How to Free Up Disk Space (+ 8 Tips for PC and Mac Users)

We’ve all been there.

Disk space is almost full—the inevitable prompt pokes fun at our digital hoarding habits. Whether it's old photos, outdated applications, or that 10MB folder of client communication files from 1999, we've all got a digital graveyard of files we just can't seem to part with.

If you are wondering how to free up disk space, there are plenty of backup software, disk cleanup software, and non-software options that will increase your hard drive space and keep every single file safe and sound.

This guide is for those of you who are either desperate for extra space in the short term or who are barely hanging on by a thread. However, remember that this is a temporary solution that you’ll have to continue constantly if you want to maintain the gift of extra disk space.

Later, we’ll dive deeper into how to permanently and efficiently keep a decent amount of disk space open. There's no time to waste, so let's explore the eight steps to ensure you have more disk space.

Step 1: Find out how much disk space you have available

Before we get started, let’s figure out how much disk space you’re actually working with. A different approach is needed for those who have barely any space versus those who have plenty of wiggle room.

To understand how to clear space on Mac, you must determine how much disk space is available on your Mac, follow these steps.

1. Click the Apple icon on the top left of your computer.
   
2. In the drop-down, select “About This Mac.”
   
3. When you see the prompt, select “Storage.” From there, you will see how much space you have left, as well as the space your existing programs are taking up.

To determine your Windows 10 disk cleanup, first look at how much disk space is available on your Windows 10 PC; follow these steps.

1. Launch “Start Menu” and type “Settings”
2. Select "Settings"
3. Select “System"
4. Select “Storage”
5. Select “Local Storage" or your "C: drive." From there, you will see the amount of storage space left. You can also see how much space your existing programs are taking up.

Now that we know how much space your hard drive has (or does not have) free, we can start devising a game plan. Before you start your Windows cleanup, take a moment to determine what files you absolutely need to keep. The more organized you are, the quicker this process will be.

Benchmarking software can help you identify applications or processes that are consuming a significant amount of system resources, including disk space.

Step 2: Empty your trash

This is an ideal place to start freeing and creating extra storage space since it’s done quickly. Even though you may have discarded your files, they still technically exist on your hard drive. Emptying the trash folder will permanently delete the files inside. If you do not remain on top of clearing out the files in your computer’s trash can, the amount of space it eats up quickly piles up.

Step 3: Uninstall applications you know you don’t need

Take a look at the installed programs you have on your computer. Many programs come pre-loaded by the manufacturer on a new computer (also known as bloatware) and take up disk space regardless of whether you use them. Pre-installed or third-party programs can take up a deceiving amount of disk space. Scroll down your list of programs, starting with the ones that take up the most space, and consider if they’re worth keeping. If you decide a program isn’t worth the space, it’s hogging; uninstall it, and that's how to free up disk space on laptop.

Step 4: Built-in disk cleanup

These days, built-in disk cleanup tools come standard with computers. It’s a safe way to clean up junk files without the risk of removing something important and without the hassle of using third-party cleanup programs.

For Windows 10

Windows has a few useful tools to help regulate the space on your disk. Here are the options you have.

Storage Sense is a tool that helps keep your storage management without any hassle. Think of it more as an assistant that works behind a digital curtain on your behalf. It automatically frees up space as long as you have the option selected. You can even control how often it does its job. Don’t worry; it simply removes useless files you haven’t touched in the last 30 days.

Here’s how to access it.

1. Launch “Start Menu” 
2. Type and select “This PC”
3. Click the “Open Settings” icon near the top
4. Select “System”
5. Select “Storage”
6. Under the section titled “Storage Sense,” you’ll be able to toggle the tool on or off. If you’d like to implement this tool, click “on”
7. If you’d like to customize when the tool frees up space automatically, click “Change how we free up space automatically” and check the “Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using” option and set the time period that works for you. Additionally, you can manually clean up space with these settings if you prefer to take the non-automated route. Under “Free up space now,” just click “Clean now” for instant results.

There's also the option of disk cleanup software, which are less automated storage optimization tools, perfect for removing temporary internet files on your own.

To calculate the amount of space it will free up, follow these steps.

1. Launch “Start Menu” and type "Settings."
2. Select “All Apps.”
3. Select “Windows Administrative Tools.”
4. Select “Disk Cleanup.”Select “
5. Clean up System Files” and bask in the extra space you created.

