If the available storage space on your computer is getting low, it’s time to start organizing the files on your hard disk. By removing some of the data from your hard drive, you can not only make your computer function more quickly, but you can also make room for additional programs and files. In this piece, we’ll look at a few different ways that a Windows computer user might free up disk space on their machine.
Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup is a utility that is integrated into Windows that can assist you in removing temporary files, files that are part of the operating system, and other files that are no longer required. In order to gain access to this utility, look for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu’s search bar. After it has been opened, you will be able to select the files that you want to delete and then click OK to free up space on the disk.
Remove Any Programs That Aren’t Being Used.
By uninstalling apps that aren’t being used or aren’t necessary, you can free up a large amount of space on your hard disk. To accomplish this, open the Control Panel, navigate to “Programs and Features,” and then pick the application that you wish to remove from your computer. There are other third-party uninstaller apps, such as Revo Uninstaller, that can be used to remove stubborn or lingering files left behind from programs that have been uninstalled.
Get Rid of Those Huge Files
The amount of space that is taken up on a disk by files such as high-resolution photographs, films, and games can be significant. Make use of the built-in search functionality of File Explorer to locate and remove huge files that are no longer required on your computer. You can quickly locate the largest files by sorting the files based on their size. You can also view the file size and location of huge files and directories by using a tool such as TreeSize or WinDirStat, both of which are free to download.
Delete all of the temporary files.
Deleted temporary data, such as the cache, history, and cookies stored on your internet browser, can help free up space on your drive. You can change these settings through your web browser on your computer. In Google Chrome, for instance, you may clear your browsing history by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data. Before you click the “Clear data” button, you need to make sure to choose “Cached images and files” as well as “Cookies and other site data.”
Use Storage Sense
Windows 10 comes with a function called Storage Sense that can delete temporary files and items that are already in the Recycle Bin in order to free up space on your hard drive. You can get to it by heading to the Settings menu, then selecting System, and then Storage. Activate the toggle switch labeled “Storage sense” in the section titled “Storage sense,” then choose the frequency at which cleanup should be performed. You also have the option of choosing which categories of items you wish to remove, as well as whether or not you want to keep files in the Downloads folder.
Turn off the hibernation mode.
Because hibernation can result in the creation of a sizable hiberfil.sys file, disabling it can result in a significant increase in the amount of disk space that is made available. The feature is known as hibernation stores the state that your computer is in at the moment before shutting it down. This enables you to pick up where you left off when you switch the computer back on again. However, in order to make use of this capability, a significant amount of storage space on the disk is required for the hiberfil.sys file. Launch the Command Prompt as an administrator and run “powercfg.exe /hibernate off” without quotation marks. This will turn off hibernation.
Delete Old System Restore Points
When you make changes to your computer, such as installing new software or updates, System Restore Points are established. You can use these points to roll back any changes you’ve made. Because these restore points might consume a significant amount of disk space over time, it is recommended that you erase them at regular intervals. To delete a file, open the Control Panel and navigate to the System menu, then click the Configure button under System Protection. This action will erase all restored points other than the most recent one.
Transfer Documents to a Disk Outside of Your Computer
If you want to free up space on your hard drive but you have a lot of huge files that you don’t need to access very often, you might want to consider moving those items to an external drive. When it comes to storing files like photos, videos, and music, you have the option of using either a USB drive or an external hard disk. To transfer files, you need only use drag-and-drop to move them from the internal hard disk of your computer to the external drive. When it comes to storing files online and having access to them from any location, you also have the option of using cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
In conclusion, freeing up disk space on your Windows computer is an essential maintenance operation that can enhance speed and provide a place for new files and programs. This can be accomplished by deleting unused files and clearing out the recycle bin. You can simply maintain the smooth operation of your computer and free up a large amount of disk space by following the advice provided in this article and putting it into practice.