Key takeaways
- Start with Disk Cleanup’s “Clean up system files,” which removes Windows Update and upgrade leftovers that Settings may not show.
- Settings > System > Storage shows exactly which categories are using space; check it before deleting anything.
- Games, apps and personal media usually take far more space than system junk.
- Turning off hibernation frees a file sized at about 40% of your RAM by default, per Microsoft documentation.
- Keep at least 10 to 15% of an SSD free for updates and smooth performance.
To free up the most space on a full Windows 11 drive, run Disk Cleanup with “Clean up system files,” then use Settings > System > Storage to clear temporary files and review Cleanup recommendations. If that is not enough, the biggest remaining wins usually come from uninstalling large apps and games, moving personal files to another drive or the cloud, and shrinking the hibernation file.
Disk Cleanup Windows 11 still ships with the classic cleanmgr tool, and it remains the quickest way to remove Windows Update leftovers. But on most PCs it only recovers a few gigabytes. This guide ranks 12 methods by how much space they typically free and how risky they are, so you can work down the list until your drive has breathing room again.
Key takeaways
- Start with Disk Cleanup’s “Clean up system files,” which removes Windows Update and upgrade leftovers that Settings may not show.
- Settings > System > Storage shows exactly which categories are using space; check it before deleting anything.
- Games, apps and personal media usually take far more space than system junk.
- Turning off hibernation frees a file sized at about 40% of your RAM by default, per Microsoft documentation.
- Keep at least 10 to 15% of an SSD free for updates and smooth performance.
How Much Space Each Method Frees
| Method | Typical space freed | Risk | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Disk Cleanup (system files) | 1 GB to 30+ GB after a major upgrade | Low | 5 to 15 min |
| 2. Temporary files in Settings | 1 to 10 GB | Low | 5 min |
| 3. Cleanup recommendations | Varies by usage | Low to medium | 10 min |
| 4. Storage Sense automation | Ongoing | Low | 2 min setup |
| 5. Uninstall apps and games | 10 to 150+ GB | Low | 10 min |
| 6. Move or offload personal files | 10 GB to hundreds of GB | Low | Varies |
| 7. OneDrive Files On-Demand | Size of synced folders | Low | 5 min |
| 8. Turn off hibernation | About 40% of RAM (e.g. 6.4 GB with 16 GB) | Low | 1 min |
| 9. Limit System Restore | 2 to 20 GB | Medium | 3 min |
| 10. Component store cleanup (DISM) | 1 to 5 GB | Medium | 10 to 20 min |
| 11. Find huge files in File Explorer | Varies | Low | 10 min |
| 12. Compact OS | A few GB | Medium | 15 to 30 min |
Figures are typical ranges, not guarantees; your results depend on how long Windows has been installed, your RAM and how you use the PC. Work from the top: the first four methods are safe for everyone, while methods 9, 10 and 12 change how Windows recovers or stores system files, so use them only when the easier steps are not enough.
1. Disk Cleanup Windows 11: Run It With System Files
- Open Disk Cleanup. Press Start, type Disk Cleanup and open it, or press Win + R, type cleanmgr and press Enter.
- Pick the drive. Choose C: (the drive Windows is installed on), because that is where system leftovers live.
- Click “Clean up system files.” This restarts the scan with administrator rights and adds categories such as Windows Update Cleanup and Previous Windows installation(s), which are usually the largest items.
- Tick the safe categories. Windows Update Cleanup, Delivery Optimization Files, Temporary files, Temporary Internet Files, Thumbnails and Recycle Bin are safe for most users.
- Decide on Previous Windows installation(s). This is the Windows.old folder kept after a feature update. Deleting it frees a lot of space but removes the option to roll back. Windows removes it on its own after the rollback window (10 days on Windows 11), so only delete it early if you are happy with the update.
- Skip Downloads unless you checked it. Some builds list a Downloads category; it deletes everything in your Downloads folder.
- Click OK, then Delete Files. Large Windows Update cleanups can take several minutes and may continue on the next restart.
2. Clear Temporary Files in Settings
Open Settings > System > Storage and select Temporary files. Windows scans and lists categories with sizes. Tick items such as Windows Update Cleanup, Delivery Optimization Files, Temporary files and Thumbnails, then select Remove files. This overlaps with Disk Cleanup but is easier to read because each category shows its size up front.
3. Use Cleanup Recommendations
In the same Storage page, open Cleanup recommendations (under Storage management). Windows groups large or unused files, files already synced to OneDrive and apps you have not opened in a while. Review each list before deleting; “unused” only means Windows has not seen you open it recently, not that it is unimportant.
4. Turn On Storage Sense
Storage Sense deletes temporary files automatically and can empty old Recycle Bin items and unused Downloads. Go to Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense, turn on automatic cleanup and set the schedule. Sensible settings are: run every month or when disk space is low, empty Recycle Bin items older than 30 days, and set Downloads to “Never” unless you treat that folder as disposable.
5. Uninstall Large Apps and Games
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and sort by Size (large to small). Modern games can take 100 GB or more each, and creative suites and Android emulators add tens of gigabytes. Uninstall what you do not use, or move it: Steam, the Xbox app and other launchers can relocate installed games to another drive without re-downloading.
6. Move Personal Files to Another Drive
Videos, photo libraries and phone backups grow quietly. Check Settings > System > Storage > Show more categories to see how much each takes. To move a whole folder, right-click Videos, Pictures or Documents in File Explorer, choose Properties > Location, select Move and pick a folder on another drive. New files will go there automatically. You can also point new apps and downloads elsewhere in Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved.
7. Free Up Space With OneDrive Files On-Demand
If you sync folders to OneDrive, right-click a large synced folder and choose Free up space. Files stay visible and download when you open them, but they no longer take local space. This needs an internet connection to open those files later.
8. Turn Off Hibernation
The hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) is sized at about 40% of installed RAM by default, according to Microsoft. On a 32 GB PC that is around 12.8 GB. If you never use Hibernate and do not rely on Fast Startup:
- Right-click Start and open Terminal (Admin).
- Run powercfg /h off and press Enter.
- The file disappears immediately. Run powercfg /h on to restore it later.
Note that this also disables Fast Startup, so cold boots may take a few seconds longer on some PCs.
9. Limit System Restore Space
Restore points can use several percent of your drive. Press Start, type Create a restore point, select drive C:, click Configure and lower the Max Usage slider to around 3 to 5%. You can also click Delete to remove all existing restore points, but then you cannot roll back to them, so create a fresh point afterward.
10. Clean the Component Store With DISM
Windows keeps old versions of system components after updates. To analyze and clean them, open Terminal (Admin) and run:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore to see whether cleanup is recommended.
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup to remove superseded components.
Avoid adding the /ResetBase switch unless you understand the trade-off: it frees a little more space but prevents uninstalling currently installed updates.
11. Find Huge Files in File Explorer
Open File Explorer, select This PC and type size:gigantic in the search box to find files larger than 4 GB, or size:huge for 1 to 4 GB. Typical finds include old ISO images, virtual machine disks, raw video and forgotten installers. Sort by Size and delete or move what you no longer need.
12. Compact OS (Last Resort)
On small 64 GB or 128 GB devices, running compact /compactos:always in an admin terminal compresses Windows system files and can save a few gigabytes. It slightly increases CPU work when reading those files, so use it only on space-starved devices.
Disk Cleanup vs Storage Sense vs Third-Party Cleaners
| Tool | Removes upgrade leftovers | Automatic | Shows large files | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disk Cleanup | Yes (system files mode) | Only via scheduled cleanmgr | No | Deep one-time cleanup |
| Temporary files (Settings) | Yes | No | No | Clear view of sizes |
| Storage Sense | Partly | Yes | No | Ongoing maintenance |
| Cleanup recommendations | No | No | Yes | Finding forgotten files and apps |
Third-party “PC cleaner” apps rarely free more than these built-in tools, and registry cleaning does not save meaningful space. Stick with Microsoft’s tools unless you need a visual disk-usage map, where a free analyzer like WinDirStat or WizTree can help you spot large folders.
Gear That Helps
- Samsung T7 Portable SSD 2TB: USB 3.2 Gen 2 · up to 1,050 MB/s · pocket-size. A fast home for photo libraries and game backups.
- Sandisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD: USB-C · up to 1,050 MB/s · IP65 water and dust resistance. Good for laptops that travel.
- Crucial P310 2TB SSD: PCIe Gen4 NVMe · M.2 2280 · up to 7,100 MB/s. A permanent fix if your desktop or laptop has a spare M.2 slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Disk Cleanup still available in Windows 11?
Yes. Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) is still included in Windows 11 and remains the easiest way to remove Windows Update and upgrade leftovers. Microsoft also offers the same core cleanup through Settings > System > Storage.
How do I run Disk Cleanup on This PC?
Open File Explorer, right-click your C: drive under This PC, choose Properties and click Disk Cleanup. Then click Clean up system files to include Windows Update leftovers.
Is it safe to delete Windows Update Cleanup files?
Yes, for nearly all users. These are superseded update files. After deleting them you may not be able to uninstall some older updates, which rarely matters.
Why is my C drive still full after Disk Cleanup?
Disk Cleanup only removes system junk. Most space is usually taken by apps, games and personal files, so check Settings > System > Storage and sort installed apps by size.
How much free space should I keep on Windows 11?
Aim to keep at least 10 to 15% of the drive free, and at least 20 to 30 GB on the system drive so feature updates have room to install.
Can I run Disk Cleanup automatically?
Yes. In an admin terminal, run cleanmgr /sageset:1 and tick the categories you want, then create a Task Scheduler task that runs cleanmgr /sagerun:1 monthly. For most people, Storage Sense is the simpler way to automate cleanup.
Does Storage Sense delete my personal files?
Only if you tell it to. Storage Sense can clear the Recycle Bin and Downloads folder on a schedule, but both are optional, and Downloads cleanup is off by default.
