How to increase space on your laptop for games: from cleaning to upgrading

PC games are taking up more and more space: Call of Duty: Warzone weighs under 200 GB, GTA V with mods it easily exceeds 100 GB, and Star Citizen can “eat up” all 150 GB. Moreover, even laptops with 512 GB SSD fill up quickly, leaving the user with a choice: delete old projects or look for ways to expand storage. This article is not about abstract “optimization tips”, but about concrete actions - from hidden Windows features to hardware upgrades that will help free up gigabytes without compromising FPS.

We'll look at methods for different scenarios: when you urgently need to clear 20-30 GB for a new game, when system optimization is required for long-term effect, and when it's time to think about buying an additional drive. All instructions are adapted for laptops (including models with one SSD slot), and the risks of data loss or decreased performance are honestly stated. Let's start with the simplest thing.

1. Removing junk files: where to look for hidden gigabytes

The first thing that comes to mind is emptying the trash can and the “Downloads” folder. But this is a drop in the bucket. The main “eaters” of space hide deeper. Let's start with the built-in Windows tools that many people ignore.

Open Settings → System → Device memory and click on “Free up space now”. The system will scan the disk and show you what can be deleted without risk. Pay special attention to:

• 🗑️ Temporary files — remains of updates, store cache Microsoft Store, Memory dumps after crashes. It's easy to get 5-15 GB here.
• 🎮 Leftovers from old games - folders like AppData\Local\Temp or ProgramData can store gigabytes of cache from Steam, Epic Games or Origin.
• 📁 Previous versions of Windows — after major updates (for example, with Windows 10 on 11) the system leaves a backup copy of 20-30 GB in the folder Windows.old.

For deep cleaning, use utilities like CCleaner (free version) or BleachBit (open source). They will find browser caches, system error logs, and even duplicate files. But be careful: do not check boxes like “Clean up the registry” - this may break the games.

⚠️ Attention: Don't delete the folder WinSxS by hand! This is the Windows component store, and its damage will lead to errors during updates. To clear it, use the command Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore in CMD (on behalf of the administrator).

2. Optimizing installed games: what can be compressed or transferred

Not all games require maximum texture quality. Many projects (especially from Ubisoft or EA) install high resolution packages by default, even if your monitor is 1920×1080. Check the settings of each game in the launcher:

• 🎨 Textures: B Steam right-click on the game → “Properties” → “Local files” → “Integrity check” (sometimes there is an option to download textures in low resolution).
• 🗣️ Voice packs: B The Witcher 3 or Cyberpunk 2077 You can remove unnecessary voice languages (saves up to 10 GB).
• 🎵 Music and video: B GTA V or Red Dead Redemption 2 disable intro and radio stations (files .bik or .mp3 in the game folder).

For games on the engine Unreal Engine 4/5 (For example, Fortnite, Borderlands 3) there is a trick: delete the folder DerivedDataCache in the game directory. It will be restored the next time you start it, but it weighs up to 5-7 GB. And in Call of Duty you can uninstall unnecessary modes (for example, Warzone or Zombies) via launcher Battle.net.

Game	What can be removed	Space saving
GTA V	Radio files (.awc), unnecessary languages	up to 8 GB
The Witcher 3	HD textures, voice packs (except the main one)	up to 12 GB
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	Modes Campaign, Multiplayer (separately)	up to 50 GB
Final Fantasy VII Remake	Japanese voice acting, duplicate textures	up to 6 GB

Important: After deleting textures or sound files, the game may require an integrity check the next time you launch it. B Steam this is done automatically, and in Epic Games or GOG - manually.

3. Transfer games to an external drive: SSD or HDD?

If there is not enough space on the system disk, and games weigh hundreds of gigabytes, it is logical to transfer them to an external drive. But there are nuances here:

• 🚀 SSD (NVMe or SATA): Optimal for modern games. The read/write speed is higher than that of the HDD, so loading levels in Open-World game (for example, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla) will be faster. Minus - the price for 1 TB starts from 8,000 rubles.
• 💾 HDD (2.5" or 3.5"): Cheaper (1 TB costs ~3,000 rubles), but slower. Suitable for older games or projects with linear gameplay (The Last of Us Part I, Half-Life 2).
• 🔌 USB 3.2/Thunderbolt: For an external SSD, choose a drive with an interface USB 3.2 Gen 2 (speed up to 10 Gbit/s) or Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbit/s). Enough for HDD USB 3.0.

How to transfer the game without reinstalling? For Steam:

1. In the launcher settings, add a new library on the external drive (Settings → Downloads → Steam folders).
2. Right-click on the game → “Properties” → “Local Files” → “Move” → select a new drive.

For Epic Games or GOG you will have to install the game again, but the files can be copied manually (an integrity check will be required).

⚠️ Attention: Not all games work well on external HDDs. For example, Star Citizen or Microsoft Flight Simulator require high reading speed and can freeze on mechanical disks. Before purchasing, check the game requirements on the developer's website.

Check USB 3.2/Thunderbolt compatibility

Make sure the drive is formatted in NTFS (not exFAT!)

Evaluate the actual read/write speed (look for tests on YouTube)

Buy a case with active cooling (SSDs get warm during long sessions) -->

4. Cloud Storage and Streaming: An Alternative to Local Gaming

If upgrading your hardware isn't an option, consider cloud services. They allow you to play heavy projects on a weak laptop, but require a stable Internet connection (from 25 Mbps for 1080p).

