How to Free Up Storage and Speed Up Your Windows PC

With regular use, computers gradually accumulate various types of software, photos, videos, games, and temporary files that consume storage space. As the hard drive slowly fills up, the overall performance of the PC can decline. Instead of searching through different folders randomly, following a systematic approach can make it easy to free up storage and improve computer performance. The cleanup process can be started using Windows’ built-in tools.

Remove Unnecessary Apps from Storage Settings

Windows’ Storage settings show exactly how much space is available on the computer’s main drive and how much storage is being used by different categories. By going to the list of installed apps and sorting them by size, users can identify which programs are consuming the most space. Unnecessary large software can then be uninstalled directly.

Users can also go to the Temporary Files section to remove old thumbnails and cache files. However, before emptying the Recycle Bin or Downloads folder, it is advisable to check whether they contain any important information.

Control Features That Consume System Storage

Some Windows operating-system features can also occupy a significant amount of drive space without users realizing it. For example, if the hibernation feature is not needed, it can be disabled. By obtaining administrator access in Command Prompt and running a specific command, the hibernation file can be removed.

Similarly, reducing the storage limit allocated to system restore points or deleting older restore points can free up a considerable amount of drive space.

Analysis Tools and Modern Techniques

Sometimes, Windows’ built-in dashboard does not provide a detailed breakdown of every folder. In such cases, file-analysis software such as ‘TreeSize Free’ can be used to easily identify the largest folders on the C drive.

Similarly, an app called ‘DupeGuru’ can be used to find and remove duplicate copies of the same files. Large, old files, photos, and videos can also be moved to cloud storage or an external drive instead of keeping them on the PC.

For regular automated cleanup, keeping Windows’ ‘Storage Sense’ feature enabled allows the system to automatically remove unnecessary files at regular intervals.

//DBTech/BMT/OR//