- Your C drive has extra files (besides system files) that you can delete for more space.
- Additionally, you can try uninstalling unused apps from your PC.
- If you’ve squeezed out all space, a new HDD/SDD won’t cost you that much.
Fix 1: Clear the Recycle Bin
Let’s begin with some simple yet effective solutions. Have you emptied the Recycle Bin? Open it and make sure there are no files and folders that you would like to restore.
Open the Recycle Bin folder from the desktop or the Windows Explorer and click on Empty Recycle Bin to delete everything in there.
Fix 2: Check Your Downloads Folder
The Downloads folder on the C drive can hog quite a lot of space. At the same time, it helps to check other folders like Pictures, Videos, and Documents to see if there are files that you can move to other drives. Maybe duplicate files stored in the C drive are adding to the stress. Search for and delete them.
Press the Windows + E keys together to open the Windows Explorer. Navigate to the Downloads folder from the left sidebar. Here, delete all the unnecessary files from your system.
Note : Some apps also download files to your desktop, and these files are stored as part of the C drive.
Fix 3: Uninstall Apps
Step 1 : Press the Windows + R keys together to open the Run window. Here, enter the following command and press Enter.
appwiz.cpl
Step 2 : This should open the list of installed apps on your PC. Simply right-click on the app and select the Uninstall option.
Note : You can also sort all installed apps by size to figure out which one is taking the most space and whether you can remove it.
Fix 4: Increase C Drive Size
If you are using a single disk which is divided into partitions, you can shrink a different partition and then expand the size of the C Drive. You can do this with the help of the Disk Management tool. Both creating and modifying drive partitions on Windows is super easy. However, make sure to back up your data on an external drive before proceeding with this.
Fix 5: Disk Cleanup
Windows comes with a tool called Disk Cleanup that will help clean up system files that are no longer required, temp files, and files moved to the recycle bin. You launch it by directly searching it from the Windows Search bar.
However, for best results, we’d suggest using the Microsoft PC Manager . It’s an app that can help to clear out temporary files, unwanted system files, cache, and much more. All with a single click.
Bonus: Upgrade to Bigger HDD/SSD
No matter how many files you delete, apps you uninstall, and reallocate space from other drives, you are limited by the total space available on your HDD/SSD. How about installing a new, bigger HDD on your computer? Better yet, why not use this opportunity to upgrade to an SSD?
