To turn off Compact OS on an installed Windows system, open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal as an administrator and run compact.exe /compactos:never. Let Windows finish, then verify the result with compact.exe /compactos:query.
Turn off Compact OS on the running Windows installation
- Open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal with administrator privileges. For example, search for the app in Start, then choose Run as administrator.
- Enter
compact.exe /compactos:neverand press Enter. This tells Windows to decompress its operating-system binaries and set the system to non-Compact OS. - Allow the operation to complete. Microsoft’s documentation does not specify a guaranteed duration, amount of disk space recovered, or performance change, so avoid relying on a particular estimate.
- Check the resulting state by running
compact.exe /compactos:query. The command reports whether Compact OS is enabled.
Microsoft documents the never setting and query option in its Compact OS command guidance and Windows IoT Enterprise Compact OS guide.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Query an offline Windows installation
If you are in Windows PE and need to check an installation that is not currently running, provide its Windows directory with the documented offline query form:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →compact.exe /compactos:query /windir:E:Windows
Replace E:Windows with the actual Windows directory for the offline installation. The documented /windir use here is for querying; do not treat this as a command to disable Compact OS on an offline installation.
#1 Best Overall
- High-speed USB 3.0 performance of up to 150MB/s(1) [(1) Write to drive up to 15x faster than standard USB 2.0 drives (4MB/s); varies by drive capacity. Up to 150MB/s read speed. USB 3.0 port required. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, usage conditions, and other factors; 1MB=1,000,000 bytes]
- Transfer a full-length movie in less than 30 seconds(2) [(2) Based on 1.2GB MPEG-4 video transfer with USB 3.0 host device. Results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors]
- Transfer to drive up to 15 times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives(1)
- Sleek, durable metal casing
- Easy-to-use password protection for your private files(3) [(3)Password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS X v10.9 plus; Software download required for Mac, visit the SanDisk SecureAccess support page]
Compact OS is not the same as NTFS folder compression
compact.exe /compactos:never changes the system-wide Compact OS state and decompresses operating-system binaries. The general NTFS command compact /u <path> instead uncompresses a specified file or directory. It is not a substitute for changing Compact OS; Microsoft also notes that changing a directory’s compression state does not necessarily change files already inside it. See Microsoft’s compact command reference.
Do not confuse the command with Windows Setup’s option
Windows Setup has a separate /CompactOS {Enable | Disable} option that controls whether Setup installs Windows with compressed or uncompressed system files. Microsoft says Setup chooses automatically by default. That installation-time option is not the runtime command for an existing Windows installation; use compact.exe /compactos:never for the running system. See Microsoft’s Windows Setup command-line options.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【16GB Flash Drive】USB flash drives with 16GB capacity, meet your needs of daily use on work, school, home and travelling for photos, music, videos, files storage and transfer. IMEASON thumb drives can be used to store different files, easy to data backup.
- 【Metal Swivel Cap Design】USB thumb drive is metal swivel cover provides extra protection for the usb thumbdrive connector, no usb drive cap to lose; keychain design makes it easier to carry without worrying lose it.
- 【Wide Compatibility】USB drive supports Windows 7/8/10/11 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux and Mac OS, also Supports USB 2.0 and 1.1 ports. USB Stick support TV, desktop, notebook computer, car, audio and other device. The USB Memory Stick is your great data storage and transfer companion with traveling and working.
- 【Easy to use】usb memory stick is plug and play without any software installation. Just simply plug the Flashdrive into the port of your USB-compatible devices such as computer, laptop to start data storage or transmission.
- 【What You Get】16 GB USB Flash Drive Thumb Drive, The default format of the usb storage flash drive is FAT32.
Rank #4
- Lightweight and convenient: Lexar JumpDrive A30E (USB Type-A) boasts a slim, portable design for easy device compatibility; lightweight at 7.41 g
- Transfer speeds up to 100 MB/s: 10x faster than standard USB 2.0 drives; Based on internal testing, performance may vary depending upon the host device, interface, and usage conditions
- Wide compatibility: Compatible with tablets, laptops, Macs, and traditional Type-A devices, no software installation required; Reliably stores photos, videos & files
- Compact: Features a push-button retractor and a lanyard loop for on-the-go use
- Enhanced security: Lexar DataShield protects files, easily creates a password-protected safe with auto-encryption; Files deleted from the safe are securely erased and can't be recovered
Rank #3
- MICROSOFT WINDOWS 11 PRO (INGLES) FPP 64-BIT ENG INTL USB FLASH DRIVE
Rank #2
- Less chaos, more calm. The refreshed design of Windows 11 enables you to do what you want effortlessly.
- Biometric logins. Encrypted authentication. And, of course, advanced antivirus defenses. Everything you need, plus more, to protect you against the latest cyberthreats.
- Make the most of your screen space with snap layouts, desktops, and seamless redocking.
- Widgets makes staying up-to-date with the content you love and the news you care about, simple.
- Stay in touch with friends and family with Microsoft Teams, which can be seamlessly integrated into your taskbar. (1)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
