How to Clean Up Storage on PC: Full Guide

What You’ll Need

Windows PC (the steps work for Windows 10 and 11)
Administrator account access
External hard drive or cloud storage (optional, for moving files)

Step-by-Step

Open Storage settings. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to System > Storage. Here you’ll see a breakdown of what’s taking up space on your main drive.
Turn on Storage Sense. In Storage settings, toggle on Storage Sense (or click “Configure Storage Sense or run it now”). This automatically deletes temporary files and empties the Recycle Bin at intervals you choose.
Run Disk Cleanup. Type “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu and open the app. Select your system drive (usually C:), then click “Clean up system files”. Check all categories, especially “Windows Update Cleanup” and “Temporary files”, then click OK.
Remove temporary files manually. In Storage settings, click “Temporary files”. Review the list (Windows Update Cleanup, Delivery Optimization Files, etc.) and select what you want to delete, then click “Remove files”. Be careful not to delete “Downloads” if you still need those files.
Uninstall unused apps. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Sort by size to see which are largest. Click the three dots next to any app you don’t use and select “Uninstall”. Confirm when prompted.
Move large files to another drive. Use File Explorer to find large files (videos, photos, backups) and move them to an external hard drive or cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive. You can also use “Storage” settings to see which folders are biggest.
Empty the Recycle Bin. Right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin”. This permanently deletes files you’ve already removed, freeing up space.

Common Mistakes

Deleting files you still need, especially in the Downloads folder or AppData. Always review before deleting.
Using third-party “cleaner” software that can remove important system files or install unwanted programs. Stick with built-in tools.
Ignoring the Recycle Bin – it can hold gigabytes of deleted files.
Not checking the Windows Update Cleanup option, which often frees the most space.
Uninstalling apps without checking if they hold important data (like game saves).

Tips

Use Storage Sense to run automatically every week or month.
Move your Downloads folder to another drive if it’s always full.
Use “Large files” search in File Explorer (type size:>1GB in the search bar) to find big files quickly.
Keep your desktop clean – files on the desktop still take up space.
Consider using cloud storage for documents and photos to free up local space.

Troubleshooting

Disk Cleanup doesn’t free much space: Run it as administrator (right-click > Run as administrator) to see system files. Also check if you have a previous Windows installation (Windows.old folder) that can be removed.
Storage Sense isn’t working: Make sure it’s enabled and check the settings for when to run. If it still fails, run Disk Cleanup manually.
Can’t uninstall an app: Some built-in Windows apps can’t be uninstalled. You can disable them via PowerShell, but it’s safer to just leave them.
Storage settings show less than expected: This can happen if there are hidden system files or if you have a small system partition. Use Disk Cleanup to see all categories.
PC is still slow after cleanup: Storage cleanup helps, but if the PC is still slow, consider restarting, checking for malware, or upgrading RAM or an SSD.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean up my PC storage?

Once a month is a good habit. Turn on Storage Sense to automate it.

Is it safe to delete temporary files?

Yes, temporary files are meant to be deleted. They are just leftovers from apps and system updates.

What is the fastest way to free up space?

Run Disk Cleanup with “Clean up system files” – it often clears several gigabytes of Windows Update leftovers.

Can I move apps to another drive?

Yes, in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click on an app and select “Move” if the option is available. Not all apps support this.

Will cleaning up storage delete my personal files?

No, the built-in tools only delete temporary files, system cache, and files in the Recycle Bin. Your documents, photos, and videos are safe.

Why is my C: drive full but I can’t find what’s taking space?

Use the Storage settings to see categories. Also check for hidden files like the pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys, which can be large but are managed by Windows.

Sources: Microsoft Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.