Get tech confident for less
Get 12 months of tech support and buying advice for only £34.30, that's a 30% saving. Together we’ll show your tech who’s boss.
Join Which? Tech SupportOffer ends 16 Jun 25. Cancel anytime.
By clicking a retailer link you consent to third-party cookies that track your onward journey. This enables W? to receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase, which supports our mission to be the UK's consumer champion.
How to free up space on your computer in less than 10 minutes
A couple of quick changes can save space on your local and external drives, potentially making your computer faster than before
Over time, your computer can become a dumping ground for files and apps you no longer need. But with our tech tips, you can restore valuable storage space on your PC or laptop and use it for files that are actually useful.
To effectively manage your computer, it's worth learning how to identify and uninstall storage-hogging apps, how to deal with downloads, the effectiveness of zipped folders and more.
Freeing up space on your computer doesn't need to be a headache. Below, we've worked through suggested tweaks for Windows 10, Windows 11 and macOS – and all of them come with step-by-step instructions.
Already a Tech Support member? If you need more help and 1-2-1 technical advice, you can book an appointment with our friendly Tech Support team.
1. Organise your Downloads folder
If you regularly download new software to your computer, it's worth checking your Downloads folder to see if any non-essential files are hiding there.
When you download new software, the .exe (Windows) or .dmg (macOS) files are only used for the initial setup. After that, you can remove them to save space.
Software aside, you might find out-of-date documents, unnecessary images or PDFs in your folder. Take a moment to look through it and sort by date downloaded or file size if you need to.
- On Windows – open File Explorer and select Downloads (shown above). If you're confident you don't need any files, press Ctrl + A to select all and then delete them.
- On macOS – use the Finder app to see your Downloads folder. Change your view by right-clicking and selecting Sort By.
2. Empty your Recycle Bin
Clearing out your deleted files is one of the easiest ways to clear space on your PC in seconds.
Deleting files from your desktop or a folder in File Explorer or Finder doesn't always mean they're gone for good. The benefit of having a recycle bin on your desktop is that it acts as a safety net in case you change your mind.
But remember – if you accidentally delete a file 'permanently' from the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS), there's a chance you'll be able to recover it using specialist software. Our guide on how to recover deleted files has more details.
- On Windows – double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop to delete specific files. Alternatively, right-click the icon and choose Empty Recycle Bin.
- On macOS – click the Trash icon in your dock to delete specific files. Alternatively, right-click the icon and choose Empty Bin.
3. Try Disk Cleanup or Mac Storage Management
Both Windows and macOS have dedicated tools for freeing up disk space on your drives. On Windows, this is called Disk Cleanup (shown below). On macOS, it's Storage Management.
By running these tools when you have a couple of minutes, you can recover space by removing downloaded program files, temporary internet files, and more. Try working through this process every couple of weeks to stay in control.
- On Windows – click the Start icon and search for Disk Cleanup. Select the drive you want to clean and follow the on-screen instructions. For specific categories, press View files to see what will be removed and select OK when you're ready.
- On macOS – head to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage. Press the Info icon next to a category to expand details.
If your laptop is getting sluggish with age and doesn't improve with these tips, you might want to consider a replacement. Our expert advice on the best laptops will help you choose wisely.
4. Identify large apps and uninstall them if needed
There's no point in having space-hogging apps on your PC if you don't use them. Over time, that list of unused apps can build up and take up a significant amount of space on your hard drive.
On the plus side, removing big apps is relatively easy on both Windows and macOS. Running through this process will also remove related desktop icons and folders in File Explorer or Finder.
- On Windows – choose Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Sort by size, click an app and select Uninstall.
- On macOS – open Finder > Applications to view your apps. At the top of the window, select the Sort button (picture of six small squares) and choose Size. When you spot an app you don't need, drag the icon to the Bin on your dock.
News, deals and stuff the manuals don't tell you. Sign up for our Tech newsletter, it's free monthly.
5. Plug in an external drive (or try cloud storage)
Files don't always need to be stored locally, so consider using a cloud storage service or external drive to house documents, pictures and videos.
Opting for a cloud storage service means that your most important files are stored safely online and still recoverable even if your computer gets damaged or you're using a different device. There are free and paid-for options – Apple iCloud gives you 5GB for free, while Google Drive offers 15GB.
An external drive is another option, but make sure you keep it in a safe place. For a belt and braces approach, use both cloud storage and an external drive.
Discover the best external hard drives and see our guide on how to choose the best cloud storage service.
6. Delete user accounts you don't need
If you have multiple user accounts stored on your computer, decide if any of them are no longer needed. Each account holds its own personal settings, downloads and files, so deleting a user will free up space.
Before you delete a user account, check whether there are any important files saved in its folders. Back them up elsewhere, if you still need them.
- On Windows – head to Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
- On macOS – select Apple menu > System Settings > Users & Groups.
If you're dealing with slow wi-fi, you might be able to improve your experience with an extender. See our guide on the best mesh networks and wi-fi extenders.
7. Use folders to clean up your desktop
While using folders to organise your desktop shortcuts won't clear space on your drive, it will free up visual space and help you stay organised. Think of how you can organise your most-used files into groups to make things easier to navigate.
You can also navigate to a particular folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and then use Create shortcut for quick access right from your desktop – a good time-saver if you regularly access files buried several folders deep.
- On Windows – to create a folder on your desktop, right-click in empty space and choose New > Folder. You can also right-click in empty space and choose View to make the folders bigger, or Sort by to make them snap to the corner of your screen.
- On macOS – right-click in empty space on your desktop and choose New Folder. You can right-click and select Show View Options to adjust icon size and spacing.
Quick tips: 6 more ways to free up even more space
- Clear web browser cache and cookies – clearing temporary web files can make a difference and steps vary depending on your browser. In Google Chrome, for example, you can go to Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data.
- Be picky with web browser extensions – if you've previously downloaded custom extensions, check if you still need all of them. To remove a Google Chrome extension, go to Settings > Extensions > Manage extensions.
- Try Storage Sense on Windows – select Start > Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Work your way through the checklist.
- Use Zipped folders for rarely used documents, pictures and videos – from File Explorer on Windows, drag to select multiple files, right-click and choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder. On macOS, select multiple files, right-click and choose Compress.
- Delete old Time Machine backups on macOS – you might not need multiple backups. Open the Time Machine app, find a timestamped backup file and delete it if needed.
- Remove duplicate files – third-party software can help you delete copies of files by scanning filenames or contents. One option is dupeGuru, which is available for both Windows and macOS.
Join Which? Tech Support
Get tech confident for less
Get 12 months of tech support and buying advice for only £34.30, that's a 30% saving. Together we’ll show your tech who’s boss.
Join Which? Tech SupportOffer ends 16 Jun 25. Cancel anytime.
Which? Tech Support can help you keep on top of your home tech. Our experts explain things clearly so you can resolve issues and feel more confident using your devices.
Get unlimited 1-2-1 expert support:
- By remote fix – we connect securely from our office to your home computer and resolve issues while you watch
- By phone – clear guidance on choosing, setting up, using and resolving issues with your home tech devices
- By email – outline the issue and we’ll email you our answer
- In print – Which? Tech magazine, six issues a year delivered to your door.
You can join Which? Tech Support.
