How to Free Up Disk Space Now with Storage Sense in Windows 10


If you have storage sense turned on in Storage settings, Windows can automatically free up space by getting rid of files you don't need, like temporary files and stuff in your recycle bin. Or, you can delete them manually.

Starting in Windows 10 build 17063, Microsoft has added a top level link to Storage Settings to “free up space” now, so you can get at it faster if you need it, rather than having to open Storage Sense first.

Starting with Windows 10 build 18277, you can now get a quick and dynamic storage breakdown of your system! Navigate to the Storage page (Open Start and search “Storage settings”) to see an actionable list of how your storage is used. Click on the different categories to take action and free up some space.

Starting with Windows 10 build 19603, you can now free up disk space with a new User cleanup recommendations Storage Settings feature that gathers unused files and apps so you can digitally cleanse your device. Windows cannot predict whether you want to delete personal files, uninstall apps, or remove local copies of files synced to the cloud. With this tool, all the content is gathered in one page and removable by you with a few clicks.

This tutorial will show you how to free up space now for disks with storage sense and user cleanup recommendations in Windows 10.

If you select (check) to delete the Previous version of Windows or Previous Windows installation(s) items, you will no longer be able to go back to the previous version of Windows.

Contents

• Option One: To Free Up Disk Space Now with Storage Sense
• Option Two: To Free Up Disk Space Now with User Cleanup Recommendations

OPTION ONE

To Free Up Disk Space Now with Storage Sense

1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Storage on the left side, and click/tap on the Configure Storage Sense or run it now link under Storage on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 Make any changes you want to the Storage Sense settings. Scroll down to the Free up space now section, check or uncheck Delete previous versions of Windows (if available) for what you want, and click/tap on the Clean now button. (see screenshot below)

This will clean up files using the settings you have set on this Configure Storage Sense or run it now page.

4 Your files will not be cleaned up. You can close Settings afterwards if you like. (see screenshots below)

OPTION TWO

To Free Up Disk Space Now with User Cleanup Recommendations

This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 19603.

Windows cannot predict whether you want to delete personal files, uninstall apps, or remove local copies of files synced to the cloud. With this tool, all the content is gathered in one page and removable by you with a few clicks.

1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.

2 Click/tap on Storage on the left side, and click/tap on the See cleanup recommendations link under User cleanup recommendations on the right side. (see screenshot below)

3 Check the items you want to delete and uncheck the items you do not want deleted under a Temporary files, Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud, or Unused apps section, and click/tap on its Clean up button. (see screenshots below)

4 Click/tap on Continue if prompted to confirm. (see screenshots below)

5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 for any other sections of items you want to clean up.

6 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

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