Is your hard drive filling up quickly? Complete guide to detecting huge files and saving space

Is your hard drive filling up quickly for no reason? Here's how to locate and delete huge files. Because you're not alone: ​​between installations, downloads, and hidden files, storage evaporates without us even realizing it. With a few techniques, you can Quickly detect giant files, clean junk, and recover tens of gigabytes in minutes, without breaking anything important.

In this guide, we've gathered everything you need in one place: Explorer tricks, useful commands, Windows tweaks, reliable tools, and preventative measures. You'll also see how to address less obvious causes (hibernation, restore points, etc.). windows.old, driver packages, huge games, duplicates or forgotten downloads) and what to do if the problem persists Mac and Windows.

Locate the largest files with Windows Explorer

The first step in gaining space is to identify at a glance what is taking up the most space. The Explorer allows you to filter and sort by size without installing anything. Switch to 'Details' view (ribbon > View > Details) to see the Size column; if it doesn't appear, activate it and then click 'Size' to sort. The first click sorts from smallest to largest; the second, from smallest to largest. greatest to least.

You can also use search filters based on predefined ranges. In the search box (top right), type 'size' and choose categories such as Big, Huge or GiganticIf you prefer surgical precision, use a manual filter such as: tamaño:>600MB. Explorer will only list files that exceed this number, ideal for hunt for videos, ISOs, copies and huge downloads.

Remember to position yourself in the appropriate drive or folder before searching. If your C: drive is affected, run the search from 'This PC > Windows (C:)'. This will show you where the giants are concentrated and you'll be able to move, compress or delete the dispensable.

If Windows doesn't let you sort by size, it's because you're in icon view. Switch to 'Details' and click the 'Size' heading again. In large folders, sorting this way allows you to quickly identify the items you need most. waste space.

Listings by size from the console (Command Prompt)

For mass listings, the console is your ally. The command dir allows you to sort by size and, if you want, dump the result to a text file for easy analysis. Use this combination to view from smallest to largest size on the console:

dir /os

If the list is very long, it's better to create a text report with the same sorting criteria: you will open it in Excel or another spreadsheet and you can filter in detail.

dir /os > listado.txt

The 'listing.txt' file will be saved in the folder from which you run the command. From there you can locate routes, names and sizes, and decide whether to move those files to an external drive or delete them (if they are not system files).

Use Settings > System > Storage to see what's eating up disk space.

Windows 10/11 offers a clear view by categories: Desktop, Apps & features, Temporary files, Pictures, etc. Log in with Win + I > System > Storage and check the C: drive. Clicking on each block will show its details; for example, in 'Apps & features' you can sort by size and uninstall what you no longer use.

Be careful with the games: many are installed through launchers (Steam, Epic, Ubisoft, GOG) and their actual size does not always appear in this list. In these cases, open the corresponding client to check the size and consider uninstalling or moving the library to another drive.

In 'Temporary Files' you'll find caches, update remnants, and old installation files. Here you can recover several gigabytes of data. in one fell swoop without touching your documents.

Activate Storage Sensor and automate cleaning

The 'Storage Sense' automatically deletes temporary files, empties the trash, cleans up the Downloads folder based on age, and can get rid of local copies of files synced to the cloud (OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive) when they're not opened within the specified period. It's a way preventive and neglected to keep the puck at bay.

Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage and turn on Storage Sense. Enter its settings and set the frequency (daily, weekly or monthly), the criteria for emptying the trash, and the time it takes to clear Downloads (from 1 to 60 days). If you're short on space, schedule it to run frequently.

This system also frees you from app caches and temporary data that, if left to accumulate, can affect performance. Properly configured, it prevents the typical surprise that the record explodes overnight.

Games: The Big Culprits (and How to Tame Them)

Current titles take up tens or even more than 100 GB. If you have several installed, space flies. Start by uninstalling what you no longer play or what you know you won't play for weeks; you can download it again whenever you want.

Alternative: Install your Steam/Epic library to an external drive or a second internal drive. Steam allows move games from one drive to another without reinstalling; the process is quite fast on SSDs and frees up your system drive.

Third-party tools for disk mapping

When you need to see storage usage by folder and type, visual analyzers are gold. These utilities scan and return a map of what's taking up what, with tree views, graphs, and direct actions (open, delete, move).

TreeSize

TreeSize offers a quick, organized view of folders, showing percentages and cumulative sizes. It's free, easy to use, and well-known. Its interface can be overwhelming at first, but after a few minutes it becomes very intuitive. Includes several display modes to better understand where your space is going.

Pros: Free, powerful, multiple views, ideal for users of any level. Cons: For some, it displays Too much information that you don't always need for basic cleaning.

WinDirStat

WinDirStat generates a color treemap by file type, great for locating giant blocks of files (e.g., an MKV or ISO) at a glance. It's free and very graphical: clicking on a rectangle takes you to the exact route from the file.

Pros: Powerful visual overview, easy-to-understand interface after a short adaptation period. Cons: Advanced users may miss this feature. extra features, and the first impression can be overwhelming.

SpaceSniffer

Portable, free, and very lightweight. It uses an easy-to-read tree map and allows you to drill down folder by folder with different levels of detail. Ideal if you're looking for speed without installation.

Pros: Portable, simple, clear textual/visual focus. Cons: Its interface is plain and some buttons are not very expressive; some users may find it confusing. cost more to interpret the information if you prefer very eye-catching graphics.

Tricks that free up several gigabytes at once

It's not all about deleting photos and videos. Windows generates and accumulates system files that are safe to clean if you know where to tap. Here are the most effective ones for gain space quickly.

Empty the Recycle Bin

Until you empty the trash, nothing disappears. Open the Trash, check it, and tap 'Empty Trash.' If it was full, you can recover it. a good pinch of storage in seconds.

