5 steps to free up disk space

There's no time to waste, so let's explore the five steps you can take to ensure you have more disk space.

1. Empty your trash

This is an ideal place to start freeing up space since it’s done rather quickly. Even though you may have discarded your files, they still technically exist in your hard drive. Emptying the trash folder will permanently delete the files inside. If you do not remain on top of clearing out the files in your computer’s trash can, the amount of space it eats up quickly piles up.

2. Uninstall applications you know you don’t need

Take a look at the installed programs you have on your computer. Many programs that come pre-loaded by the manufacturer on a new computer (also known as bloatware) take up disk space regardless of whether you use them. Pre-installed or third-party programs can take up a deceiving amount of disk space. Scroll down your list of programs, starting with the ones that take up the most amount of space, and consider if they’re worth keeping. If you decide a program isn’t worth the space it’s hogging, uninstall it.

3. Built-in disk cleanup

These days, built-in disk cleanup tools come standard with computers. It’s a safe way to clean up junk files without the risk of removing something important and without the hassle of using third-party cleanup programs.

For Windows 10

Windows comes with a few useful tools to help regulate the space on your disk. Here are the options you have.

Storage Sense is a tool that helps keep your storage optimized without any hassle. Think of it more as an assistant that works behind a digital curtain on your behalf. It automatically frees up space as long as you have the option selected. You can even control how often it does its job. Don’t worry; it simply removes useless files you haven’t touched in the last 30 days. Here’s how to access it.

1. Launch “Start Menu” 
2. Type and select “This PC”
3. Click the “Open Settings” icon near the top
4. Select “System”
5. Select “Storage”
6. Under the section titled “Storage Sense,” you’ll be able to toggle the tool on or off. If you’d like to implement this tool, click “on”
7. If you’d like to customize when the tool frees up space automatically, click “Change how we free up space automatically” and check the “Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using” option and set the time period that works for you. Additionally, you can manually clean up space with these settings if you prefer to take the non-automated route. Under “Free up space now,” just click “Clean now” for instant results.

There's also the option of Disc Cleanup, which is a less automated storage optimization tool, and it’s perfect for removing temporary internet files on your own. To calculate the amount of space it will free up, follow these steps.

1. Launch “Start Menu” and type "Settings."
2. Select “All Apps.”
3. Select “Windows Administrative Tools.”
4. Select “Disk Cleanup.”Select “
5. Clean up System Files” and bask in the extra space you created.

For Mac

For those of you who have mac OS Sierra (version 10.12) or later, you can use the handy Storage Tools to swiftly clean out junk files. To open, click the Apple icon in the top left of your computer. In the drop-down, select "About This Mac". When you see the prompt, select "Storage". From there, click "Manage". When you enter the prompt, you'll see the following options:

1. Store in iCloud: This is a cloud storage service that is a must-have if you want to free up local space and keep yourself organized. Committing to storing photos, videos and documents in the cloud will routinely prevent future headaches.
2. Optimize Storage: Do you have a bunch of iTunes movies or TV shows that you’ve already watched? Get those out of your local storage by utilizing the Optimize Storage feature. Movies are giant files that take up a ton of space. Don’t worry; if you want to watch the movie again, you can just download it!
3. Empty Trash Automatically: Turning this feature on will allow your Mac to automatically delete your trash after it’s been sitting for 30 days.
4. Reduce Clutter: This feature will locate the biggest files on your computer and delete them if it deems they’re no longer needed

4. Manually clear out temporary and downloaded files

For those who don’t want to rely on a Disk Cleanup application, you can manually clean up your temporary files. Cache files are not completely useless (these files help your programs run more smoothly) and are safe to remove from time to time to help create more space. Once deleted, your cache folder will continue to populate as you run your programs again, so the free space will be a temporary accomplishment. Your Downloads folder is also a haven for temporary, often unneeded files. Periodically clearing this folder is a great way to stay on top of your disk usage.

5. Removing system restore/shadow copies

For those of you who have System Restore enabled, you can remove junk files associated with the shadow copies. Shadow copies exist as a way to adjust backup files while they’re still in use. Deleting these files will free up a lot of space. Don’t worry; you’ll still have a recent system restore point in case you ever need to revert your computer back to a specific time. Follow these simple steps in Windows 10 to enter the prompt.

1. Launch “Start Menu”
2. Type and select “This PC”
3. Right click the hard drive that’s running low on space and select “Properties”
4. Select "Disk Cleanup"
5. Click “Clean up System Files”
6. Once your computer is finished cleaning, select "More Options"
7. Below “System Restore and Shadow Copies,” choose “Cleanup”
8. Click “Delete"