Start with the biggest space hogs: old files and downloads

Your Downloads folder and Desktop are usually where gigabytes hide. Open your Downloads folder, sort by size, and delete anything you no longer need — old installers, PDFs you read once, compressed files you already unpacked. Most people find 5 to 20 gigabytes here without trying.

Next, check your Documents, Pictures, and Videos folders for duplicates and old projects. If you have multiple copies of the same photo or video, keep one and delete the rest. Look for folders named "Old", "Archive", or "Backup" — these are often forgotten and take up real space.

On Windows, open File Explorer, right-click your C: drive, and select Properties to see a pie chart of what is using space. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage to see a similar breakdown. This tells you when ready whether your problem is photos, videos, applications, or system files.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Downloads folder, Desktop, and Documents often hold gigabytes of files you no longer need and should be your first place to look.
  • Temporary files, cache, and old system backups can be safely deleted using built-in tools without harming your computer.
  • Uninstalling programs you do not use frees space faster than deleting individual files, especially for large applications.
  • Moving photos and videos to external storage or cloud services removes them from your main drive while keeping them accessible.
  • Checking what is actually using space with your operating system's built-in tools prevents you from deleting the wrong things.

Remove temporary files and system cache safely

Windows stores temporary files in a folder called Temp that you can empty without breaking anything. Press Windows key + R, type %temp%, and press Enter. Select all files (Ctrl+A), delete them, and ignore any error messages about files in use — Windows will skip those and delete the rest. This often frees 1 to 5 gigabytes.

You can also use Disk Cleanup, which is built into Windows. Press Windows key, type "Disk Cleanup", and open it. Select your C: drive, then check the boxes next to Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Temporary internet files. Click Delete Files and let it run. Do not check "Windows Update Cleanup" unless you are comfortable losing the ability to uninstall recent updates.

On Mac, temporary files are harder to access manually, but you can empty the Trash (which holds deleted files until you empty it). Click the Trash icon in your Dock, then click Empty. You can also go to Finder, click Go, then Go to Folder, type /Library/Caches, and delete cache folders from applications you no longer use — but be careful not to delete system caches.

Uninstall programs you no longer use

Large applications like video editors, games, or design software can occupy 5 to 50 gigabytes each. On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps, then Apps & Features, and look through the list. Click any program you do not use and select Uninstall. Windows will remove the program and its files.

On Mac, open Finder, go to Applications, and drag unused programs to the Trash. Some larger applications come with an uninstaller — double-click it to remove the program completely. After uninstalling, empty the Trash to actually free the space.

Check your browser extensions too. Unused extensions take up small amounts of space and can slow your computer. In Chrome, go to Settings, then Extensions, and remove anything you do not recognize or use regularly.

Move photos and videos to external storage

Photos and videos are usually the largest files on a personal computer. Instead of deleting them, move them to an external hard drive or USB stick. On Windows, plug in your external drive, open File Explorer, select your photo and video folders, right-click, and choose Cut. Navigate to your external drive and Paste them there.

On Mac, use Finder to drag photo and video folders to your external drive. After the transfer completes and you have verified the files are on the external drive, delete them from your computer.

If you prefer not to use a physical drive, cloud services like Google Photos, OneDrive, or iCloud let you upload photos and videos, then delete the local copies from your computer. You can still view and read them later, but they no longer take up space on your main drive.

Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash

When you delete a file, it goes to the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac), but it still occupies space on your drive until you empty it. On Windows, right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop and select Empty Recycle Bin. On Mac, right-click the Trash icon in your Dock and select Empty Trash.

If you have not emptied these in months, you may recover several gigabytes. However, once you empty them, the files are gone for good, so make sure you do not need anything inside first.

Check for duplicate files

Many people end up with multiple copies of the same file without realizing it — photos backed up twice, documents saved in two places, or downloads that were not deleted after installation. On Windows, use the built-in search. Open File Explorer, type the name of a file you think might be duplicated, and see what appears.

For a more thorough search, third-party tools like Duplicate File Finder (free version available) scan your entire drive and show you identical files side by side. You can then delete the copies you do not need. On Mac, similar tools like Gemini Photos focus on finding duplicate photos and videos, which are often the biggest space wasters.

Turn off automatic backups if you have external storage

Windows System Restore and Mac Time Machine create automatic backups that can consume 10 to 50 gigabytes or more. If you already back up your computer to an external drive or cloud service, you may not need both. On Windows, go to Settings, System, About, then System Protection, and click Configure. Select Disable System Protection to turn it off.

On Mac, click the Apple menu, go to System Settings, then General, then Time Machine, and click the toggle to turn it off. Only do this if you have another backup method in place — losing your only backup is a real risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete files from the Temp folder?

Yes. The Temp folder holds temporary files that programs create while running. Once a program closes, these files are no longer needed. Windows may show errors for files it is currently using, but it will skip those and delete the rest safely.

What should I never delete to avoid breaking my computer?

Do not delete anything in Windows, System32, Program Files, or the root of your C: drive unless you know exactly what it is. Stick to Downloads, Desktop, Documents, and the Temp folder. On Mac, avoid deleting anything in /System or /Library unless you are certain it is safe.

How much space do I actually need free on my drive?

Windows and Mac both need at least 10 to 15 percent of your drive free to run smoothly. If your drive is more than 85 percent full, your computer will slow down noticeably. Aim for 20 percent free if possible.

Will moving files to cloud storage slow down my internet?

The initial upload takes time depending on file size and your internet speed, but once files are in the cloud, accessing them does not use more bandwidth than accessing local files. Downloading a file from the cloud takes the same time as downloading anything else from the internet.

Can I recover files after emptying the Recycle Bin?

Once you empty the Recycle Bin or Trash, recovery is difficult and usually requires paid software. If you deleted something important by accident, stop using your computer when ready and consider a data recovery service. The longer you use the drive, the less likely recovery becomes.