How to increase space on your laptop: step-by-step instructions for Windows, macOS and Linux

A full hard drive is one of the most common problems among laptop users. Even if you recently purchased a device with 512 GB SSD or HDD 1 TB, over time, free space melts before our eyes. The reasons are different: temporary files, browser cache, duplicate photos, forgotten downloads, and sometimes hidden system data that takes up tens of gigabytes.

In this article we will look at 7 proven methodshow to free up space on a laptop running Windows 10/11, macOS or Linux - from basic actions to advanced techniques. You will learn which files can be safely deleted, how to optimize storage without losing data, and what to do if the disk is full of unknown things. And at the end - answers to frequently asked questions and list of programs that will help automate cleaning.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly is eating up space?

Before deleting something, you need to understand which files and folders take up the most space. Manually traversing all directories is ineffective - there are built-in and third-party tools for this.

On Windows open Explorer → This PC, right click on the disk C: (or another section) and select Properties. Here you will see a chart of occupied space by category. The utility provides a more detailed analysis WinDirStat (free) - It visualizes files as a color map, with each block corresponding to a folder or data type.

On macOS go to Apple Menu → About This Mac → Storage → Manage. The system will automatically scan the disk and show how much space is taken up by applications, documents, multimedia and system junk. For Linux The command in the terminal will do:

ncdu /

This is a console utility that recursively scans all folders and sorts them by size. You can install it through a package manager (for example, sudo apt install ncdu for Debian/Ubuntu).

• 📊 System files: often take up 20-30 GB (update backups, hibernation files, memory dumps).
• 🎬 Multimedia: movies, TV series, music - can weigh hundreds of gigabytes, especially if stored in high resolution.
• 📁 Duplicates and temporary files: browser cache, program logs, uninstalled installers.
• 🎮 Games and programs: Modern AAA projects easily take up 50-100 GB each.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Windows, Program Files, System32 or /usr (on Linux) manually - this may cause the system to crash. Use only proven cleaning methods.

2. Cleaning system garbage using built-in tools

All modern operating systems have tools for automatically cleaning the disk from unnecessary files. Their advantage is security: They will not remove anything critical to the operation of the system.

On Windows 10/11:

1. Open Settings → System → Device memory.
2. Click Free up space now below the occupied space graph.
3. Select files to delete: Temporary files, Cart, Delivery optimization files (this is the update cache).
4. Click Delete files.

For deep cleaning, use the classic utility Disk Cleanup:

1. Enter in search cleanmgr and run as administrator.
2. Select the drive (usually C:) and wait for analysis.
3. Check all the boxes, especially Cleaning Windows Updates (can free up to 10-20 GB).

On macOS:

• Go to Apple Menu → About This Mac → Storage → Manage.
• In the section Recommendations click Optimize storage — the system will automatically delete watched movies and cache.
• In the section Garbage click Clearto remove unnecessary files from Downloads And Baskets.

On Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt autoremove  # Удаляет ненужные пакеты
sudo apt clean        # Очищает кэш пакетов
journalctl --vacuum-size=100M  # Ограничивает размер логов

⚠️ Attention: On Windows don't empty the folder Windows.old manually - it contains a backup copy of the previous version of the OS and can be useful for rolling back. Use Disk Cleanup with administrator rights.

3. Remove duplicates and unnecessary files

Duplicate photos, documents and music are one of the main reasons for running out of space. They appear when copying files between devices, downloading the same data from different sources, or synchronization errors (for example, through Google Drive or iCloud).

To find duplicates on Windows And macOS We recommend free programs:

• 🔍 Duplicate Cleaner (Windows) - Scans by file name, size, or content.
• 🔍 Gemini 2 (macOS) - finds duplicates and offers “smart” deletion (saves the highest quality version).
• 🔍 fdupes (Linux) - console utility, runs on the command:

  fdupes -r /путь/к/папке

Before removing duplicates be sure to check, that you leave the most current or high-quality version of the file. For example, if you have two copies of one photo - in resolution 1920×1080 And 3840×2160, delete the first one.

In addition to duplicates, you should get rid of:

• 📥 Old downloads: folder Downloads often filled with program installers, archives and files that have not been needed for a long time.
• 📷 Bad photos and screenshots: in folders Pictures or Screenshots There may be hundreds of unnecessary images lying around.
• 🎵 Unclaimed music: services like Spotify or Apple Music make local copies of tracks that take up space.

