Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThere is no confirmed download size for Squadron 42. Roberts Space Industries (RSI) said the game was still in development and unavailable to download in its April 16, 2026 checklist. The current figure many players see—150+ GB on an SSD—is the published requirement for Star Citizen, not a stated requirement for Squadron 42.
If your drive is full, you can reclaim space by removing an unused Star Citizen environment such as LIVE or PTU, or by following RSI’s full deletion procedure. Save custom controls and configuration files before deleting anything.
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The storage answer, separated by game
RSI has not published a current installation-size figure for Squadron 42 in the available official documentation. Its “Get Started: Checklist,” updated April 16, 2026, described the game as still in development and not available to download. Without a released build, there is no verified number of gigabytes that can be presented as the final PC install size.
RSI does publish a storage requirement for Star Citizen. Its system-requirements page, updated September 23, 2026, lists an SSD with 150+ GB for both minimum and recommended specifications. RSI also warns that requirements can change while Star Citizen remains in development. That number is useful when planning storage for the current RSI launcher and game, but it must not be labeled as the size of Squadron 42.
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| What the figure refers to | Published storage information | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Squadron 42 | No current downloadable installation size stated; the game was unavailable as of RSI’s April 16, 2026 checklist. | Do not reserve a precise amount as though it were an official requirement. Recheck RSI release information when the game becomes available. |
| Star Citizen system requirements | 150+ GB on an SSD for minimum and recommended specifications, on RSI’s page updated September 23, 2026. | Use this as the current planning baseline for Star Citizen, while leaving additional room for updates and verification. |
| Older RSI launcher troubleshooting advice | At least 100 GB for the launcher and Star Citizen. | Treat this as older guidance. The later, dated 150+ GB requirement takes precedence for current planning. |
Why a final Squadron 42 number is not available
The game was not downloadable in the latest dated status
An installation-size claim normally comes from a released client or a current system-requirements page. RSI’s April 16, 2026 checklist did not provide either for Squadron 42; it identified the title as still in development and unavailable to download. Development builds can change in asset size, compression, language support and patching structure, so an estimate made before release would not be a reliable requirement.
Do not merge the two RSI products
Star Citizen is the persistent online game with the currently published 150+ GB SSD requirement. Squadron 42 is the separate single-player title. A launcher, account or drive that already contains Star Citizen does not prove that the future single-player campaign will have the same footprint. Keep the product names attached to every storage figure when comparing advice online.
How much free space should you plan for today?
If you are installing or updating Star Citizen, begin with RSI’s current 150+ GB SSD requirement rather than the older 100 GB troubleshooting figure. Do not treat 150 GB as a promise that an update will always fit with exactly 150 GB free. RSI does not publish a separate temporary-space allowance in the cited documentation, and the launcher may need working room while it downloads, verifies or replaces files.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Check the free capacity on the specific drive selected in the RSI Launcher, not merely the total capacity of the computer.
- Leave headroom beyond the published baseline for updates, verification operations and other applications on that drive.
- Use an SSD for Star Citizen, as specified by RSI’s current requirements.
- Do not buy storage solely on the assumption that Squadron 42 will require 150+ GB; no such official figure was available in the April 2026 status information.
RSI says the launcher does not check the selected drive’s available space against the amount needed. A job can therefore start even when the drive cannot complete it, leading to an interrupted installation, a failed update or verification problems.
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First, locate the files that are actually using space
Deleting the wrong folder can remove settings without removing the large game files, or make the launcher report that a game is missing. Confirm the path inside the launcher before cleaning up.
- Open the RSI Launcher.
- Open Settings and go to Games.
- Review the displayed game install location and compare it with the folder on the drive you intend to clean.
- If the launcher says the game is not installed even though the files are present, correct the install location so it points to the actual folder. RSI notes that a path mismatch can produce this symptom.
- Check how much free space remains on that drive in Windows before starting an uninstall, update or verification task.
The official paths and menu labels in RSI’s instructions are for Windows. Do not assume the same folders or procedures apply to macOS or Linux.
Remove an unused LIVE or PTU environment
If you only want to remove one Star Citizen environment, an in-launcher uninstall is less destructive than wiping every RSI file. This is appropriate when, for example, you no longer need a test-channel installation but want to keep another environment.
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- In the RSI Launcher, select the environment you want to remove, such as LIVE or PTU.
- Open that environment’s gear menu.
- Choose Uninstall and confirm the prompt.
