How can I delete a huge download when opening Downloads freezes my PC?

Try deleting it without opening the folder in the file manager. In Windows, open PowerShell or Terminal and use Remove-Item with the file’s full path in quotes, for example: Remove-Item 'C:\Users\yourname\Downloads\filename.zip' -Force. Replace the example path and name with the exact ones for your file. Check the path carefully before running it, since this permanently removes the file rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin.

If you can select the file, Shift+Delete asks Windows to permanently delete it instead of moving it to the Recycle Bin. That may help when the file is too large for the bin, but it won’t fix a file manager that’s already hanging. If the shortcut doesn’t work, try the command-line method or restart and try again.

A freeze can point to more than just a large file, so don’t assume the file size is the whole story. If command-line deletion fails, note the error message. You can also run CHKDSK /Scan from an administrator terminal to check for file-system problems. If it reports errors or the drive keeps freezing, back up important data before attempting repairs.

Before removing it, confirm the file’s name and where it came from. If you’re unsure whether it’s a download you need, you could move it to another drive first, provided you can access it without the system locking up. Avoid guessing at a path or deleting a whole folder just to get around the freeze.