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To fix a Windows low disk space warning, first identify the affected drive, then check Settings > System > Storage to see what is using its space. Remove only files you recognize and no longer need, or move wanted personal files to external storage. The right fix depends on whether the space is being used by temporary files, apps, personal files, or Windows itself.
Find out which drive is low and what is using its space
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Open File Explorer and select This PC. Check the capacity bar for each drive to identify the one showing low space.
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Open Settings > System > Storage and select the affected drive if needed. Windows groups usage into categories such as installed apps, temporary files, and system and reserved storage. The category breakdown helps you choose a relevant cleanup instead of deleting files at random. Labels and available options can differ slightly by Windows release. See Microsoft’s Storage settings in Windows.
If installed apps account for much of the usage, review which apps you still need before uninstalling anything. If temporary files are the main category, use Windows’ cleanup options. If personal files take up the room, review or move those files rather than assuming a system cleanup will recover enough space.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
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Review Windows cleanup options before removing files
Windows 11: Cleanup recommendations
Go to Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations. Review the categories and the files Windows lists, then select only items you intend to remove and confirm the cleanup. Do not select a category just because it appears large: check what it contains and whether you may need its contents.
Windows 10 and Windows 11: Temporary files and Storage Sense
In Settings > System > Storage, open Temporary files to review available cleanup selections. Read the descriptions before selecting them; options can include files or content you may want to keep. Microsoft says Storage Sense can automatically remove temporary files and items in the Recycle Bin. Its default settings do not manage the Downloads folder or cloud content, so check its settings before relying on it to clean those locations. Find and adjust them under Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense. Storage Sense works on the system drive. Microsoft’s instructions are in Manage drive space with Storage Sense.
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Windows 10: Disk Cleanup
If Storage Sense is unavailable on your Windows 10 installation, Microsoft also describes Disk Cleanup as a way to remove selected files. Review the offered categories before confirming deletion. See Free up drive space in Windows for the applicable Windows 10 and Windows 11 options.
Delete or move large personal files
Photos, videos, music, and documents can consume substantial space. In File Explorer, open folders where you keep these files and sort by size to find large items. Decide file by file whether to delete something you no longer need or move it elsewhere.
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- Deleting: If you want a deleted file to stop occupying space, empty the Recycle Bin after checking that you do not need anything in it.
- Moving: Move wanted files to an external drive, such as a USB drive or SD card. They will no longer use space on the PC while stored externally, but the drive must be connected when you want to access them.
Microsoft explains these options in Free up drive space in Windows.
Understand the consequence before removing an old Windows installation
Windows may offer a way to delete a previous Windows installation as a cleanup option. Removing it can free space, but it also removes the option to return to the prior Windows version. If you might need that rollback, do not remove the installation; review other cleanup choices first. Microsoft includes this warning in its drive-space guidance.
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If the Temp folder quickly fills again with Store files
If routine cleanup clears space but the Temp folder rapidly refills with Microsoft Store .appx files, use Microsoft’s targeted troubleshooting sequence rather than repeatedly deleting the same temporary files:
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Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter.
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Clear the Microsoft Store cache by running
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Run the Windows Update troubleshooter.
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Restart the PC.
Microsoft provides this procedure in Free up drive space in Windows.
Free space when Windows Update needs it
Update space requirements vary with the optional content installed on the PC and the updates that apply to it, so there is no single free-space threshold that works for every device. Start with Storage Sense or Cleanup recommendations, use Disk Cleanup where available, and consider moving personal files to external storage. Microsoft says external storage may reduce the free space needed on the system drive for some update paths; the device must be connected when the update process requires access to it. Consult Free up space for Windows updates for Microsoft’s update-specific guidance.
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