How to increase your storage space on a PC
One of the most common issues when owning a PC for an extended period is running out of storage space. When the space gets taken up quickly, it is important to know how to clear hard drive space on your laptop or desktop to get it running more smoothly. Here are three ways to create space on your system and make it easier to find the programs and files you actually use.
1. Delete programs you never use
On Windows® 11, Windows® 10, or Windows® 8, right-click the Start button (or press Windows key+X), select Control Panel, then under Programs, select Uninstall a program. From this list, you can delete programs you no longer need. Select the program you want to remove and click Uninstall.
On Windows® 7, Windows® Vista, or Windows® XP, click the Start button, click Control Panel, then click Add/Remove Programs. From this list, delete the programs you no longer need by selecting the program and clicking Uninstall.
It is important to identify programs that you rarely use as these can sometimes be the programs that take up the most space. If you’re a gamer, a good place to look would be to see if there are any games you no longer play as these can take up a huge amount of storage space.
2. Move data to an external hard drive
By moving rarely used files to an external hard drive, then deleting them from your system, you'll free up valuable storage space. Be sure your files are safe before deleting them from your main drive.
It's often said in tech circles that your data is only as safe as your last backup, and this adage is true for almost every user. To back up your files, get an external hard drive and designate it as your backup drive. It is always advisable to use the 3-2-1 backup method to ensure that your data is as safe as possible from any errors that could be out of your control.
3. Run the Disk Cleanup utility
Disk Cleanup removes temporary files, clears the cache, empties your Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of other files and items you no longer need. Here's how to use Disk Cleanup.
Windows 11
Open the start menu
Search for ‘storage spaces’ in the search bar
Select ‘Manage Storage Spaces’
Select ‘Create a new pool and storage space’
Choose which drives you want to add to the new storage space
Click ‘Create Pool’
This method helps create PC storage space by letting you combine multiple drives by using storage spaces. This is known as a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks).
Windows 10 & 8
Right-click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Security, click Administrative Tools, and click Disk Cleanup
If the Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection dialog box appears, click the hard disk drive you want to clean up, then click OK
Click the Disk Cleanup tab, then select the checkboxes for the files you want to delete
When you finish selecting the files you want to delete, click OK, then click Delete files to confirm the operation
Disk Cleanup will then begin to remove the files
Windows 7
Click the Start button, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and click Disk Cleanup
If the Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection dialog box appears, click the hard disk drive you want to clean up, then click OK
Click the Disk Cleanup tab, then select the checkboxes for the files you want to delete
When you finish selecting the files you want to delete, click OK, then click Delete files to confirm the operation
Disk Cleanup will then begin to remove the files
Windows Vista
Note: Be sure to keep Windows up to date with regular Windows Updates, as these can further enhance the performance of your PC and improve the security of your system.
If you are a Mac user, check out our article on how to free up space on a Mac.
For further options look at upgrading PC storage space with the selection of SSDs at Crucial.