Windows 10: How do I cleanup unnecessary large files?

I have a 3.5 year old Dell G15 laptop and one external hard drive. My storage space tells me that my Local Disk Space only has 38 GB free out of 953 GB. When I click it, it does not show which files are largest. Storage Space tells me that Apps and Features takes up 454 GB but when I open, it shows the largest file is Spotify at 2.7 GB, which I know cannot be the largest file. Desktop is just under 400 GB and it won't show me which files are largest either. What programs or features can be used to check which files are largest so I can remove them?

:)

 

File History Cleanup

The first step only deletes unnecessary files, and the second step only deletes the file history database. So it only deletes old versions while keeping the latest version.

It's recommended to back up important files before performing any disk cleanup or system changes, especially when dealing with large amounts of data.

 

unnecessary and junk files

Hi kallolmondal1

1

Run Disk Cleanup twice as explained here:

Open File Explorer

Click on your hard drive

On the Manage Tab, click Cleanup

Let Disk Cleanup do its initial scan

Select Everything in the list and choose Delete

Start Disk Cleanup again

Let Disk Cleanup do its initial scan

This time in the resulting dialog, click 'Cleanup System Files'

Let Disk Cleanup run another scan

Select Everything in the list and choose Delete

2

Turn off all unnecessary startup applications and processes:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager

Click on the Startup Tab

See any non-essential items are listed there

If so, select and click 'Disable'

Close Task Manager

Click your Start Button, type msconfig and hit Enter

When the System Configuration dialog opens, click on the Services Tab

Check the box marked 'Hide Microsoft Services'

In the remaining list, see any non-essential items are listed there, uncheck any you find

Click Apply and OK

3

Turn off all unnecessary Background Apps

Open the Settings App

Go to Privacy - Background Apps

Turn off any App you do not need running in the background

Restart your PC

 

delete unnecessary files and apps

Hi Dalemisto61

1.

Open File Explorer

Click on your hard drive

On the Manage Tab, click Cleanup

Let Disk Cleanup do its initial scan

Select Everything in the list and choose Delete

Start Disk Cleanup again

Let Disk Cleanup do its initial scan

This time in the resulting dialog, click 'Cleanup System Files'

Let Disk Cleanup run another scan

Select Everything in the list and choose Delete

2.

Turn off all unnecessary startup applications and processes:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager

Click on the Startup Tab

See any non-essential items are listed there

If so, select and click 'Disable'

Close Task Manager

Click your Start Button, type msconfig and hit Enter

When the System Configuration dialog opens, click on the Services Tab

Check the box marked 'Hide Microsoft Services'

In the remaining list, see any non-essential items are listed there, uncheck any you find

Click Apply and OK

Turn off all unnecessary Background Apps

Open the Settings App

Go to Privacy - Background Apps

Turn off any App you do not need running in the background

Restart your PC