How to Enable or Disable Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10
Starting with Windows 10 build 15014, Microsoft has added a new Automatically free up space with Storage Sense option in Storage Settings to automatically get rid of the files you don’t need to save you an extra step when low on disk space. Currently this is only supported for unused temporary files, files in your recycle bin over 30 days, and files in your Downloads folder that haven't changed for over 30 days.
Starting with Windows 10 build 17720, Storage Sense can now run when your device is low on storage space by default. Once activated, Storage Sense will intelligently run whenever your device runs low on storage space and clear temporary files that your device and applications no longer need.Storage Sense looks for and will remove the following types of files:
- Temporary setup files
- Old indexed content
- System cache files
- Internet cache files
- Device Driver packages
- System downloaded program files
- Dated system log files
- System error memory dump files
- System error minidump files
- Temporary system files
- Dated Windows update temporary files
- …and more.
Starting with at least Windows 10 build 18282, you can now configure a group policy to enable or disable Storage Sense for all users on the computer.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Storage Sense to automatically free up space on the PC for all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Storage Sense.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Storage Sense disabled and always enabled
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Storage Sense
3 In the right pane of Storage Sense in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow Storage Sense policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable), step 6 (disable), or step 7 (default) below for what you would like to do.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
This will allow users to be able to turn on or off Storage Sense for their accounts.
8 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\StorageSense
AllowStorageSenseGlobal DWORD
(delete) = Default
0 = Disable
1 = Always enable
1 Do step 2 (enable), step 3 (disable), or step 4 (default) below for what you want to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Always_Enable_Storage_Sense_for_all_users.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Disable_Storage_Sense_for_all_users.reg
Download
This will allow users to be able to turn on or off Storage Sense for their accounts.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Default_user_choice_to_turn_on-off_Storage_Sense.reg
Download
5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Turn On or Off Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10
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- How to Enable or Disable Storage Sense to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10
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Enable or Disable Storage Sense in Windows 10
-
New #1
Bonjour Shawn
On my computer running 1809 Enterprise (Build 17763.134), "Storage sense" is On
But, I did not find "Storage sense" within GPEdit
-
New #2
Hello @D4ni3l,
Just to verify, are you looking under "Computer Configuration" instead of "User Configuration" in gpedit?
What build do you have installed? I'll check to see if it's available in that build on my system.
At least you can manually turn it off: Turn On or Off Storage Sense Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10 | Tutorials
EDIT:
It appears that this group policy is only available starting with Windows 10 version 1809, and at least with build 18282.
I checked with the latest public build 17134.407 of v1803, and the policy is not available in it.
I checked with the latest public build 17763.134 of v1809, and the policy is not available in it.
-
New #3
@Brink,
I notice that in Option2, the registry key that you reference for enabling / disabling Storage Sense will enable that option globally. Unfortunately, it has the effect of disabling that option in the GUI. In other words, when you look at the settings for Storage Sense in the GUI, you will see the following message:
The following registry entries will enable / disable Storage Sense for the current user without this side effect:
To enable:
Code:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StorageSense\Parameters\StoragePolicy] "01"=dword:000000001
To disable:
Code:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StorageSense\Parameters\StoragePolicy] "01"=dword:000000000
I hope that this is helpful!
-
New #4
Hello Hannes,@Brink,
I notice that in Option2, the registry key that you reference for enabling / disabling Storage Sense will enable that option globally. Unfortunately, it has the effect of disabling that option in the GUI. In other words, when you look at the settings for Storage Sense in the GUI, you will see the following message:
The following registry entries will enable / disable Storage Sense for the current user without this side effect:
To enable:
Code:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StorageSense\Parameters\StoragePolicy] "01"=dword:000000001
To disable:
Code:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StorageSense\Parameters\StoragePolicy] "01"=dword:000000000
I hope that this is helpful!
Thank you. Yeah, that's for turning on/off Storage Sense for current user like below instead of enable/disable via policy for all users.
Turn On or Off Storage Sense Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10
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New #5
Thanks!
Enable or Disable Storage Sense in Windows 10
How to Enable or Disable Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Performance & Maintenance
08 Apr 2021
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