How to Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder 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.
When Storage Sense is turned on or enabled, it can delete files in the user’s Downloads folder if they have been there for over a certain amount of days.
Starting with at least Windows 10 build 18282, you can now configure a group policy to specify when Storage Sense (if turned on or enabled) will delete files in the Downloads folder for all users.
This tutorial will show you how to specify when Storage Sense will automatically delete files in the Downloads folder for your account or all users in Windows 10.
- Option One: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder for Current User in Settings
- Option Two: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder for Current User using a REG file
- Option Three: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Four: Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder for All Users in Registry Editor
1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the System icon.
2. Click/tap on Storage on the left side, turn on Storage sense on the right side, and click/tap on the Configure Storage Sense or run it now link. (see screenshot below)
3. Under Temporary Files, select Never (default), 1 day, 14 days, 30 days, or 60 days for what you want in the Delete files in my Downloads folder if they have been there for over drop down list. (see screenshot below)
4. You can now close Settings if you like.
The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\StorageSense\Parameters\StoragePolicy
32 DWORD
0 = Never
1 = 1, 14, 30, or 60 days
512 DWORD
0 = Never
1 = 1 day
e (hex) = 14 days
1e (hex) = 30 days
3c (hex) = 60 days
1. Do step 2 (Never), step 3 (1 day), step 4 (14 days), step 5 (30 days), or step 6 (60 days) below for what you want to do.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Downloads_folder_Never_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Downloads_folder_over_1_day_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Downloads_folder_over_14_days_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Downloads_folder_over_30_days_for_current_user.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 7 below.
Storage_Sense_delete_files_in_Downloads_folder_over_60_days_for_current_user.reg
Download
7. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
8. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
9. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
10. If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option
If specified, this option will override Option One and Option Two for all users on the computer.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Four.
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 Configure Storage Storage Downloads cleanup threshold policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do step 5 (specify) or step 6 (default) below for what you would like to do.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, enter a number between 0 to 365 for how may days you want, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option
If specified, this option will override Option One and Option Two for all users on the computer.
1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)
3. Do step 4 (specify) or step 5 (default) below for what you want to do.
A) In the right pane of the StorageSense key, double click/tap on the ConfigStorageSenseDownloadsCleanupThreshold DWORD to modify it. (see screenshot below step 2)
B) Select (dot) Decimal, enter a number between 0 to 365 for how may days you want, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
A) In the right pane of the StorageSense key, right click on the ConfigStorageSenseDownloadsCleanupThreshold DWORD, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below step 2)
B) Click/tap on Yes to confirm, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
6. You can now close Registry Editor if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Enable or Disable Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10
- How to Turn On or Off Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10
- How to Specify when to Run Storage Sense in Windows 10
- How to Free Up Disk Space Now with Storage Sense in Windows 10
- How to Specify when Storage Sense Automatically Make OneDrive Files On-Demand Online-only in Windows 10
- How to Enable or Disable Storage Sense to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10
- How to Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Recycle Bin in Windows 10
Specify Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder in Windows 10
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New #1
Hi, first of all let me thank you for the detailed tutorial.
There is one point that I do not find clear:
What do you mean with "Storage Sense can now turn itself on" ?Starting with Windows 10 build 17720, Storage Sense can now turn itself on when your device is low on storage space.
I see there is a switch that can turn on/off storage sense, my storage sense is now disabled
what happen when I'll be low on spage, will files be removed, meaning that it will turn itself on and files will be removed even if the swictch is "disabled"?
Thanks.
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New #2
Hello Roy,
No worries. That would only happen if you have Storage Sense turned on and select to run "During low free disk space". This is the default setting.
If you have Storage Sense turned off, it cannot turn itself on.
I'll reword that now from what Microsoft had to help.
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New #5
Even though I set it to delete items in the download folder to 1 day and manually ran storage sense it does not seem to auto delete anything in the downloads folder, both on 10 and 11. I have files in my download folder from a month ago I have not touched.
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New #7
Yeah I thought something like that might be the cause, but no. I am not using onedrive or any cloud storage. I double checked though to make sure nothing was touching my downloads folder.
I heard rumors that a windows defender scan could mark it as recently accessed it causing this bug. Just really odd. I have seen this on a few machines now so I am starting to think its a windows bug/oversight. It would be a really handy feature for many people if it worked.
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Specify Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder in Windows 10
How to Specify when Storage Sense Delete Files in Downloads Folder in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: Performance & Maintenance
28 Nov 2018
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