- Wait for the operation to finish, then verify that the install option appears again for that environment.
- Check the drive’s free-space reading after the uninstall. If the expected room has not returned, empty the Recycle Bin if Windows placed deleted files there, and inspect the install location for another environment or a duplicate folder.
This method targets the selected game environment. It does not automatically remove every launcher file, user setting or other environment, so it is the better first choice when your goal is to reclaim space without preparing a complete reinstall.
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Perform a full deletion only when you really want a clean reinstall
RSI’s full-cleanup procedure is intended for removing the launcher and Star Citizen completely, commonly before reinstalling or troubleshooting a damaged installation. It is more disruptive than uninstalling a single environment.
Protect custom controls first
Before deleting the installation, save any custom control profiles and keybindings from USERControlsMappings. Also preserve any custom user.cfg file. These files can contain personal bindings and settings that you would otherwise have to recreate.
Remove the components RSI identifies
- Close the RSI Launcher and make sure no related installation or verification process is still running.
- Back up the custom mappings and
user.cfgdescribed above. - Delete the launcher’s Roaming app-data folder identified in RSI’s full-deletion instructions.
- Delete Star Citizen’s Local app-data folder identified by RSI.
- Delete the RSI installation folder under Program Files.
- Empty the Recycle Bin so Windows releases the deleted blocks and the free-space total reflects the cleanup.
Do not casually delete the entire USER directory before backing up the files you need. A full deletion removes local data, so use it only when you intend to remove the game and launcher or start over with a clean installation.
What “Clear Launcher Cache” does—and does not do
The RSI Launcher includes a Clear Launcher Cache control. RSI presents this as a troubleshooting action that refreshes locally stored launcher files. It can help when the launcher displays stale information, fails to recognize an installation or behaves incorrectly.
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Cache clearing is not a guaranteed way to recover substantial game-installation space. It does not replace uninstalling an unused LIVE or PTU environment, deleting the full installation, or removing unrelated large files from the drive. Use it when the symptom is a launcher problem; measure available capacity before and after rather than expecting a particular number of gigabytes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Diagnose failures caused by low space
The installation stops before completion
Confirm the selected drive in Settings > Games, then check free capacity on that exact drive. The launcher’s failure to pre-check space means a nominally valid start does not guarantee enough room for the complete operation. Free additional capacity or choose a larger compatible SSD before restarting.
An update or verification fails
Updates and verification can need working room in addition to the files already installed. Remove an unused environment first, or move other personal files off the target drive. Avoid deleting Star Citizen folders manually while the launcher is running; use the launcher’s uninstall option when you are removing a defined environment.
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Check the install-location setting before downloading anything again. If the path no longer matches the existing folder, point the launcher to the actual location. A mismatch can make intact files appear absent and can lead to an unnecessary second copy consuming the drive.
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Space does not return after deleting files
Empty the Recycle Bin, then inspect the drive for another Star Citizen environment, a duplicate install folder or other large files. Windows reports space per drive, so deleting files from a different volume will not help the drive selected for the RSI installation.
When adding an SSD is the practical solution
If cleanup cannot create enough headroom, compare storage hardware against four concrete requirements:
- Capacity after installation: choose enough usable space for the 150+ GB Star Citizen baseline plus update headroom and your other software.
- SSD compatibility: verify that your computer supports the drive’s physical size, interface and available slot before buying.
- Existing-file strategy: decide whether to move other games and personal files, retain an existing environment, or perform a clean installation.
- Total cost: include any enclosure, mounting hardware or operating-system migration work your computer requires.
RSI’s cited documentation does not endorse a specific SSD brand, model, form factor or capacity beyond the 150+ GB Star Citizen requirement. The decision is therefore about your computer’s compatibility and the free capacity you need, not about matching a particular product.
Quick Recap
A safe space-recovery checklist
- Identify whether the space is occupied by Star Citizen LIVE, PTU, another RSI folder or unrelated files.
- Record the install location shown under Settings > Games.
- Back up
USERControlsMappingsand any customuser.cfgbefore full deletion. - Uninstall an unneeded environment through its gear menu whenever possible.
- Use full deletion only for a deliberate clean removal or reinstall.
- Use Clear Launcher Cache for launcher troubleshooting, not as a promised storage-recovery method.
- Empty the Recycle Bin and recheck free space on the target drive.
- Leave room beyond 150+ GB when planning Star Citizen updates, and verify RSI’s release information again before treating any future Squadron 42 figure as final.
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