For most people, drive C is the core part of the PC, where the operating system is installed and all important system files are kept. Certainly, this is also the drive that is most likely to fill up due to endless Windows updates, forgotten downloads, and the fact that by default, everything is saved to the C drive.
Hereafter, Quantrimang will show you how to clean up your C drive, restore some space, and then get it working well and quickly again.
Table of contents of the article
Delete temporary files manually
Below, the article will show you some tricks that can automatically delete various temporary files, but those methods (like Storage Sense and Disk Clean-up) will not complete the job of deleting temporary files. temporary and it is likely that most of the temporary files that damage your hard drive will remain in the Temp folder for a while longer.
Note:
Make sure you don't run anything when manually deleting temporary files. If you delete temporary files related to an application that is currently running, that application may crash and you may lose whatever you were doing at that time.
To find your main temporary file directory, the default directory is “C:\Users\Rob\AppData\Local\Temp” (or you can press Win + Rthen enter %temp%).
To see how much space the Temp folder is taking up, select everything in it with Ctrl + Athen right-click any file and click Properties. If you want to continue deleting, make sure everything is selected with Ctrl + Aright-click, then click Delete.
Use Storage Sense
Windows 10 has a handy feature called Storage Sense, which monitors your PC's storage space, then moves to clean things up if you're running low on space. It does basic things like cleaning the Recycle Bin and deleting old files in folders Downloads and delete temporary files on your PC.
Refer to: How to use Storage sense on Windows 10 to free up drive space for details on how to do it.
Scan large files on hard drives
Using Windows Explorer, you can scan your entire hard drive to find files based on their capacity.
Detailed instructions are in the article: How to find large files on Windows 10.
Uninstall Windows Shovelware and space-hogging applications
In the window “Apps & Features” (you'll find it by right-clicking the Start button), you can sort the list by “Size” to see which applications consume the most space. You may be surprised by the results and may want to delete the app if you see fit. Think about whether you really need all those space-hungry apps and delete when appropriate.
Another thing that might surprise you is that you now own games like Bubble Witch 3 Saga and Minecraft, which you never wanted in the first place! However, just uninstall them from the list “Apps & Features” is not enough and you need to delete them using Powershell. To do this, read instructions on how to uninstall pre-installed Windows applications.
Use the Disk Clean-Up utility
Maybe you already know about Windows' built-in Disk Clean-Up utility but haven't used it yet. This is the first place to look to free up some space. To start using it, launch Windows Explorer, right-click drive C and select “Properties” from the list.
When the window Properties opens, click “Disk Cleanup” to open the utility. Here, in the box “files to delete”select all checkboxes such as System memory error dump files, Recycle Bin, Setup log filesetc..
Once you have selected all the desired checkboxes, click OK to free up drive space occupied by the files above. The space you free up depends on how much you have “neglected” your C drive.
Turn off hibernation
Hibernation is a handy feature you can use to easily turn off your computer while saving its current state, so you can continue working when you power it on. However, hibernation can take up a large amount of disk space, as it reserves space on the hard drive equal to the amount of content stored in RAM. (So potentially, the more RAM you have, the more disk space you use).
To disable hibernation, open Windows Control Panel by pressing Win + X and choose “Control Panel” from the list. When Control Panel is open, select Power Options.
2. Click the link “Choose what the power buttons do” on the left. This action will take you to the system settings window.
3. Click “Change settings that are currently unavailable”. This action will enable all disabled options.
4. Scroll down and uncheck the checkbox “Hibernate” to turn off hibernation in Windows 10.
Clear browser cache and cookies
Temporary Internet files like browser cache and cookies take up a little C drive space, so deleting those temporary files will give you some free space. Refer to: How to delete cache and cookies on Chrome, Firefox and Coc Coc for more details.
Delete old Windows update files and previous installations
Windows tends to keep old (and mostly redundant) system files. In most cases, you can delete these files, especially if you have installed a new version of Windows. To do this:
1. Open Windows Explorer, right-click the drive C and choose Properties.
2. Click “Disk CleanUp”then in the new window click “Clean up system files” to open the advanced disk cleaning window.
3. Select the check box “Windows upgrade log files” and if you have any there, check the checkbox “Previous Windows installation(s)”.
