Freeing up space in Windows 10 is an important task, especially if free space is a constant problem. Over time, the system accumulates many files, some more or less useful, that the user can safely delete to gain some slack, in the form of a few extra gigabytes.
How to free up space in Windows 10
Windows 10 has a series of system tools that allow you to perform a thorough cleaning and eliminate several unnecessary files, increasing the space available on your computer. You can also disable some features, more or less necessary (depends on each case), to increase the gains.
1. Removing basic files
To remove simpler files, the Disk Cleanup tool is one of the most basic and complete. It is able to eliminate browsing caches, temporary system files, error logs, files forgotten in the Recycle Bin or in the Download folder, and also system update files, which Windows 10 no longer uses after updates.
- In the Windows 10 search bar, type “Disk Cleanup” and click on the program icon;
- Select the disk you want to check and click OK ;
- Disk Cleanup will scan for files that are no longer needed and display the results;
- Under Files to be excluded, check the boxes for the files you want to delete;
- Click on OK.
This method eliminates temporary files (system and internet), thumbnails (icon previews, which take up a lot of space), cache files, contents of the Download folder and the Recycle Bin, etc.
2. Removing system files
Disk Cleanup is also capable of removing system files, most important for Windows 10 up to a certain point, as installers of system updates. This data is not removed automatically, and is taking up space.
- Click Clear system files;
- Select the disk you want to check and click OK ;
- Disk Cleanup will rescan, and new cleaning options will appear;
- Under Files to be excluded, check the boxes for the files you want to delete;
- Click on OK.
After the second scan, Disk Cleanup will display options for deleting data from Windows Update (which takes up a lot of space), Windows Defender and driver packages for devices on your computer. In all cases, these files are considered expendable, and can be safely removed.
3. Adjusting the System Restore
Still within Disk Cleanup, you can eliminate points from the System Restore feature, useful for returning the system to a specific point in case of problems. Here, you can delete all points except the last one and free up space on Windows 10.
- Within Disk Cleanup, click on the More Options tab ;
- Under System Restore and Shadow Copies , click Clean ;
- Windows 10 will ask if you want to remove all saved restore points except the most recent one.
- Click Delete.
If you want to delete all restore points, including the last one (which is not recommended ), do the following:
- Open the File Explorer ;
- Right-click on This Computer , and then click Properties ;
- Click System protection ;
- Click Configure ;
- Click Delete , and then click Continue .
- You can also disable Restore by clicking Disable system protection , or adjust the space limit reserved for the resource, sliding the slide in Max Usage to the desired value;
- Once the changes are made, click OK.
4. Disabling the hibernation cache
The hibernation feature of Windows 10, useful for notebooks and tablets , keeps files and programs open in the device’s RAM memory while it is placed in low power mode, which saves loading time for the next use. The system uses a specific cache.
Only for a desktop, this feature is almost useless; in this case, you can free up space on Windows 10 without any problems.
- In the search bar, type “cmd”;
- Right-click Command Prompt, Run as administrator , and then click Yes ;
- Type the command “powercfg.exe / hibernate off” and hit Enter.
That’s all.
