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Is it True There Should Always be 20 to 25% of Free Space At All Times When Running Any Windows (or Any OS)?

Anonymous
2024-05-22T00:17:57+00:00

Hello Microsoft friends, I read you should always leave 20 to 25% free space at all times for operating systems like Windows to run properly which is a lot of space not to be used (for 1TB that's around 250GB, for 4TB SSDs that's 1TB of just free space)?

If this is true, which one: 20 or 25%? And based on which size, the physical size or the logical size?

I hope it's not true for Windows 11 23H2, maybe Windows 11 has solved that issue, coz' that's a lot of space not used to install a lot of games.

Thank you.

God bless Windows users.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-05-22T01:13:25+00:00

    Hi my name is Tamir. im independent advisor with Microsoft, i would say 20% is ideal and it has to do with physical as windows in particular 10 and 11 takes up about 16gb-30gb of space both for 32 and 64bit. and that for the initial install after that you have updates and drivers so keep a good amount space will insure safe functionally and also as for games it depends on what games alot game in particular Call of duty can take up about 130gb of space on a 1 Tb hard drive plus other games that are larger.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-05-22T01:09:41+00:00

    There is no such rule. The wisest thing to do is to let Windows manage your computer's resources.

    Lots of very smart people went to fancy schools to learn how to do that. I don't try to second-guess them. 😉

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-05-22T16:14:37+00:00

    it will be physical but your safe to go higher, here why win 11 only take 32gb of space the rest is use for updated and drivers. But today games take over 100gb of space once downloaded for example, call of duty, now you can put COd and your OS on the SSD but depending on how large it it can cause problems, best case to save this is to two separate the two but your OS of 500gb SSD, this will allow the remaining 400 for updated and drivers and keep it from crashing and or being unstable, get a 1tb SSd for games and apps this will allow you to do what you need to do in turn of mods, etc without having issues this includes slow downs

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-05-22T06:26:54+00:00

    Hi thanks for the 20%, is that base off physical space or logical space (which is usually smaller)?

    Would 20% of free space at all times, help prolong the lifespan of SSDs?

    If 20% is the ideal what would be the minimum % free space at all time so Windows 11, the apps and the SSD it's on are still stable and doesn't crash or the SSD doesn't slow down if it's affected by free space?

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