10 Proven Ways to Free Up C Drive Space in Windows 11/10 (2026)

Insufficient space may result in problems, such as poor system performance and computer crashes. The C drive is often allocated to contain system files and other crucial programs required for computer functioning. Knowing how to free up space in C drive is very important for the efficient cleanup of C Drive. This guide will teach you how to clean up C Drive.

Part 1. Why is Your C Drive Full?

There is a multitude of reasons for piling up your C Drive. It is significant to notice that the "C" disk is the partition where Windows OS is installed. Although the drive letter may change, Windows is typically installed on the "C" disk. However, the following are the main reasons why the C drive is filling up:

• Recycle bin is full
• Installation of a multitude of applications and programs
• Large files downloaded and stored in the C drive
• Accumulation of temporary files and other system files

Part 2. How to Free Up Space in C Drive?

We have presented the following eight techniques you can use to free up additional space on your C drive and fix the C drive's full error.

Method 1: Empty the Recycle Bin

Empty your recycle bin if you're at capacity with storage. A share of 5% of the disk partition on your system's storage is given to the Recycle Bin. Windows immediately deletes the outdated data to make room for the newly deleted data as soon as the Recycle Bin fills to the predefined limit. The 5% storage is still being used, though. You can manually empty the Recycle Bin of all its contents.

1. Right-click the recycle bin icon.

   

2. Select Empty Recycle Bin from the menu.

   

3. Select Yes in the confirmation dialogue box.

   

If you've emptied the Recycle Bin and then discovered that you've lost some important files, don't worry. There are methods available to recover files deleted from Recycle Bin.

Method 2: Use Disk Cleanup

The Windows OS comes with Disk Clean-up by default. You can use it to clean out unused files from your computer.

The steps are as follows:

1. Open This Computer (Windows 11/10) or This PC (Windows 7). To access Properties, right-click the C drive and choose it.

   

2. Pick Disk Cleanup in the Local Disk C: Properties window.

   

3. Choose the file types you want to delete in the Disk Cleanup box, such as Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin, Temporary Files, etc.

   

4. Click OK, then Delete Files in the delete confirmation window.

Method 3: Uninstall Apps

The installation and temporary files for each application you install use space. This data takes up a lot of space because it is saved on your computer's C Drive by default.

The procedure below can be used to clear up space on the C drive by uninstalling some unused applications:

1. Open Control Panel through the Start menu.

   

2. Choose the Uninstall a Program option given under Programs.

   

3. Right-click on the program you want to uninstall; it will show an option "Uninstall." Click on it.

   

Method 4: Turn on the Storage Sense

Windows Storage Sense is a covert assistant that integrates with OneDrive to silently free up space by converting locally accessible files that aren't being used back to online-only status. Only accessible online files are stored securely in OneDrive and are accessible on your device. To turn on storage sense, carry out the following steps.

1. Direct to the start menu and search for Storage Setting.

   

2. Turn on Storage Sense by switching the toggle to the On side.

   

Method 5: Delete Temporary Files

Over time, these temp files can take up many gigabytes of space. Worse, they slow down your PC. Removing them is the fastest way to free up C drive disk space. This method takes just minutes but can free up lots of space.

Why use this method:

• Gets results in minutes with no risk to your system
• Can free up several GB of space at once
• Often fixes strange app errors and crashes
• Uses tools built into Windows - no downloads needed
• Works even for non-tech users
• Cleans files you never see but cause problems

Follow these steps:

1. Press the Win + R keys. Type "%temp%" (without quotes). Press Enter.

   

2. A folder opens with thousands of temp files. Press Ctrl+A to select all files. Delete the files.

Method 6: Clean Up the Downloads Folder

Your Downloads folder is like a junk drawer. Files pile up there, and you forget them. Most people never clean this folder. It can hold gigabytes of files you don't need.

The Downloads folder often has huge files. Setup programs, zip archives, video files, and PDFs collect there. Clearing it is an easy way to free up space on C drive without risk.

Why use this method:

• Finds forgotten large files fast
• Most downloaded files serve a one-time purpose and aren't needed later
• No risk of damaging system files
• Can sort by size to target the biggest space wasters

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer. Navigate to C:\Users[Your Username]\Downloads. Click the View tab at the top. Select "Details" view to see file sizes. Click on the "Size" column.

   

2. Look through files and select ones you don't need. Press Delete to move them to Recycle Bin. Move any important files to proper folders. Empty Recycle Bin when done

Method 7: Save Files to a Different Drive

Consider copying all your data while leaving drive C empty if you have an additional drive. If you only have one Drive, and it's also overstuffed, you can partition your C Drive and make a separate partition for user files.

To shift files to a different drive, cut the file and paste it into another hard drive, as given below:

Method 8: Store Files in the Cloud

You can use Cloud storage to place data on remote servers. You can access this data via the internet, allowing you to store and view your files from any location with an internet connection.

To store files on the Cloud, carry out the following steps:

1. You must create a Google account to access Google Drive services. Open Google Drive from your Google Account and click on the New option to upload your desired file.

   

2. Select File Upload from the dropdown menu.

   

3. Upload the desired file to Google Drive.

   

Method 9: Disable Hibernate Mode

Hibernation is a standard setting for Windows users to conserve time and energy. However, since the feature produces a specific system file, it might backfire. The file would save all the necessary system information while the system was hibernating, allowing you to resume work where you left off earlier. If you are accustomed to hibernation, it is best to leave it alone.

You can disable hibernation by following the steps:

1. Direct to the Start menu and search for Command Prompt.

   

2. Enter the "powercfg -h OFF" command after opening the Command Prompt. Another option is to use the command "powercfg /hibernate off."

   

Method 10: Compress the C Drive

You can squeeze more space from your drive without removing files. Windows can compress files to free up space on C drive while keeping them usable.

Compression works by making files smaller. Windows handles this in the background. When you open a file, it uncompresses it automatically. This is great when other methods aren't enough.

Why use this method:

• Keeps all your files in place and accessible
• Works in the background without changing how you use files
• Can save 10-30% of drive space, depending on file types
• No need for external drives or cloud storage

Steps:

1. Open File Explorer. Right-click on C: drive. Select Properties. Check the box that says "Compress this drive to save space".

   

2. Click Apply. Choose "Apply changes to C:\ only" or "Apply changes to C:, subfolders and files". Click OK. Wait for the process to finish (may take hours on large drives)

Restart your computer when done.

Video Tutorial on How to Free Up Disk Space on Windows?

Part 3. How to Recover Deleted Files from C Drive?

Suppose you have accidentally or thoughtlessly free up space in your C drive and lost all the valuable data without prior backup; what to do in such a situation? In that case, it is recommended to use a reliable recovery software that might help you recover C drive data. Wondershare Recoverit is the top-notch hard drive recovery solution to retrieve your essential data.

Operational Steps:

1. Initially, open the Recoverit application on your computer system.

   

2. Then Select C drive for Scanning.

   

3. Recoverit will dig out your lost files in the Scanning process.

   

4. Preview the recoverable files once the Scanning gets completed.

   

5. Now, you can select the particular files you need to recover and instantly click on the Recover button.