Use Disk Cleanup

Search for 'Free up space' in the Start menu and open the tool. Check items like 'Temporary files', 'Log files', 'Previous Windows installations' (if applicable), and click 'Clean up system files' to see even more options. The process may take a while, but it often frees up several GB.

Delete old Windows updates and Windows.old

After updating the version the folder remains windows.old and leftover updates that take up a lot of space. With 'Disk Cleanup' ('Clean up system files' mode), select 'Windows Update Cleanup' and confirm. If you updated from a previous version, delete Windows.old from this same utility to avoid leaving 20 GB blocked.

Removes outdated versions of drivers

In 'Disk Cleanup', select 'Device Driver Packages' to remove old drivers that you no longer use. This is often unnoticed space that you can recover without risk.

Disable hibernation (if you don't use it)

Hibernation creates the file hiberfil.sys with a size close to your RAM (16 GB of RAM ≈ 16 GB occupied). If you don't use it, disable it by opening 'Command Prompt' as administrator and running:

powercfg /h off

With this, you'll delete hiberfil.sys and gain those gigabytes in one fell swoop. If you ever need it, you can reactivate it with powercfg /h on, recovering the original functionality.

Virtual memory (pagefile): disable or reduce with head

The file pagefile.sys It acts like disk swap. If you have a lot of RAM, you can reduce it or move it to another drive; disabling it completely is only recommended if you have at least 16 GB (32 GB on professional computers) and know what you're doing.

With less than 16 GB disabling it can cause low memory warnings, app closures, freezes or even blue screenshots. Sensible alternatives: Set a smaller size, move it to another drive, or clean up temporary and restore points before touching it.

Route: Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Performance > Configuration > Advanced options > Virtual memory > Change. There you can set a smaller fixed size, enable 'No paging file' (with lots of RAM) or move it to another drive.

Move media to an external drive or the cloud

Photos and videos are space-hogs. If you don't need them daily, move them to a USB drive or upload them to the cloud (OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud). Enable selective sync to keep shortcuts and free up space. local storage. Make sure they've been uploaded before deleting anything.

Compress what you don't use often

Compressing large files that you touch occasionally (ZIP) frees up space and makes backups and sending easier. On Windows: right-click > Send To > Compressed Folder. On Mac: Finder > right-click > comprimir. Please note that you will need to unzip them to use them.

Uninstall apps and clean up your Desktop and Downloads

In Windows: Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features; sort by size and uninstall what you don't use. The cluttered Desktop and Downloads folder often accumulate huge files: organize, move to Documents/Videos/Pictures, and delete unnecessary items.

Delete user accounts that you don't use

Each profile saves its own library of files. If you're no longer using it, delete it from Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Remove (choose 'Erase account and data'). You can recover several gigabytes depending on the case.

Duplicates and Temps: How to Clean Up Safely

In addition to cleaning your system, it's a good idea to delete temporary app files and browser caches, and locate duplicates. Do this wisely to avoid delete active data.

Temporary in Windows

Review active processes (Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Processes tab) and close any you don't need. Open 'Run' (Win + R), type temp and delete unused content. Then empty the trash. For browser caches, use the option Clear cache in your configuration.

Temporary on Mac

In Finder > Go > Go to Folder, type ~/Biblioteca/Caches/, open each folder and send the unnecessary items to the trash. Empty the trash to reclaim space. Just like on Windows, clear your browser cache from its menu.

Duplicates

Manually, on Windows use View > Details and sort by Name/Size; on Mac, View > Show View Options > Sort By. If the task is huge, use a duplicate finder trusted to avoid mistakes.

More tools that make your life easier

If you prefer an all-in-one, there are suites like Avast Cleanup that automate tasks: cleaning caches, removing bloatware, detecting duplicates, and optimizing startup. There are also compression-focused utilities like Bandizip, which is lightweight and simple, that help you pack large files in just a few clicks.

Manage and expand C drive without losing data

If the problem is that the C: partition was too small, you can expand it. Before you start messing with partitions, back up your system and important data with your preferred tool. That way, if something goes wrong, you'll be able to go back without drama.

With contiguous unallocated space: Select C:, choose 'Resize/Move' in your partition manager, and drag the border to absorb the free space. Apply changes and wait for it to finish. C: will grow without lose information.

No unallocated space: Some managers allow you to 'Allocate space' from another partition with room, moving it to C:. Select the donor partition, indicate how much to give up, and apply. The software will move data and adjust the space. partition tables automatically.

Remember to run an antivirus if you suspect malware, and if you're going to clean thoroughly, prepare a system backup first. Aggressive cleaning without a backup can cost you dearly If you delete what you shouldn't. If you still want to keep cleaning, we'll tell you more here: How to replace C drive in Windows 10

Check disk space on Windows and Mac

Before diving in, it's a good idea to check your overall storage status. In Windows, open Explorer, go to 'This PC' and look at 'Devices and drives'. On a Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > General > Storage to see the breakdown by category and free space.

Prevention: prevent it from happening again

Schedule Storage Sense (automatic cleanup), review Downloads, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop monthly, and enable alerts if your computer allows it to warn you when you drop below 10–15% free space. Keep the trash in check and don't hoard installers that you no longer need.

Sync with the cloud using 'files on demand' and use external drives for large libraries (videos, music, photos, games). Spend 10 minutes every two months doing a quick scan with TreeSize or WinDirStat to detect issues early. runaway folders.

With these combined techniques, you can identify what's taking up too much space in minutes, safely apply cleanups, and automate maintenance. Between Explorer's size filter, Storage Sensor, and system debris removal (Windows.old, updates, old drivers), and TreeSize/WinDirStat/SpaceSniffer disk maps, you'll recover tens of gigabytes and keep your PC in shape effortlessly.