There are other checkboxes here, but most of them don't use up space and can be left alone. When you're ready, click OK to clean up your hard drive.
Reduce the size of the WinSxS folder
The WinSxS folder is located in your PC's C drive at the Windows folder location – for example: C:\Windows\WinSxS. It stores files needed to restore the system. You can easily reduce the size of this folder, but this comes with a warning.
Warning: Do not delete any files directly from the WinSxS folder or the folder itself. This will severely damage the system and make it impossible to reboot or restore.
1. It is very important to proceed with caution and process these files directly from the Task Scheduler.
2. When Task Scheduler opens, search Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Servicing > StartComponentCleanup and right click to select Run.
3. Wait a few minutes for the operation to finish.
Set OneDrive and File Explorer files to be available online only
You can set OneDrive and File Explorer files to be available online only. This will significantly save the space you use on your C drive. If you have a fast, reliable Internet connection, you'll benefit from this great space-saving tip.
For OneDrive, select the OneDrive app from the Start menu search box in Windows 11 and the Windows 10 search box. Sign in with the Microsoft account used in the local PC. Go to folder OneDrive by clicking Next.
Right-click any OneDrive subfolders and if they take up a lot of space, put them in mode “online only” instead of placing them on the device.
The same methods above can be repeated for any file or folder in the File Explorer window. By setting them to be available online only, you can access your files whenever you want. Of course, if you have some important data that you need to access at all times, you'll want to leave that data on your device.
If necessary, refresh Windows 10
Maybe you've concluded that your PC is such a mess that you don't want to bother cleaning up Windows 10. In that case, you can use a built-in option to reinstall a fresh copy of Windows. .
You may know about the option Reset this PC available in settings Recovery. However, using this feature with certain options will restore your PC to its original state, including pre-installed manufacturer bloatware. To avoid this, you can use another method.
To use this feature, tap the button Get started in the menu Recovery. Select Keep my filesselect download or reinstall locally, settings, then make sure you select No give Restore preinstalled apps?
This is equivalent to optional Fresh Start contained in the section Device performance & health of the Windows Security app in older versions of Windows 10. Windows 10 will be reinstalled and updated to the latest version, in addition it will remove all installed applications. Only your personal files and “some Windows settings” are retained.
Although Windows promises to keep them safe, make sure you back up your important files before doing this, in case something goes wrong. You should also take note of any license keys you will need to reactivate the software after refreshing.
Having to reinstall all the programs manually will take some time. But if your computer is a mess, this method is worth considering.
Frequently asked questions
1. Are the methods to clean up C drive similar for Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes, the methods to clean up C drive are very similar for Windows 10 and Windows 11. There may be slight changes in the location of some menu options, but the mentioned methods to clean up C drive are applicable. Applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2. Should I use C drive cleaning software?
You should choose the built-in Windows methods to clean up drive space, including drive C. The article has mentioned many built-in techniques in this guide.
Periodic Windows updates are the surest means of verifying system integrity. Third-party software does many of the same things as the built-in tools: They can identify temporary files, pending updates, files in the Recycle Bin, etc.
However, if they accidentally delete any important files, such as the WinSxS folder files, it can cause you a lot of trouble. This issue may prevent you from rolling back updates or fixing Windows problems yourself. In general, the article does not recommend using any third-party software to clean up Windows drives. They do more harm than good. Avoid tools like CCleaner and Wondershare RecoverIt.
3. Why does drive C automatically fill up?
With regular use, C drive will gradually fill up. Every file and folder you create (on any drive) has an impact on the free space in drive C. If you have not updated your computer for a long time, it may be vulnerable to Bloatware and difficult to delete files. Of course, we often forget to delete temporary files, unnecessary programs and applications that take up a lot of space. All of these things play a role in causing C drive to gradually fill up.