For Mac

For those wondering how to clean up disk space on Mac, if you have macOS Sierra (version 10.12) or later, you can use the Storage Tools to clean out junk files.

To open, click the Apple icon in the top left of your computer. In the drop-down, select "About This Mac". When you see the prompt, select "Storage". From there, click "Manage". When you enter the prompt, you'll see:

• Store in iCloud.This is a cloud data storage service that is a must-have if you want to free up local space and keep yourself organized. Committing to storing photos, videos, and documents in the cloud will routinely prevent future headaches.
• Optimize Storage. Do you have a bunch of iTunes movies or TV shows that you’ve already watched? Get those out of your local storage by utilizing the Optimize Storage feature. Movies are giant files that take up a ton of space. Don’t worry; if you want to watch the movie again, you can just download it!
• Empty Trash Automatically. Turning this feature on will allow your Mac to automatically delete your trash after it’s been sitting for 30 days.
• Reduce Clutter. This feature will locate the biggest files on your computer and delete them if it deems they’re no longer needed.

Disk cleanup software

Disk cleanup software improves a computer's operations by deleting obsolete and unwanted files that slow down processing. It usually targets temporary files, files in a computer's Downloads folder, and objects in the Trash or Recycle Bin for permanent removal. Disk cleansing software also compresses older, untouched data to save storage space.

Step 5: Manually clear out temporary and downloaded files

For those who don’t want to rely on a Disk Cleanup application, you can manually clean up your temporary files. Cache files are not completely useless (these files help your programs run more smoothly) and are safe to remove from time to time to help create more space.

Once deleted, your cache folder will continue to populate as you run your programs again, so the free space will be a temporary accomplishment. Your Downloads folder is also a haven for temporary, often unneeded files. Periodically clearing this folder is a great way to stay on top of your disk usage.

Step 6: Removing system restore/shadow copies

For those of you who have System Restore enabled, you can remove junk files associated with the shadow copies. Shadow copies exist as a way to adjust backup files while they’re still in use.

Deleting these files will free up a lot of space. Don’t worry; you’ll still have a recent system restore point in case you ever need to revert your computer back to a specific time.

Follow these simple steps in Windows 10 to enter the prompt.

1. Launch “Start Menu”
2. Type and select “This PC”
3. Right-click the hard drive that’s running low on space and select “Properties”
4. Select "Disk Cleanup"
5. Click “Clean up System Files”
6. Once your computer is finished cleaning, select "More Options"
7. Below “System Restore and Shadow Copies,” choose “Cleanup”
8. Click “Delete"

Now that we’ve gone over the quick method for freeing up disk space, you can begin to look ahead and plan to get permanent file-storing options. After all, we all want as much space as possible; the more dedicated you are to actively keeping your disk clean, the better off you’ll be in the long run.

Step 7: External Hard Drive

An external hard drive is a portable storage device that can attach to a computer through a USB or wirelessly. External hard drives usually have high storage capacities and are useful computer backup tools.

An external hard drive is a great, convenient option to store files for those who don’t want to resort to cloud storage. It’s cost-effective, too. For example, a 1TB hard drive costs around $50 — that’s a lot of space!

Step 8: Backup Software

Backup software is vital for any business, offering automated and constant backup for your business’s data. Situations like hard drive failure and security breaches can compromise data quickly, so having backups of important business files and data is a necessary precaution.

Backup software protects sensitive data in case of a hardware malfunction, hacker penetration, and many other threats to digitally stored information. You can back up your important files in various ways, including server backup, hard drive recovery, and backup software.

Step 9: File Storage and Sharing Software

Cloud file storage systems offer users a place to store and organize files along with the added potential of sharing those files.

File storage and sharing tools are growing in popularity for a good reason: They provide plenty of storage space for a relatively low cost. The tools also allow you to collaborate and easily share files with colleagues.

Next steps for a managed disk space

Just like keeping your home clean, managing your disk space should be a constant priority, not just a last resort option when you’ve run out of space. Keeping your files safe and stored away ensures peace of mind and keeps your computer’s performance top-notch.

With the significant performance boost, your sanity is saved with better organization habits. Your old file from 1999 will still be around, but it won’t hold precious disk space. If you end up using software to help keep your disk space open, be sure to leave a review on G2!

Now that you've learned about freeing up storage space, let's explore the importance of backing up your data.

This article was originally published in 2023. It has been updated with new information.