space on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 system drive without deleting documents, photos, music, or videos. First check what is using space in Settings > System > Storage, then review temporary files and cleanup recommendations before removing anything. If you still need more room, move files you want to keep to another drive or use OneDrive Files On-Demand for files you do not need available offline.
Check what is using space before you clean up
-
In File Explorer, select This PC and note the free space on your system drive.
-
Open Settings > System > Storage. Windows breaks usage into categories such as Installed apps, Temporary files, and System & reserved. Use those figures to identify areas worth reviewing; they do not guarantee how much any cleanup will reclaim. See Microsoft’s Storage settings in Windows.
Review temporary files and cleanup recommendations
Remove only temporary-file categories you understand
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Review the categories and select only items you intend to remove. Do not assume everything listed is disposable: in particular, removing Previous Windows installation(s) deletes rollback files. If you may need to return to your prior Windows version, leave that option unselected.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Windows 10 users can also use Disk Cleanup: search for Disk Cleanup, select the drive, read the descriptions beside file types, and confirm deletion only for items you want removed. Microsoft describes both routes in Free up drive space in Windows.
Inspect Cleanup recommendations item by item
In Settings > System > Storage, open Cleanup recommendations if it is available. Recommendations can include temporary files, large or unused files, cloud-synced files, and unused apps. Review the specific files or apps shown before selecting them; large files may be personal files you want to keep, and uninstalling an app should not be treated as a guarantee that all related personal data will be preserved. Microsoft’s Storage settings in Windows describes these categories.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Configure Storage Sense carefully
Storage Sense automates cleanup on the system drive. Open Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense and review when it runs and what it may remove. Windows can clean temporary files and Recycle Bin contents according to the configured rules. Recycle Bin items may be permanently removed after the selected period, so restore anything you still need before that happens.
Downloads and cloud content are not managed unless you configure Storage Sense to handle them. Avoid enabling those rules without checking their effect on files you want to keep. A file marked Always keep on this device is exempt from Storage Sense cloud management, according to Microsoft’s Manage drive space with Storage Sense. To manage space on a non-system drive, Windows provides a separate Storage used on other drives view.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Keep personal files by moving them off the system drive
If photos, videos, music, or downloads are taking up space, move files you want to retain but do not need on the PC to another drive. In File Explorer, inspect likely large folders such as Videos, Music, Pictures, and Downloads; sort by size if helpful, then move selected files to an external drive or another internal drive.
Before removing a local copy, open the destination and verify that the files are present and accessible. External storage retains files outside the system drive; it is not itself a cleanup utility. When choosing a USB drive, SD card, or portable external SSD, compare capacity, transfer speed, durability, connector compatibility, portability, and cost. Microsoft lists external storage as an option in Free up drive space in Windows.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
You can also direct new content to a different drive where Windows or the relevant app offers that choice. If preserving every personal file locally is essential, do not move files away or make cloud files online-only; instead, limit cleanup to items you have verified are safe to remove.
Use OneDrive Files On-Demand for files you do not need offline
OneDrive Files On-Demand can leave a smaller placeholder on the PC while the full-size file remains in OneDrive, reducing local storage use. Online-only files require an internet connection to open; with network connectivity and sufficient free disk space, you can make them local again. Keep important files available offline by marking them Always keep on this device. Storage Sense may make eligible locally available cloud files online-only when its cloud-content rules are configured.
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
This option suits files you want to retain in OneDrive but do not regularly need without a connection. For files that must always be available on the PC, keep them stored locally instead. Microsoft’s Windows free-space guidance and Storage Sense documentation explain these behaviors.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Know what deleting Windows.old means
The Previous Windows installation(s) cleanup item removes Windows.old rollback files. That prevents returning to the previous Windows version through those files. Microsoft says the previous installation is normally removed automatically ten days after an upgrade; deleting it manually sooner gives up that rollback option. Leave it in place if you may need to revert. Details are in Microsoft’s Delete your previous version of Windows.
If the drive fills up again quickly
If a Temp folder appears to refill soon after cleanup, Microsoft notes that Microsoft Store application package files can be involved. Its free-space troubleshooting guidance includes Store reset or cache steps and Windows Update troubleshooting. Use that exception path if the problem recurs rather than manually deleting files from Windows system folders.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
