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To free up disk space in Windows 11, first check Settings > System > Storage to see what is actually using your drive. Then review Windows’ cleanup suggestions, remove only files and apps you recognize, and consider moving personal files or making selected OneDrive files online-only. The space you can recover depends on the files on your PC; Windows may show an estimate before some cleanups, but there is no guaranteed amount.
1. Check what is using storage
Open Settings > System > Storage. Windows groups usage into categories such as Installed apps, Temporary files, and System & reserved. Use these categories to identify the likely source before deleting anything; a large-looking folder is not necessarily safe to remove.
2. Review Cleanup recommendations
Go to Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations. Windows may suggest temporary files, large or unused files, cloud-synced files, previous Windows installations, and apps you do not use. It can show an estimated amount of space before cleanup. Review the individual categories and files, and select only what you understand. Microsoft’s Storage settings guide explains the available categories and recommendations.
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3. Run or configure Storage Sense
Open Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense to run it now or choose when it runs and what it manages. Storage Sense can remove temporary files and Recycle Bin contents. It works on the system drive, usually C:. Downloads and cloud content are not managed unless you configure those options.
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In Windows 11 version 22H2, the default OneDrive behavior is for cloud files not opened for more than 30 days to become online-only. That is a version-specific default, not a universal cleanup schedule; you can choose a different interval. See Microsoft’s Storage Sense guidance.
4. Choose temporary files carefully
In Storage settings, open Temporary files to review the categories Windows offers for removal. Read each category name and its description before selecting it. Do not assume every item listed is disposable; make your selections based on what Windows says will be removed and whether you still need it.
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5. Use Disk Cleanup for selected categories
- Search the Start menu for Disk Cleanup and open it.
- Choose the drive to clean, usually C:, and select the file categories you want to remove.
- To see additional system-file options, select Clean up system files, choose the drive again if prompted, and review the list before confirming.
Disk Cleanup is a selection-based tool: check the categories and descriptions rather than approving everything automatically. Microsoft describes the utility in its Windows drive-space guide.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →6. Uninstall apps you no longer need
Open Settings > Apps, find an app you recognize and no longer use, and choose its uninstall option. Remove an app only if you are confident you do not need it; some apps may support devices or functions you still rely on. Microsoft also lists unused-app removal among its Windows performance tips.
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7. Make selected OneDrive files online-only
With OneDrive Files On-Demand, an online-only file appears in File Explorer but does not occupy local disk space until you open it. To change a downloaded file, right-click it and select Free up space. The file remains available through OneDrive, but opening it requires an internet connection. Choose Always keep on this device when you need offline access; that setting keeps a local copy and uses disk space. Follow Microsoft’s Files On-Demand instructions.
8. Move personal files to external storage
Move large videos, music, photos, or documents to an external USB drive, SD card, external SSD, or external hard drive. Confirm the files are present on the destination before removing any original copies. Unlike an online-only OneDrive file, a file moved to an external drive is accessible only when that drive is connected.
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If you need to buy storage, choose based on how much data you plan to move, whether the drive’s connector works with your PC, and how often you will carry it. Buying a drive is optional; Windows’ built-in cleanup tools do not require one. Microsoft’s drive-space guidance includes moving personal files to external storage.
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9. Save new content to another drive
If your PC has another suitable drive, open Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved. Choose a different destination for supported types of new content. This can reduce the need to move files off C: later; it does not automatically relocate existing files.
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10. Address update problems and unusual causes
If Windows Update says there is not enough space
Start with Storage Sense and Cleanup recommendations, then follow Microsoft’s steps for freeing space for Windows updates. If Windows offers previous-version files for removal, note the consequence: deleting them removes files used to roll back to the prior Windows version. Microsoft says this option may appear when it has been fewer than 10 days since upgrading; availability depends on the PC and upgrade history.
If an app reports a low-space error
For certain low-disk-space errors involving Microsoft Store apps, Microsoft recommends resetting the Store cache with wsreset.exe. This is a targeted fix for that kind of error, not a general storage-cleaning method. See Microsoft’s low-disk-space error steps.
If you suspect malware
Low storage by itself does not establish that malware is present. If you have other reasons to suspect an infection, run a scan in Windows Security and follow its results; malware cleanup is troubleshooting, not routine disk maintenance.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhich cleanup option should you use?
| Option | How it works | Control and access |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Sense | Can run automatically and manage configured temporary-file, Recycle Bin, and other supported cleanup behavior on the system drive. | Less per-run review once configured; Downloads and cloud content are not managed unless configured. |
| Cleanup recommendations | Shows suggested categories and files, potentially with a device-specific estimate. | Review candidates before selecting them for removal. |
| Disk Cleanup | Offers selectable file categories, including additional system-file options through Clean up system files. | Choose categories for each cleanup rather than relying on automatic scheduling. |
Use Storage Sense when you want configured cleanup to run automatically. Use Cleanup recommendations or Disk Cleanup when you want to inspect candidates and decide what to remove for that cleanup.
Quick Recap
OneDrive or an external drive?
| Choice | Offline access | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| OneDrive: Free up space | An internet connection is needed to open an online-only file. | The cloud file remains in OneDrive while its downloaded local copy is removed. |
| External storage | The drive must be connected to access files moved there. | The files are moved to another local destination; verify the destination copy before deleting any original. |
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