In Windows, storage space refers to the amount of disk space available on your computer’s hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD). All your files, programs, and operating system are stored here.
The amount of storage space available on your computer can vary depending on the size of your hard drive or SSD. The more storage space you have, the more files you can store on your computer, such as documents, photos, videos, music, and other data types.
It’s important to manage your storage space carefully to ensure enough space available for your needs. If your hard drive or SSD becomes too full, it can cause performance issues and slow down your computer. You can manage your storage space by deleting unnecessary files and programs, moving files to an external hard drive or cloud storage, or upgrading your storage hardware to a larger capacity.
In addition, Windows includes several tools to help you manage your storage space. These include Disk Cleanup, which scans your hard drive for unnecessary files and allows you to delete them, and Storage Sense, which can automatically free up space by deleting temporary files and other unneeded data.
Managing the Storage Space
There are several ways to manage storage space in Windows. Here are some tips:
1. Delete unnecessary files and programs
One of the easiest ways to free up storage space is to delete files and programs you no longer need. You can do this manually by going through your files and folders, deleting anything you don’t need, or using the Disk Cleanup tool in Windows.
2. Move files to an external hard drive or cloud storage
If you have a lot of large files, such as photos or videos, you may want to consider moving them to an external hard drive or cloud storage service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. This can free up space on your computer’s hard drive and make accessing your files from multiple devices easier.
3. Uninstall unused programs
If you have programs installed on your computer that you don’t use, it’s a good idea to uninstall them. This can free up space on your hard drive and help improve performance. You can uninstall programs through the Control Panel or Settings app in Windows.
4. Upgrade your storage hardware
If you’re consistently running out of space on your hard drive or SSD, you may want to consider upgrading to a larger capacity drive. This can be done by replacing your existing drive with a larger one or adding a second drive to your computer.
5. Use Storage Sense
Windows includes a Storage Sense feature. It can automatically free up space on your hard drive by deleting temporary files and other unneeded data. You can turn on Storage Sense in the Settings app under System > Storage.
The Steps to Manage Storage Space in Windows
Here are the steps to manage device storage in Windows:
- Open the Settings app: Click on the Start menu and select the gear icon to open the Settings app.
- Go to System > Storage: In the Settings app, click on the System category, then select Storage from the left-hand menu.
- View storage usage: On the Storage page, you’ll see a breakdown of how your storage space is being used. This includes the total capacity of your hard drive, the amount of free space remaining, and a list of categories like Apps & features, Documents, Pictures, and Videos.
- Free up space: You can click on any of the categories listed on the Storage page to view the files and folders taking up space in that category. From there, you can select individual items to delete or use the “Free up space now” button to delete temporary files and other unneeded data.
- Manage storage settings: You can also manage your storage settings by clicking the “Change how we free up space” link on the Storage page. Here, you can configure settings like how often Storage Sense runs, which files to delete, and whether to delete files in the Recycle Bin automatically.
By following these steps, you can manage your device storage in Windows and keep your hard drive or SSD running smoothly. You can also watch the following video:
Useful Tools in Windows
Several built-in tools in Windows can help you manage storage on your device. These tools include:
1. Storage Sense
This tool automatically frees up space on your hard drive or SSD by deleting temporary files, old files in the Recycle Bin, and other unneeded data. You can configure Storage Sense to run automatically on a schedule or run it manually.
2. Storage Settings
This tool provides a detailed overview of your device’s storage usage. Also, it allows you to manage storage settings, such as which apps can access your device’s storage and which files are saved to OneDrive.
3. File Explorer
This built-in file manager in Windows allows you to view and manage files and folders on your hard drive or SSD. You can use File Explorer to move files to different folders, delete files, and create new folders.
4. Disk Management
This tool allows you to manage disk partitions and volumes, format disks, and assign drive letters. Disk Management can create, delete, and resize partitions on your hard drive or SSD.
5. Disk Cleanup
This tool scans your hard drive or SSD for files that can be safely deleted, such as temporary files, system files, and files in the Recycle Bin. You can run Disk Cleanup manually and select which types of files to clean up.
Types of Files Disk Cleanup Safely Delete
Disk Cleanup can safely delete a variety of different types of files that are no longer needed on your computer. Here are some examples of the types of files that Disk Cleanup can safely delete:
1. Temporary files: These are files created by Windows and other programs that are used temporarily and can be safely deleted. Examples include files in the Windows Temp folder, Internet Explorer cache files, and files in the Recycle Bin.
2. System files: These are files related to the Windows operating system. Examples are old log files and files created during Windows setup or installation. These files can be safely deleted once they are no longer needed.
3. Windows upgrade files: These are files created while upgrading Windows to a new version. These files can be safely deleted once the upgrade is complete and working properly.
4. Downloaded program files: These are files by Internet Explorer when you view certain types of content, such as ActiveX controls and Java applets. Once these files are no longer needed, they can be safely deleted.
5. Offline web pages: These are copies of web pages stored on your computer for offline viewing. Once they are no longer needed, they can be safely deleted.
It’s important to note that Disk Cleanup may not be able to safely delete all types of files. Also, there may be some files that you want to keep. Before running Disk Cleanup, it’s a good idea to review the list of files that will be deleted and make sure that you’re comfortable with the files that will be removed.
Files that Disk Cleanup SHOULD NOT Delete
Disk Cleanup should not delete certain types of files. The reason is that they may be important for your system or applications to function properly. Here are some examples of files that Disk Cleanup should not delete:
1. System Restore points: These are snapshots of your system created by Windows to allow you to restore your system to an earlier state if there are any problems. Deleting these files can prevent you from being able to restore your system to a previous state.
2. Windows ESD installation files: These are files used by Windows for updates and upgrades, and deleting them can prevent you from installing future updates or upgrades.
3. Personal files: Disk Cleanup should not delete any files you have created or saved, such as documents, photos, or music files.
4. Program files: Disk Cleanup should not delete any files associated with installed programs, which can cause those programs to malfunction or stop working.
5. Internet browser bookmarks: Disk Cleanup should not delete any bookmarks or favorites saved in your web browser. Since this can cause you to lose access to important websites.
NOTE
It’s important to review the list of files that Disk Cleanup will delete before running it and to ensure that you do not select any files that are important for your system or applications to function properly. If you’re unsure whether a file is safe to delete, research or seek advice before deleting it is always a good idea.
How to Configure Disk Cleanup to Exclude Certain Types of Files
You can configure Disk Cleanup to exclude certain files from being deleted. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open Disk Cleanup: Click the Windows Start button and search for “Disk Cleanup.” Click on the Disk Cleanup app to open it.
2. Select the drive to clean up: In the Disk Cleanup window, select the drive you want to clean up and click the “OK” button.
3. Choose which files to delete: In the “Disk Cleanup” window, select the types of files that you want to delete. If you want to exclude certain types of files from being deleted, click on the “Clean up system files” button.
4. Select the types of files to exclude: In the “Disk Cleanup for (drive letter)” window, select the types of files that you want to exclude from being deleted. For example, you may want to keep your system restore points or your downloaded program files.
5. Click “OK” to save changes: Once you have selected the types of files to exclude, click the “OK” button to save your changes and return to the Disk Cleanup window.
6. Run Disk Cleanup: Now that you have configured Disk Cleanup to exclude certain files, you can run it as normal by clicking the “OK” button in the Disk Cleanup window.
Following these steps, you can configure Disk Cleanup to exclude certain types of files from being deleted, ensuring that important files are not accidentally deleted. You can also watch the following video:
