SSDs and hard drives (even high capacity ones) can be quickly filled up with no more storage space available. If your computer receives you with a message that tells you that your disk is full, don't panic!
Below we offer you different options so you can free up space in Windows 10 and earlier versions. Do not lose detail!
1. Disk cleanup in Windows
Windows comes with several factory tools that automatically find and delete files that unnecessarily take up disk space.
It is therefore convenient to use the Disk Cleanup tool first. Just look for the option in the Start menu. This tool scan your PC finding files that can be deleted.
In the list of files to delete you can mark the files you really want to delete with a tick. When you finish the selection, click on OK and then on Delete files.
2. Uninstall games and applications
A relatively quick and easy way to free up space is to uninstall programs that you don't need to use. In the Start menu go to the Control Panel and choose the option to Uninstall a program.
A list with all installed programs appears, you can sort the list so that the programs appear in order according to their weight or size. This way you can know which programs are taking up more space.
Normally these types of programs will be games, although there are also applications that are not games that take up too much space.
You will have to eliminate program by program, something that can cost a while, but it is worth it when you see all the space you have achieved.
3. Restoration points
Windows creates restore points automatically so you can return to a previous state of your PC in case there is any problem and you need to restore.
These restoration points take up space, what you surely don't know is that you can adjust how much space you want them to occupy.
To do this, go to Start and look for the option to Create a restore point. A window will open with the System Protection tab selected by default. In this tab, click Configure to see how much space you are using this tool.
However, even if it takes up some space, we do not recommend disabling system protection as it will leave you unprotected in case you need to return to a restore point of the past.
4. Delete drivers, duplicate files and ms
Beyond Windows' own tools, it is possible to download a lot of extra tools that will allow you to make a more exhaustive search to find and delete even more unnecessary files.
For example, Ccleaner is a recommended application To carry out this action, although you should know that there are more programs that will be able to help you find duplicate files (such as photos and downloads) and eliminate the remaining copies.
Another good example is Auslogics Duplicate File Finder, In case you want to check it out.
5. How to find large files on your hard drive
If you have already followed all the steps previously proposed and still do not have enough space, you can search for the largest files that are taking up too much space on your hard drive.
To do this, go to the file explorer and in the search bar type size: gigantic. A list with the files larger than 128 MB will appear.
We recommend you browse this list to find the files that occupy the most weight and that you no longer use so you can delete them one by one, freeing up space in this way.
However, be careful not to delete any files that are important or essential for the operation of Windows, delete only those who know exactly what they are and do not need.
Many times it is not single files that take up a lot of space, but folders full of small files. In this case, the best option is to download third-party programs that help you scan your computer to inform you which files and folders they occupy most.
Our favorite application to carry out this process is SpaceSniffer. It does not require any type of installation, just run the program and scan your computer offering information about the largest files.
To do this, use a map with rectangles in which the largest files will occupy larger squares, as you can see in the image below.
6. Delete backup copies
Another way to get extra space on your disk is to check the backups. If you use a software determined to make these backups, use the software to delete versions of older copies that you may not need anymore.
The same happens in the case of having an iPhone or iPad. Huge files are created that normally occupy hundreds of gigabytes. Open iTunes, click on the small menu in the upper left corner and choose Preferences> Devices.
See a list of backup copies, although you will not be able to see how much space each of these copies occupies. It is recommended that you save only the most recent and get rid of all the others as they take up unnecessary space on your device.
Something that we also recommend that you check is your video folder since sometimes videos that we unintentionally download and that you probably don't need anymore accumulate in it.
Copy the videos you need to an external hard drive, delete the ones you don't and leave the folder empty.
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