• ☁️ NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Supports over 1,500 games from libraries Steam, Epic, Ubisoft. The free plan is limited to a session of 1 hour, the paid plan (Priority) - up to 6 hours and with RTX 3080. Cons: not all games are available (for example, no Rockstar Games).
• 🎮 Xbox Cloud Gaming: Included in subscription Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (700 rubles/month). Works with games from Microsoft (Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite). Supports gamepads and keyboard.
• 🖥️ Shadow PC: Virtual PC with RTX 3070 and 256 GB SSD. Cost from 1,500 rubles/month. Suitable for MMO or simulators, where low latency is important.

For a speed test use Speedtest and check the ping to the service servers. If the latency is above 50 ms, in fast-paced games (CS2, Valorant) there will be lags. Also keep in mind that cloud services “eat up” traffic: for 1 hour of playing 1080p it takes ~7-10 GB.

How to reduce traffic consumption in GeForce NOW?

In the launcher settings, select “Customize” → “Stream Quality” → “Balanced” (instead of “Quality Priority”).

Disable background downloading of updates in Steam/Epic.

Use a wired connection (Wi-Fi adds latency).

5. Replacing or adding an SSD: when to upgrade hardware

If the laptop supports two slots for SSD (For example, MSI GS66 or ASUS ROG Zephyrus), the best solution is to buy a second drive. Suitable for most models NVMe M.2 2280 (For example, Samsung 980 Pro or WD Black SN850X). Before purchasing please check:

• 🔧 Slot type: Some laptops only have one slot PCIe 3.0 x4, and the second - SATA. In this case, take Samsung 870 EVO (SATA SSD).
• 📏 Form factor: Most laptops support 2280 (80 mm), but there are models with 2242 (For example, Lenovo IdeaPad).
• 🔥 Thermal throttling: Cheap SSDs without a heatsink can overheat. For gaming laptops, choose models with thermal pads.

If there is only one slot, replace the current drive with a larger one. To do this:

1. Clone the system to a new SSD using Macrium Reflect or Clonezilla.
2. Open the back cover of the laptop (you will need a plastic spatula and a Phillips screwdriver).
3. Carefully remove the old SSD, insert the new one and secure with a screw.

Critical nuance: In laptops with soldered memory (for example, Apple MacBook or some Acer Swift) SSD cannot be replaced. Check the model specifications on the manufacturer's website.

6. Hidden Windows settings: disable unnecessary features

Windows 10/11 reserves space for updates, hibernation and system recovery. Some of this can be disabled or reduced:

• 🛑 Hibernation: File hiberfil.sys Occupies up to 80% of RAM. Disable it using the command:

  powercfg /h off

  Attention: after this, Windows Quick Start will not work.

• 🔄 Restore points: Limit the volume to 1-2 GB per Control Panel → System → System Protection. Or turn it off completely if you don't use it.
• 📥 Reserve space for updates: Windows 11 reserves up to 7 GB. To reduce, do:

  reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager" /v ShippedWithReserves /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Also check the folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download — downloaded updates are stored here. It can be cleared by stopping the service Windows Update:

1. Open Services (Win + R → services.msc).
2. Find “Windows Update”, click “Stop”.
3. Remove everything from the folder Download and restart your PC.

⚠️ Attention: Disabling the backup space for updates may lead to failures when installing major updates (for example, Windows 11 23H2). If the system behaves unstable after making registry changes, return the value ShippedWithReserves on 1.

7. Alternative methods: compression, symbolic links and other tricks

If standard methods don't help, try less obvious tricks:

• 🗜️ NTFS compression: Right-click on the game folder → “Properties” → “Other” → “Compress contents”. Saves up to 20-30% space, but increases the load on the CPU. Not suitable for SSD (reduces service life).
• 🔗 Symbolic links: Move the game folder to another drive, and create a symlink in the original location. For this purpose in CMD (from admin) enter:

  mklink /J "C:\Путь\к\папке" "D:\Новое\место"

  Works for Steam, but not for all games (for example, Battle.net may not see the files).

• 📦 WSL 2 containers: If you are using Windows Subsystem for Linux, file ext4.vhdx can weigh tens of gigabytes. Limit its size with the command:

  wsl --shutdown
  wsl --system
  diskpart
  select vdisk file="%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\...\ext4.vhdx"
  expand vdisk maximum=30000 (указываете размер в МБ)

For advanced users: if the game supports modular installation (For example, Microsoft Flight Simulator), download only the required regions or aircraft. B FS2020 this is done through Content Manager in the game menu.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about laptop space for gaming

Is it possible to install the game on a flash drive?

Technically yes, but this is extremely inconvenient: flash drives have low read/write speeds (even USB 3.1 slower than HDD), small volume and wear out quickly. Only an external SSD with USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt.

Why is the space not freed up after deleting a game?

Reasons:

1. Files remain in folders AppData or Documents (for example, saves or configs).
2. Launcher cache (Steam, Epic) has not been cleared. Try restarting the launcher or using the utility Steam Library Manager.
3. The system reserves space for System Restore. Disable it in Control Panel → Recovery.

Which external SSD is better for gaming: NVMe enclosure or portable?

NVMe in a chassis (e.g. Samsung T7 Shield) faster (up to 1000 MB/s) and more reliable, but more expensive. Portable SSDs (eg. WD My Passport SSD) is cheaper, but the speed is limited by the interface USB 3.2 (up to 500 MB/s). For AAA games choose NVMe, portable is enough for indie projects.

Is it possible to play from an external HDD on a laptop with an SSD?

Yes, but expect longer loading times for levels and possible freezing in the open world. For example, in Red Dead Redemption 2 textures will take longer to load on the HDD, and Cyberpunk 2077 artifacts may appear. For CS2 or Dota 2 there will be no difference.

How to check how much space games take up on Steam?

In the launcher go to Settings → Storage. A list of games with weight is displayed here. You can also sort by size. For Epic Games a similar function is available in the “Library” → “Manage Settings” section.