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Low disk space in Windows 11

Charles Hotmail 0 Reputation points
2026-05-15T15:34:14.12+00:00

My Windows 11 C: drive keeps running out of disk space. When I start the laptop C: has around 500MB free. It gradually decreases to 0 after a while. This even happened when I just started the laptop, did nothing and even turned off Wifi.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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  1. DaveM121 889.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-15T16:08:48.6933333+00:00

    Even 500MB of free space on the C drive is not enough, Windows will be very un-responsive, because it cannot create temporary files or install updates.

    Download the free TreeSize app from the Microsoft Store.

    Very Important - to run TreeSize, you must right click its icon and choose Run as Administrator.

    Please provide a screenshot of your C drive in that TreeSize utility, so I can see your hard drive and work out where that space is being used and if there is an underlying problem.

    Please ensure the full TreeSize window is in the screenshot, there is information on the top and bottom bars I needs to see.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-15T15:34:31.52+00:00

    The behavior indicates that something on the system drive is continuously consuming space. Use the built‑in tools in this order to identify and reclaim space, then prevent it from filling again.

    1. Check what is using space
    • Select File Explorer from the taskbar, then select This PC.
    • Under Devices and drives, check the C: drive bar to confirm it is nearly full.
    • Select Start > Settings > System > Storage to see which categories (Apps, System, Temporary files, etc.) are using the most space.
    1. Use Cleanup recommendations
    2. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations.
    3. Review each category:
      • Temporary files
      • Large or unused files
      • Files synced to the cloud
      • Unused apps
    4. Select items to remove and then select Clean up for each section.
      • If the previous version of Windows is listed and more than 10 days have passed since an upgrade, deleting it can free a large amount of space, but this removes the option to go back to the previous version.
    5. Turn on Storage Sense so space is freed automatically
    6. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.
    7. Turn Storage Sense to On.
    8. Select Storage Sense and configure:
      • How often it runs under Run Storage Sense.
      • When to delete files in Recycle Bin and optionally in Downloads.
      • This will automatically clean temporary files and Recycle Bin content when the device is low on disk space.
    9. If the Temp folder is filling up quickly (common cause of sudden 0‑byte free space) If low disk space appears again shortly after cleanup, the Temp folder may be filling with Microsoft Store app (.appx) files.

    Follow these steps:

    1. Reset Microsoft Store apps troubleshooter:
      • Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      • Next to Windows Store Apps, select Run.
    2. Clear the Microsoft Store cache:
      • Press Windows logo key + R.
      • Type wsreset.exe and select OK.
      • A Command Prompt window opens, then closes automatically, and Microsoft Store opens.
    3. Reset Windows Update components:
      • Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
      • Next to Windows Update, select Run.
    4. Restart the PC and monitor free space in Settings > System > Storage to see if the free space remains stable.
    5. Move new personal data off C: to avoid future issues
    6. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved.
    7. For each content type (documents, music, pictures, videos, etc.), choose another drive with more free space.
    8. Use OneDrive Files On‑Demand (if using OneDrive)
    • Turn on OneDrive Files On‑Demand so only placeholders are stored locally and full files stay in the cloud. This can free significant space if many files are in OneDrive. For more info, see Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows.
    1. Run an antivirus scan
    • If space continues to disappear rapidly even when idle, run a full scan with Windows Security or another antivirus to rule out malware that might be generating large files.

    If, after these steps, C: still drops from hundreds of MB to 0 quickly, check Storage in Settings again to see which category is growing. That will indicate whether it is System, Temporary files, or another component that needs further investigation.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  3. Charles Hotmail 0 Reputation points
    2026-05-16T21:32:04.4066667+00:00

    I tried everything with Storage, but it didn't help. Turns out it was the CapabilityAccessManager folder. But I learned more about the Storage options in Windows. Thanks !

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