4. Storage optimization: clouds, external drives and compression

If there is a catastrophic lack of space on your laptop, and there is nothing else to delete, it’s time to think about alternative storage methods. Modern solutions allow you to free up tens of gigabytes without physically deleting files.

Cloud services — the most convenient option for documents, photos and videos. Most of them offer a free plan:

• ☁️ Google Drive — 15 GB free (total volume from Gmail And Google Photos).
• ☁️ OneDrive — 5 GB free, integrated with Windows 10/11.
• ☁️ iCloud – 5 GB free for users Apple.
• ☁️ Yandex Disk — 10 GB free, convenient for Russian users.

To free up space, move to the cloud:

• 📂 Document archives (PDF, DOCX, XLSX).
• 📸 Photos and videos (especially in high resolution).
• 🎧 Music and podcasts (if you don’t listen to them offline).

To automate synchronization on Windows use OneDrive Files On-Demand (files are stored in the cloud, but are displayed in Explorer). On macOS turn on Storage optimization in settings iCloud — the system itself will delete local copies of old files, leaving only thumbnails.

External drives Suitable for backing up or storing rarely used data:

• 💾 HDD/SSD - cheap and capacious (from 1 TB for 3-5 thousand rubles).
• 📁 Flash drives - convenient for transferring files, but not suitable for long-term storage.
• 🗄️ NAS drives — for advanced users, they allow you to create a home cloud.

If an external drive is not an option, try data compression:

• On Windows: right click on the folder → Properties → Advanced → Compress content to save space.
• On macOS: create an archive via File → Compress (ZIP format).
• On Linux: use the commands:

  tar -czvf архив.tar.gz /папка/  # Сжать
  tar -xzvf архив.tar.gz       # Распаковать

Storage method	Pros	Cons	Cost
Cloud (Google Drive, OneDrive)	Access from any device, automatic synchronization	Limited free volume, internet dependency	Free (5-15 GB) or from 100 rub./month.
External HDD (1 TB)	Large volume, one-time purchase	Risk of breakage, must be carried with you	3,000–5,000 rub.
SSD (500 GB)	High speed, compact	More expensive than HDD, limited recording resource	5,000–8,000 rub.
Data compression (ZIP, RAR)	Does not require additional costs	Slow file access, not all formats are well compressed	Free

5. Clearing browser and program caches

Browsers, instant messengers and games actively use cache - temporary files that speed up work, but over time take up gigabytes of space. For example, Google Chrome can accumulate up to 5-10 GB of cache, and Telegram - even more if you often download media files.

Clearing browser cache:

• 🌐 Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Clear history → Select "Cookies and other site data" + "Cached images and files".
• 🦊 Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and site data → Clear data.
• 🅾️ Opera/Edge: Similar to Chrome (both on Chromium engine).

To automate, use extensions like Click&Clean (one click clears history, cache and cookies).

Clearing the program cache:

• 💬 Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Storage and data → Clear cache.
• 🎮 Steam: Settings → Downloads → Clear download cache.
• 📺 VLC, PotPlayer: Delete the cache folder manually (usually located in %AppData%\Roaming\ or ~/.cache/ on Linux).

On Windows The cache of many programs is stored in the following folders:

• C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Temp
• C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming
• C:\Windows\Temp

To open AppData, in Explorer, enable the display of hidden files (View → Hidden Elements) or enter the path into the address bar.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder AppData entirely - this will lead to the failure of installed programs. Delete only the contents of folders Temp and application-specific cache.

How to clear cache on Android via laptop?

Connect your phone via USB, enable file transfer mode and delete folders /Android/data/*/cache And /DCIM/.thumbnails. This may require root access.

6. Removing heavy games and programs

Modern games and professional programs (for example, Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD) occupy tens of gigabytes. For example, Call of Duty: Warzone weighs more than 100 GB, and GTA V - about 80 GB. If you haven't played for a long time, you can delete them.

How to remove games and programs on Windows:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Apps & features.
2. Sort the list by size (click on the column Size).
3. Select the program you don't need and press Delete.

For games from Steam, Epic Games or Origin use the built-in uninstall functions - this way you will save your progress in the cloud.

