✦ PC Optimization
Free up disk space on Windows 11 — Reclaim 20+ GB
A nearly-full C: drive slows Windows, breaks updates and causes mystery errors. Cleaning the right caches recovers 20+ GB on most systems.
- Time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Applies to
- Windows 11, Windows 10
- Updated
- May 25, 2026
Symptoms
- ▸C: drive less than 10% free
- ▸Windows Update failing with low-disk errors
- ▸File Explorer 'Out of space' warnings
Likely causes
- ▸Previous Windows installation (Windows.old) kept after feature update
- ▸WinSxS component store accumulating old versions
- ▸Hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) sized like RAM
- ▸Per-user temp folders never cleaned
How to fix it — step by step
- 01
Run Disk Cleanup as Administrator
cleanmgr→ C: → Clean up system files → C: again. Tick: Windows Update Cleanup, Temporary files, Previous Windows installation(s), Delivery Optimization Files, Thumbnails. - 02
Clean WinSxS component store
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase - 03
Disable or shrink hibernation file
If you don't use Hibernate:
powercfg /h off - 04
Set Storage Sense
Settings → System → Storage → Storage Sense → On. Automatically clears temp, Recycle Bin and Downloads on a schedule. - 05
Move large folders to another drive
Settings → Storage → Where new content is saved. Redirects Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos to D:.