How to Clear Space in C Drive?

Clearing space on your C drive is crucial for maintaining your computer's performance. Here's a breakdown of several methods you can use:

1. Disk Cleanup Tool:

The Disk Cleanup tool is a built-in Windows utility that can remove temporary files, system files, and other unnecessary data.

• Click the Start button.
• Type Disk Cleanup and select it from the results.
• If prompted, select the C drive and click OK.
• In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, review the files to delete (e.g., Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin).
• Click Clean up system files.
• If prompted, select the C drive again and click OK.
• Review the list of system files (e.g., Windows Update Cleanup, Previous Windows installation(s)).
• Select the checkboxes for the files you want to delete and click OK.
• Confirm by clicking Delete Files.

2. Storage Sense:

Storage Sense automatically frees up space by getting rid of files you don't need, like temporary files and content in your Recycle Bin.

• Go to Settings > System > Storage.
• Toggle Storage Sense to On.
• Click Configure Storage Sense or run it now.
• Configure how often Storage Sense runs and what it deletes (e.g., Recycle Bin after 30 days, Download folder if not opened for a certain period).
• Click Clean now to run it immediately.

3. Uninstall Unnecessary Programs:

Programs you no longer use take up valuable space.

• Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
• Sort by Size to see which programs are using the most space.
• Select the program you want to remove and click Uninstall.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

4. Move Files to Another Drive:

If possible, move large files (documents, pictures, videos) to another drive, like an external hard drive or a different partition.

• Locate the folders containing the files you want to move (e.g., Documents, Pictures, Videos).
• Right-click the folder and select Properties.
• Go to the Location tab.
• Click Move...
• Select the new location on your other drive and click Select Folder.
• Click Apply and then OK. You will be prompted to move all files - click Yes.

5. Delete Temporary Files Manually:

You can also manually delete temporary files.

• Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type %temp% and press Enter.
• Select all files (Ctrl+A) in the folder.
• Press Delete. Skip any files that you don't have permission to delete.
• Empty your Recycle Bin.

6. Enable OneDrive Files On-Demand:

If you use OneDrive, enable Files On-Demand to access your files in the cloud without downloading them all to your C drive.

• Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.
• Go to Settings.
• Go to the Settings tab.
• Check the box for Save space and download files as you use them.

7. Disable Hibernation:

Hibernation saves the contents of your RAM to your hard drive, which can take up a significant amount of space, especially if you have a lot of RAM.

• Open Command Prompt as administrator (search for "cmd," right-click, and select "Run as administrator").
• Type powercfg /hibernate off and press Enter.

8. Analyze Disk Usage:

Tools like WinDirStat can visually show you which files and folders are using the most space on your C drive, helping you identify candidates for deletion or relocation.

Summary:

By utilizing the Disk Cleanup tool, enabling Storage Sense, uninstalling unused programs, moving large files, deleting temporary files, enabling OneDrive Files On-Demand, and disabling hibernation, you can effectively clear space on your C drive and improve your computer's performance. Consider using a disk usage analyzer for a more detailed view of space consumption.