On macOS:

• Drag the program from the folder Programs to cart.
• Use the utility AppCleaner (free) to remove all associated files.

On Linux:

sudo apt remove --purge имя_пакета  # Удаляет программу с конфигурационными файлами
sudo apt autoremove                # Очищает зависимости

If you plan to return the game or program later, save:

• 🎮 Saves - usually lie in Documents\My Games or %AppData%\LocalLow.
• 🖥️ Program settings - export configurations (for example, to Photoshop this is Edit → Settings → Export).

7. Advanced techniques: fine-tuning the system

If standard methods do not help, it’s time to try advanced techniques. They require caution, but can free up an additional 10-50 GB.

Disable hibernation (Windows):

Hibernation file hiberfil.sys takes up to 70% of the RAM capacity (for example, 8 GB on a laptop with 16 GB RAM). If you don't use hibernation mode, you can disable it:

powercfg /h off

After executing the command, the file will be deleted automatically.

Clearing restore points:

Windows creates restore points that take up to 10-15 GB. To clear them:

1. Open Control Panel → System → System Protection.
2. Select the drive, click Customize.
3. Click Delete in section Delete all restore points.

Transferring swap files:

Swap file pagefile.sys can take up to 20 GB. You can move it to another disk or reduce its size:

1. Open System Settings → Advanced Settings → Performance → Settings → Advanced.
2. In the section Virtual memory click Edit.
3. Uncheck Automatically select the size of the paging file and specify a smaller size (for example, 2-4 GB).

Cleaning packages on Linux:

On distributions based on Debian/Ubuntu the accumulated packages take up gigabytes. Remove them:

sudo apt autoclean       # Удаляет устаревшие пакеты
sudo apt clean           # Очищает кэш пакетов
sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=7d  # Очищает логи старше 7 дней

Disable indexing (Windows):

The indexing service speeds up searches, but creates a database that can weigh several gigabytes. To disable it:

1. Open Services (services.msc).
2. Find Windows Search, right click → Properties → Startup type: Disabled.
3. Restart your laptop.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling pagefile or hibernation may cause system instability if you have low RAM (less than 8 GB). Before making any changes, create a restore point!

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to increase space on drive C at the expense of drive D?

Yes, but this requires changing the disk partitions. On Windows use the built-in utility Disk management (diskmgmt.msc) or third-party programs like EaseUS Partition Master. Important: before changing the markup, make a backup copy of your data - there is a risk of losing it!

On macOS for this you will need Disk Utility, but the process is more complicated - it is better to properly partition the disk in advance when installing the system.

Why do I quickly run out of space again after cleaning?

Probable reasons:

• Automatic Windows updates (update files can weigh up to 20 GB).
• Browser and program cache (especially if you often watch videos online).
• Hidden processes (for example, downloading torrent files in the background).
• Viruses or mining bots (check your system Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool).

Solution: Set up automatic cleaning (for example, via CCleaner) and track the occupied space once a week.

How to free up space on the system disk if it is full of unknown things?

Use utilities for in-depth analysis:

• WinDirStat (Windows) - Shows which folders are taking up the most space.
• GrandPerspective (macOS) - visualizes files as a map.
• ncdu (Linux) - console utility for recursive scanning.

Pay attention to the folders:

• C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download — here are the update files.
• C:\Windows\Temp And C:\Users\Name\AppData\Local\Temp - temporary files.
• /var/log (Linux) - system logs that can grow up to gigabytes.

Should you use cleaning programs like CCleaner?

Programs like CCleaner, BleachBit or CleanMyMac convenient, but have risks:

• ✅ Pros: they automate cleaning, find garbage in unobvious places.
• ❌ Disadvantages: they can delete the necessary files if configured incorrectly; Some utilities contain advertising or collect data.

Recommendation: use them carefully, after creating a restore point. For regular cleaning, the built-in OS tools are sufficient.

How to free up space on a laptop with an SSD?

For SSD It is important not only to free up space, but also to optimize disk performance:

• Turn on TRIM (on Windows: fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify - if the result 0, then TRIM is enabled).
• Disable defragmentation (it is useless for SSDs and reduces disk life).
• Transfer the swap and hibernation files to the HDD, if there is one in the system.
• Do not fill the SSD more than 75% - this will reduce its performance and lifespan.

To check the health of the SSD, use CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) or smartctl (Linux/macOS).