How to Check and Free Up Disk Space on Your Computer

Running out of disk space can slow down your computer and cause errors. Follow these steps to check your storage and free up disk space effectively:

Step 1: Check Your Current Disk Space

1. Windows:

   • Open File Explorer by pressing Windows Key + E.

   • Click on This PC in the left sidebar.

   • Look at the storage bar under each drive to see the available space.

2. Identify which drive is running low:

   • The main drive (usually labeled C:) is the most critical.

Step 2: Delete Temporary Files

1. Use the built-in disk cleanup tool (Windows):

   • Type Disk Cleanup in the Windows search bar and open the tool.

   • Select the drive you want to clean (usually C:).

   • Check boxes for file types you want to delete (e.g., Temporary Files, Recycle Bin, System Error Files).

   • Click OK and then Delete Files.

2. Clear browser cache:

   • Open your browser’s settings and clear cached images and files.

Step 3: Delete files from Downloads folder

1. Identify unnecessary files on your Downloads folder:
   • Open File Explorer, open downloads
2. Delete files from download folder.

Step 4: Delete Large Files You Don’t Need

1. Search for large files:

   • Use File Explorer to search for files by size. In the search bar, type size:>1GB to find large files.

2. Move files to external storage:

   • Transfer files like videos or backups to an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Step 5: Empty the Recycle Bin

1. Windows:

   • Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

   • Select Empty Recycle Bin.