Since its inception, Windows has been one of the widely used operating systems in the world. Apart from its features and ease of use, it has its share of problems as well.
Windows consists of files and folders that eat up space on your computer. These files and folders are not really needed. Furthermore, these files pile up over time and might take a toll on your computer’s performance. The good news is that you can delete these unwanted files and folders without harming your computer.
Let us discuss how.
Empty the Recycle Bin
When you delete files and folders from your computer, they aren’t deleted immediately and permanently. Instead, they are sent to the recycle bin, where they sit for a while until the computer automatically deletes them. Initially, this might not affect your computer but as more and more items end up in the folder, they start consuming valuable storage space. Hence, emptying the recycle bin is essential.
To empty the recycle bin, locate the recycle bin folder. Then, right-click to select ‘empty recycle bin’ and click ‘Yes’ to proceed.
Get rid of downloaded and temporary files
By default, both downloaded and temporary files are stored in Drive C. Unless you choose to move them to a different location, they will just sit there. Since downloading involves documents, audio and video files, the folder could become heavy, ultimately burdening the drive. Similarly, temporary files may end up being stored by the Windows and Apps during the update process.
To delete downloaded and temporary files, visit ‘Settings>System’ and select ‘Storage’. Then select, ‘Temporary files’ and click ‘Remove files’.
Disable Hibernate Option
Many people are unaware of the fact that hibernation also takes up valuable space. Upon enabling the hibernation mode, the computer goes into a quasi-shut downstate. It does that by taking a snapshot of the files and drivers before shutting down, which enables it to boot faster. While it may be convenient for some, the fact is that the hiberfil.sys files consume a lot of space. Therefore, if hibernation is not a regularly used option for you, reclaim the valuable disk drive space by deleting the above-mentioned file.
Uninstall Apps
There might be some apps on your computer that you do not use. Perhaps, they were pre-installed by the manufacturer. Either way, you can delete them if they are not being used.
To do this, visit ‘Settings’ and then ‘Apps>Apps & features’. You can sort the apps according to their size so that you are able to determine which ones are acquiring the most space.
Alternatively, open ‘Control Panel’ and visit the ‘Programs’ section. From there, choose the program that you wish to delete and right-click ‘Uninstall’.
Delete Older Windows Files
Majority users do not know that there is a folder called ‘The Windows. Old Folder’. This folder is created when the user upgrades from one Windows version to another. The computer stores all the files from the previous version in this folder. Storing these files is essential in case they aren’t transferred properly while upgrading.
Furthermore, you could also go back to the previous version of Windows using the same files. However, if you do not need these files, you could delete them by launching ‘Disk Cleanup’ and selecting ‘Clean up system files’. In case you stumble upon previous installations, clean them up by using this tool.