The storage issue is not just limited to storage; they affect the overall performance of windows system as well. Thus its necessary to free up disk space in windows and remove all the unnecessary files to create space to ensure high performance of your system. So here we are with 5 best advance approaches to free up disk space in windows. Have a look below to get familiar with them and proceed...
5+ Best Advanced Ways To Free Up Disk Space In Windows 10
1. Start With Deleting Previous Windows Version Data
Every time you upgrade your windows, system use to save previous version data automatically. This saved data is what helps you to get back to previous Windows versions. Well, this previous Windows data takes most of the space of your disk. Thus, it's better to remove such files to free up disk space in Windows. Follow the below steps to proceed to remove previous windows version data and free up disk space in windows system.
Step 1: Go to the search tab, search for “setting,” select it and enter.
Step 2: On the next page select “system” and get into the storage section on appearing page and select your primary drive.
Step 3: You will get various options on the existing page with exact storage consumption. Scroll the page down to find the “Temporary File” options. Once found, click on it. You can also get this option under “change how we free up space” available under storage sense section.
Just mark the options as shown above in image to delete temporary files automatically and free up disk space in windows 10.
2. Proceed To Clear The Update Cache To Free Up Disk Space In Windows
Windows cache is another storage consuming element. If you want to free up disk space in windows, you need to clear the update cache of your windows. These update cache of windows usually have copied installation files. These copies of installation files are used by OS to bring back windows stuff to the previous version without any need of downloading those files again. These files consume enormous space and thus its better to remove them and free up disk space in windows. However, it is recommended to remove these file only if you've robust internet connectivity and no data usage issues as downloading them again in future with low and limited data services will again be a headache for you. Once you're comfortable, proceed to remove these files and free up disk space in windows 10. Proceed with the below steps to delete such files and free up disk space in windows.
Step 1: Go to the search tab, search for “services,” select it and run as admin.
Step 2: Now find ‘windows update” on the appearing screen click right on its name to stop it.
Step 3: Now you will have to delete files. Hit Windows key + R combination to start with the run box. Now enter C\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\ and hit Enter. Into the open box and press enter to proceed to remove files and free up disk space in windows 10 and windows 7. Also, you can delete all those files exist in download folder with this approach.
In the end, you will have to re-enable the windows update service to ensure the best performance.
3. Remove Hibernation Data As Well To Free Up Disk Space In Windows
Sleep and hibernation are considered two approaches to minimize power consumption by a windows system. The critical difference these two are; “sleep use to save all the files of running apps in windows RAM” whereas “hibernate use to save those data in hard disk.” so, to free up disk space in windows, it's better to disable hibernate mode if you're not using it. It will automatically delete all the data associated with it. Have a look below to disable it and free up disk space in windows…
Step 1: Go to the search tab, search for “Command Prompt,” select it and run as admin.
Step 2: Now simply type “powercfg.exe -h off” and press enter tab.
That's it. You've successfully done this and free up disk space in windows 7 and Windows 10.
4. Clear Delivery Optimization Data
Windows always come up with new features, and this time window has added a new update feature called “Delivery Optimization.” This feature allows windows user to get updates from another windows system kept nearby. The primary motive behind this feature was to deliver faster updates, but things become complex and resulted in huge memory usage. To delete these update files, you need to disable the feature first otherwise the files will start getting accumulating again. Follow the below steps to delete these files appropriately and free up disk space in Windows 10 and Windows 7.
Step 1: Go to the search tab, search for “settings” and get into it.
Step 2: Now go to update and security section and then into advanced options.
Step 3: There you will get options to define how updates are delivered. Just make sure the option is off as shown above in the image.
Step 4: Now search of “Disk Cleanup.” Enter it and scan your device. Once the scanning is done, look for “delivery optimization files.” Once found, select and delete them to free up disk space in windows 10 and Windows 7.
5. Delete OEM Recovery Data
OEM recovery comes by default in most of windows system. If you're using Windows 10, then you can easily REMOVE ALL the unnecessary files created by OEM and free up disk space in windows. To proceed to delete the files and free up disk space in windows, you will have to set up a recovery drive, that uses a USB stick. Windows comes with an excellent tool to create a drive. Follow the below step to create a drive.
Step 1: Go to the search tab, enter “Taskbar,” select and get into it.
Step 2: Search for “create a recovery drive in the taskbar.
Step 3: Now just follow the instructions provided on screen and connect drive when asked. Once done, you will get the options to delete recovery files. Just select and delete to free up disk space in Windows 7 and Windows 10.
6. Uninstall All The Unnecessary And Rarely Used/Accessed Games and Softwares
You can uninstall all the programs or games, which you are no longer using.
So, follow these steps:
- Start >> Control Panel >> Uninstall or Change A Program
- Here you can sort all the files (programmes) that are consuming most of the space.
- Now, select any programme that you want to remove and right-click on it and select " Uninstall" tab.
7. Disk CleanUp Tool
You can use disk clean up tools, which can free up your PC memory.
Follow these steps, to use inbuilt windows disk clean up tools
- Start >> Computer
- Now click right on the target drive and move to its properties.
- Now go to the "General" page and opt "Disk Cleanup."
- Drive scanning will begin after the #Step 3 and you will be able to know the space that you can save with this cleanup operation.
- Now all you need to do is select all the files that you want to remove/delete and click ok.
8. Find and Remove Duplicate software files from your PC
You can use tools like dupeGuru to find and remove duplicate files from your system and free up memory.
Here is the complete article for this: How to Find Duplicate Files in Windows and Remove them
9. Turn on storage sense
Storage sense helps by removing extra space from system automatically if you have turned it on.
In Windows 10, Start off by going to Settings -> System -> Storage, or use Windows keyboard shortcut Windows key+Q and type: storage.
Just turn on the toggle switch to enable storage sense.
Now you have several settings to choose from. First, and foremost, is to choose how often it runs.
The default is every month which should be fine for most users.
You can continue and configure other settings, it will help you in deleting extra files automatically periodically.
Summary
Above listed are some of the advanced ways to proceed to free up disk space in windows. Hope this post helps you and you will b able to free up disk space in windows effectively.
You may also like to read:
How to Find Duplicate Files in Windows 10 and Remove them
Top Free PC cleaner software's for Windows
How do I clear the cache on my computer? (Easy methods)
