I recently noticed that my SSD hard drive only has 37.5GB left out of 177GB, but I actually have very few files and programs on my laptop. I've already deleted a lot, but I'm looking for advice on how to free up more space effectively. Any suggestions?
5 Answers
Honestly, if cleaning up doesn't help much, it might be worth considering upgrading to a bigger SSD, like at least 1TB. Just keep in mind the time and hassle involved in moving your data.
A lot of space is often taken up by the operating system itself, but make sure to check your Control Panel for any unnecessary programs that you might be able to uninstall. Don’t forget to clear out your Downloads folder, temporary files, and the recycling bin too. Disk Cleanup can help with that!
Running Windirstat is a good way to see where your largest files and folders are lurking. It can be a bit slow while it analyzes everything, but it will help you locate items that are hogging space, like old Windows copies or backups.
You should definitely find out what's using your space first. Tools like WizTree or TreeSize can show you which folders are taking up the most room. That way, you can target the big offenders directly.
If you're on Windows, try using the built-in Disk Cleanup tool. Also, consider downloading programs like WizTree or WinDirStat; they can help you identify what's taking up space on your drive.
I ran Disk Cleanup, but it only freed up a few megabytes.