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Quick Answer

Open Settings > System > Storage and click on Temporary files. Check the boxes for files you want to remove (like previous Windows installations) and click Remove files.

How to Free Up Disk Space in Windows 11 ​

Applies to: Windows 11, OneDrive for Business
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-04-21

Summary ​

This article walks you through multiple ways to reclaim disk space on your Windows 11 PC without needing admin rights. Methods include Windows Storage Settings, Temporary Files cleanup, Recycle Bin management, and — most importantly — using OneDrive's Free up space feature to move files to cloud-only storage.

Prerequisites ​

  • Windows 11 (any edition).
  • OneDrive for Business must be signed in and syncing (for Methods 4 and 5).
  • No admin rights are required for any step in this article.

Instructions ​

1. Check Current Disk Usage ​

Before cleaning up, see what is consuming space so you can target the biggest offenders.

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  2. Click System in the left-side navigation pane.
  3. Click Storage.
  4. Wait a few seconds for Windows to calculate usage. A breakdown appears showing categories such as Apps & features, Temporary files, Other, and OneDrive.
  5. Note which categories are consuming the most space — this tells you where to focus.

Verification: The coloured bar at the top shows total used vs. free space on your primary drive.

2. Delete Temporary Files ​

Windows accumulates temporary files from updates, browser caches, and diagnostic logs. These are safe to remove.

  1. From the Storage screen (above), click Temporary files.
  2. Windows scans and presents a list of removable categories. Common items include:
    • Temporary files — leftover app data.
    • Delivery Optimization Files — Windows Update cache shared with other PCs.
    • Thumbnails — cached image previews (regenerated automatically).
    • Windows Update Cleanup — old update packages.
  3. Select the categories you want to remove. Leave Downloads unchecked unless you are sure you no longer need those files.
  4. Click Remove files.
  5. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Verification: Return to Settings > System > Storage and confirm the used space has decreased.

3. Empty the Recycle Bin ​

Deleted files remain in the Recycle Bin until it is emptied, continuing to consume disk space.

  1. Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop. If it is not visible, search for Recycle Bin in the Start menu.
  2. Double-click to open it and review its contents.
  3. If you are satisfied that nothing important remains, click Empty Recycle Bin in the toolbar at the top.
  4. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Verification: The Recycle Bin icon changes from a full bin to an empty bin.

4. Free Up Space with OneDrive (Cloud-Only Files) ⭐ ​

This is often the single most effective method for reclaiming large amounts of disk space. OneDrive's Free up space feature removes the local copy of a file while keeping it safely stored in the cloud. The file remains visible in File Explorer and can be re-downloaded on demand by double-clicking it.

DANGER

No data is deleted. When you free up space, the file icon changes to a cloud icon (☁️) indicating it is online-only. The file is still accessible — opening it downloads it automatically. An active internet connection is required to open cloud-only files.

Free Up Space for Individual Files or Folders ​

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive folder (typically in the left-side navigation pane).
  2. Right-click the file or folder you want to move to cloud-only.
  3. Select Free up space.
  4. The file's status icon changes from a green checkmark (✅ available locally) to a blue cloud (☁️ online-only).

Free Up Space in Bulk ​

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to your OneDrive folder.
  2. Select multiple files or an entire folder (press Ctrl + A to select all within a folder).
  3. Right-click the selection and choose Free up space.
  4. All selected items switch to cloud-only status.

Understanding OneDrive File Status Icons ​

Use these icons in File Explorer to identify file states at a glance:

IconStatusMeaning
☁️ Blue cloudOnline-onlyFile is in the cloud only. No local space used.
✅ Green checkmarkAvailable locallyFile is downloaded and stored on your PC.
🔵 Blue arrows (sync)SyncingFile is currently being uploaded or downloaded.
⬜ White checkmarkAlways keep on this deviceFile is pinned locally and will not be freed automatically.

5. Enable Storage Sense for Automatic Cleanup ​

Storage Sense runs periodically in the background to delete temporary files and convert older OneDrive files to cloud-only automatically.

  1. Open Settings > System > Storage.
  2. Toggle Storage Sense to On.
  3. Click Storage Sense to configure its behaviour:
    • Run Storage Sense: Choose a frequency (e.g., Every week or During low free disk space).
    • Temporary files: Check Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using.
    • OneDrive: Set Files become online-only if not opened for more than: to a value such as 30 days or 60 days. This is the key OneDrive integration — files you have not touched recently are automatically moved to cloud-only, reclaiming space without any manual effort.
    • Recycle Bin: Set to auto-empty items older than 30 days (recommended).
    • Downloads: Optional — set to auto-delete downloads older than a chosen period, or leave as Never to manage manually.
  4. Close Settings. Storage Sense will now run on the schedule you selected.

Verification: Check back after the configured interval and compare your free space. You can also click Run Storage Sense now at the bottom of the configuration screen for an immediate cleanup.

6. Uninstall Apps You No Longer Use ​

Unused applications can consume several gigabytes of storage.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Sort the list by Size (click the Sort by dropdown and select Size (Large to small)).
  3. Identify apps you no longer use.
  4. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) next to the app and select Uninstall.
  5. Follow the prompts to complete the removal.

Verification: Return to Settings > System > Storage and confirm the freed space.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

For the fastest results, start with Method 4 (OneDrive Free Up Space). In most corporate environments, OneDrive files account for the largest portion of local disk usage, and converting them to cloud-only is instant and risk-free.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
"Free up space" option missing in right-click menuOneDrive is not signed in or not syncingOpen the OneDrive app from the system tray and sign in. Ensure sync is active.
Cloud-only file fails to openNo internet connectionConnect to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Cloud-only files require an active connection to download.
Storage Sense did not free OneDrive filesOneDrive threshold not configuredOpen Storage Sense settings and set the OneDrive option to a value (e.g., 30 days).
Temporary files option shows 0 bytesCleanup already ran recentlyNo action needed — there are no temporary files to remove at this time.
Cannot uninstall a particular appApp is managed by your organizationCentrally deployed apps can only be removed by IT — ask them to uninstall it, naming the app and the size shown next to it in Installed apps.
Disk still full after all methodsLarge files outside OneDrive (e.g., local video files, VM images)Search for large files: open File Explorer, type size:gigantic in the search bar, and review results.