When the drive is almost full, the fastest fix is usually a handful of very large files or folders. Windows 11 can show them without extra software. The rule is simple: find first, read what it is, and only then decide.
Open Settings → System → Storage and wait for the scan. Choose Show more categories to see Apps & features, Temporary files, Documents, Videos and other groups with their sizes. On many versions Cleanup recommendations also lists large or unused files; the exact entries depend on your build.
Open This PC (or the drive), click the search box and type size:>1GB. File Explorer then lists files bigger than 1 GB; you can also use size:gigantic (over 128 MB). Switch to the Details view and sort by Size, largest first. Search results can be incomplete for folders that are not indexed, so treat the list as a guide, not a full audit.
Go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps and sort by Size. Games and creative tools are often the largest items. Uninstalling an app you no longer use usually frees more space than deleting many small files.
Open Windows Terminal and run: Get-ChildItem C:\Users\YourName -Recurse -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Sort-Object Length -Descending | Select-Object -First 20 FullName, @{n='GB';e={[math]::Round($_.Length/1GB,2)}}. Replace the path with the folder you want to check. This only reads files; it deletes nothing. On a whole drive it can take several minutes.
hiberfil.sys, pagefile.sys and swapfile.sys are managed by Windows. If you really do not need hibernation, you can turn it off from an administrator terminal with powercfg /h off, which removes hiberfil.sys. Do not delete these files from File Explorer, and read our guides on Windows.old and the WinSxS folder before touching those.
Check what a file is, when it was last used and whether you have another copy. Move rarely needed large files such as video projects or installers to an external drive instead of deleting them straight away. Empty the Recycle Bin only after you are sure.
Rain Cleaner (Windows 10/11, 64-bit) shows what it found, with an explanation for each item, before it removes anything. The Free version has no ads; Pro has a free 14-day trial (no card). Everything above works with Windows alone - Rain Cleaner is just another workflow.
Last updated: 2026-10-03
Use Settings → System → Storage for the big picture, then File Explorer with size:>1GB, or the PowerShell command in this guide for a top-20 list.
Not from File Explorer. Windows manages them. Hibernation can be turned off with powercfg /h off if you do not use it; the page file is best left alone.
It gives Windows room to update and work, but it does not by itself make the processor, graphics card or internet faster.
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A practical order to check before you change anything.
A short, ordered checklist before you change anything.
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What the cache is and how to clear it with Windows tools.
A sensible order for network, chipset, storage, graphics and more.
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Rain Cleaner: review before cleanup, free version, 14-day Pro trial.
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How to report a security issue privately.
What we are working on now, next and later.
A safe order of checks: df, inodes, du, open deleted files, logs, packages and Docker.
Check the size, vacuum it once, and set a permanent limit.
Every disk-cleanup question in one place, with a safe order of checks.
Nine steps in a safe order, printable.
Backup, restore point, preview first, and what never to delete by hand.
What they are, how to shrink them safely and what not to touch.
Free, no account, no subscription. Windows 10 and 11.