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With over a decade of experience at Which?, Tom covers everything from tech advice to money-saving tips, and highlights the best deals during major sales events.
Over time, your computer can become a dumping ground for files and apps you no longer need. But with our tech tips, you can restore valuable storage space on your PC or laptop and use it for files that are actually useful.
To effectively manage your computer, it's worth learning how to identify and uninstall storage-hogging apps, how to deal with downloads, the effectiveness of zipped folders and more.
Freeing up space on your computer doesn't need to be a headache. Below, we've worked through suggested tweaks for Windows 10, Windows 11 and macOS – and all of them come with step-by-step instructions.
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If you regularly download new software to your computer, it's worth checking your Downloads folder to see if any non-essential files are hiding there.
When you download new software, the .exe (Windows) or .dmg (macOS) files are only used for the initial setup. After that, you can remove them to save space.
Software aside, you might find out-of-date documents, unnecessary images or PDFs in your folder. Take a moment to look through it and sort by date downloaded or file size if you need to.
Clearing out your deleted files is one of the easiest ways to clear space on your PC in seconds.
Deleting files from your desktop or a folder in File Explorer or Finder doesn't always mean they're gone for good. The benefit of having a recycle bin on your desktop is that it acts as a safety net in case you change your mind.
But remember – if you accidentally delete a file 'permanently' from the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS), there's a chance you'll be able to recover it using specialist software. Our guide on how to recover deleted files has more details.
Both Windows and macOS have dedicated tools for freeing up disk space on your drives. On Windows, this is called Disk Cleanup (shown below). On macOS, it's Storage Management.
By running these tools when you have a couple of minutes, you can recover space by removing downloaded program files, temporary internet files, and more. Try working through this process every couple of weeks to stay in control.
If your laptop is getting sluggish with age and doesn't improve with these tips, you might want to consider a replacement. Our expert advice on the best laptops will help you choose wisely.
There's no point in having space-hogging apps on your PC if you don't use them. Over time, that list of unused apps can build up and take up a significant amount of space on your hard drive.
On the plus side, removing big apps is relatively easy on both Windows and macOS. Running through this process will also remove related desktop icons and folders in File Explorer or Finder.
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Files don't always need to be stored locally, so consider using a cloud storage service or external drive to house documents, pictures and videos.
Opting for a cloud storage service means that your most important files are stored safely online and still recoverable even if your computer gets damaged or you're using a different device. There are free and paid-for options – Apple iCloud gives you 5GB for free, while Google Drive offers 15GB.
An external drive is another option, but make sure you keep it in a safe place. For a belt and braces approach, use both cloud storage and an external drive.
Discover the best external hard drives and see our guide on how to choose the best cloud storage service.
If you have multiple user accounts stored on your computer, decide if any of them are no longer needed. Each account holds its own personal settings, downloads and files, so deleting a user will free up space.
Before you delete a user account, check whether there are any important files saved in its folders. Back them up elsewhere, if you still need them.
If you're dealing with slow wi-fi, you might be able to improve your experience with an extender. See our guide on the best mesh networks and wi-fi extenders.
While using folders to organise your desktop shortcuts won't clear space on your drive, it will free up visual space and help you stay organised. Think of how you can organise your most-used files into groups to make things easier to navigate.
You can also navigate to a particular folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and then use Create shortcut for quick access right from your desktop – a good time-saver if you regularly access files buried several folders deep.
Our friendly team can help you fix tech issues, stay safe online, and get more from your devices. Get 12 months of tech support for only £24.50. We’ll help you take control of your tech.
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