Disk full issue may bring you a slow computer experience. But don’t worry, this guide is about how to clear space when disk is full, which may lead you to speed up your hard drive quickly and safely.
“Disk is full” means your storage drive (usually the C: drive) has little or no free space left. When this happens, your operating system can’t save files, install updates, or run programs properly, which leads to slow performance, errors, and system crashes.
What it really means:
◆ Temporary files, caches, and logs have piled up
◆ Large files (videos, backups, installers) are taking up space
◆ Too many unused apps or games are installed
◆ System files and updates are consuming storage
◆ The drive itself may be small or nearly worn out
The best way to address this issue is to clear space regularly. Keep reading to know more detailed steps.
When your disk is full, your system can slow down, freeze, or fail to update. Here are four practical and effective ways to clear space and get your storage back under control.
Over time, Windows creates junk files such as cache, logs, update leftovers, and error reports. These files serve little purpose once created and can take up several gigabytes.
Step 1. Press Windows + I and open Settings.
Step 2. Go to System > Storage.
Step 3. Click Temporary files.
Step 4. Select items like Windows Update Cleanup, Recycle Bin, and System cache.
Step 5. Click Remove files.
Many applications install large files and background components you may no longer need. Removing unused software can recover significant disk space.
Step 1. Open the Start menu from the desktop and go to "Settings > Apps > Apps & features".
Step 2. Select the software you want to uninstall and hit the "Uninstall" button.
Temporary folders store short-term data that is rarely cleaned automatically. Clearing them is quick and effective.
Step 1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
Step 2. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them.
Step 3. If prompted, skip files currently in use.
Step 4. Repeat the process by typing temp and prefetch in the Run box.
Personal files such as videos, downloads, backups, and duplicate files often consume the most space. AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup is a practical and user-friendly solution for deleting unnecessary or large files and freeing up valuable disk space on your PC. Designed for Windows users, it helps you quickly identify what’s taking up space and remove it safely.
Why choose AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup?
✅ Safe and precise scanning: Conducts in-depth scans while protecting critical system files, keeping your PC stable and secure after cleanup.
✅ Easy to use: Offers a clear, intuitive interface that allows users of all experience levels to clean their systems with confidence.
✅ Broad compatibility: Fully supports Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and Windows Server editions, delivering a flexible solution for a wide range of devices.
Free Up Disk Space To Keep Your PC Running Smoothly and Efficiently
Step 1. Start by installing AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup and opening the program. Navigate to the “Clean Junk Files” tab to begin.
Step 2. Click “Scan Now” to let the program analyze your system for unnecessary files. This process will locate clutter that may be slowing down your computer.
Step 3. Once the scan completes, all detected junk files will be listed. This includes system junk such as temporary files, log files, recycle bin items, and invalid shortcuts, as well as registry junk like DLL entries, system registry errors, and program-specific registry issues.
You can click the corresponding buttons to view detailed information or locate individual files if needed.
Step 4. By default, essential junk files such as temporary files and log files are preselected for cleanup. You can manually select additional files or deselect items you wish to keep. For a full cleanup, simply click “Select All”.
Step 5. After making your selections, click “Clean Now” to start the cleanup process. Depending on the number of files, this may take a few moments.
Once finished, a summary window will display the number of files successfully cleaned and any remaining items.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup. Click the "Delete Large Files" tab.
Step 2. You can either click "Scan System Drive" to start the scan of your system C: drive. Or, click "Custom Scan" to manually select paths to be scanned. (Here, we take the "Custom Scan" as an example.)
Step 3. After clicking "Custom Scan", all local and external drives on your PC and the common Desktop, Documents, and Downloads paths will be displayed. You can manually select paths to be scanned. Once necessary paths are added, you can click the "Scan Now" button to start the scan process.
The scan process might take time. After the scan is complete, all large files found will be listed.
You can also check the large files and click the button behind to locate them.
Step 4. Tick the files you want to delete, and then click the "Clean Now" button to start the deletion.
Step 5. The deletion might take time. After the process is finished, the selected files will be deleted, and you will get a cleaning completed window displaying how much data you deleted in total.
You should keep at least 15–20% of your disk free to ensure smooth system performance, prevent slowdowns, and allow updates or temporary files to be stored without issues.
Yes, deleting temporary files is generally safe. They are created by Windows and applications for short-term use and removing them can free up space without affecting your system or personal files.
No, disk cleanup tools usually do not slow down your PC. In fact, by removing unnecessary files, they can improve system performance, though the cleanup process itself may temporarily use CPU and disk resources.
Yes, moving files to cloud storage frees local disk space. Uploaded files can be deleted from your hard drive while remaining accessible online, but ensure files are fully synced before removing local copies.
If your disk constantly fills up, upgrading to a larger drive is a practical solution. It provides more storage, improves performance, and reduces the need for frequent file management or deletion.
In short, a “disk is full” warning signals that your system lacks the free space needed to function smoothly. Regularly cleaning junk files, removing unused programs, and managing large files can prevent slowdowns and errors. Using reliable tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup makes disk management easier, safer, and more efficient, helping keep your PC fast, stable, and ready for updates.