How to Increase Disk Space: 9 Practical Steps

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Running low on disk space slows down your computer and can cause errors. This guide shows you how to free up space safely and effectively on Windows and macOS, using built-in tools and a few manual checks. You’ll start with quick wins like clearing temporary files, then move to larger items like system backups and duplicate files.

What You’ll Need

Administrator access on your computer (to delete system files and change settings)
About 30 minutes of time
An external drive (optional, but useful for moving large files)

Step-by-Step

Check what’s using your space. On Windows, open Settings > System > Storage to see a breakdown by category. On macOS, click the Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage, then click Manage. This shows you where the big chunks are—often apps, photos, or system files.
Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. Right-click the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS) and select Empty. This is instant space, but make sure you don’t need any of those files.
Run Disk Cleanup (Windows only). Type “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu, select your main drive, and let it scan. Check all categories, especially “Temporary files” and “Windows Update Cleanup,” then click OK. This can free several gigabytes.
Clear temporary files manually. On Windows, press Win+R, type %temp%, and delete everything inside (skip files in use). On macOS, go to Finder > Go > Go to Folder, type ~/Library/Caches, and delete the contents of folders you recognize as safe (like browser caches).
Uninstall unused applications. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows) or Finder > Applications (macOS). Sort by size if possible, and uninstall anything you haven’t used in months. This is often the biggest win.
Remove old downloads and large files. Open your Downloads folder and sort by size. Delete installers, PDFs, or videos you no longer need. Also check your Documents and Desktop for large files—move them to an external drive if you want to keep them.
Clear browser cache and download history. In Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, go to Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data. Choose “Cached images and files” and a time range of “All time.” This frees space and can speed up your browser.
Disable hibernation (Windows only). Hibernation saves your session to a file that can be several GB. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type powercfg /h off. This disables hibernation and deletes the file. Note: you lose the ability to hibernate, but sleep still works.
Move large media to an external drive or cloud. Photos and videos are usually the biggest space hogs. Move them to an external hard drive or upload to a cloud service like Google Photos or iCloud, then delete the local copies (after confirming backup).

Common Mistakes

Deleting system files you don’t understand. Don’t delete anything in C:\Windows or /System unless you’re sure. Stick to the categories listed above.
Skipping the Recycle Bin/Trash. Files you delete still take up space until you empty it. Always empty after a big deletion.
Clearing the wrong cache. Deleting app caches can log you out or slow down apps temporarily. It’s safe, but some apps will rebuild caches, so you might not see long-term savings.
Using third-party “cleaner” tools. Many are unnecessary and some bundle adware. The built-in tools are enough for most users.
Not checking for duplicate downloads. You might have multiple copies of the same installer or video. Use a duplicate finder only if you’re comfortable with third-party tools.

Tips

Use Storage Sense (Windows) or Optimize Storage (macOS). These features automatically delete temp files and empty trash on a schedule. Turn them on in Settings.
Compress old files. Right-click a folder and choose “Compress” (macOS) or “Send to > Compressed folder” (Windows). This can shrink large text or image files significantly.
Stream instead of downloading. If you watch movies or listen to music, use streaming services rather than storing files locally.
Keep your desktop clean. Files on the desktop are stored on your system drive. Move them to an external drive or cloud.
Check for Windows.old or macOS backups. After a major OS update, a Windows.old folder can take 20GB+. Use Disk Cleanup to remove it if you don’t need to roll back.

Troubleshooting

Disk Cleanup doesn’t free much. Run it again after restarting your PC. Sometimes system files are locked. Also, check if you have a separate recovery partition that’s not shown—use the “Clean up system files” button in Disk Cleanup.
Can’t delete a file because it’s “in use.” Close the program that’s using it (like a video player or Word). If it’s a system file, restart your computer and try again.
Storage settings show “System” taking huge space. On Windows, this often includes pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys. You can reduce the pagefile size (Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings > Performance > Advanced > Virtual memory) but don’t disable it entirely. On macOS, System data includes Time Machine snapshots—you can delete them by turning off Time Machine temporarily, but that removes local snapshots.
After deleting files, space didn’t increase. Check if you emptied the Recycle Bin/Trash. Also, some apps (like Dropbox or OneDrive) keep local copies—use their settings to make files online-only.
You’re still low on space after all steps. Consider adding an external drive or upgrading your internal drive. If it’s a laptop with a small SSD, moving your user folder to another drive is possible but complex—search for your OS’s official guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete temporary files?

Yes, temporary files are meant to be temporary. They’re created by apps and the system for short-term use. Deleting them is safe and can free up space.

How much space should I keep free?

It’s recommended to keep at least 10-15% of your drive free. This helps the system run smoothly and avoids performance issues.

Will clearing the browser cache log me out of websites?

Clearing cached images and files won’t log you out. However, if you also clear cookies, you’ll be logged out of most sites. Stick to just cache for space.

What is the difference between Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense?

Disk Cleanup is a manual tool that deletes selected file types. Storage Sense is an automatic feature that runs on a schedule. Both are safe to use.

Can I delete the Windows.old folder?

Yes, if you don’t plan to roll back to a previous Windows version. Use Disk Cleanup and select “Clean up system files” to remove it safely.

Why does my phone show more space used than my computer?

This guide is for computers. Phones have their own storage management. For Android, use Files by Google; for iPhone, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.