How to Locate Large Files on Windows 10

How can I locate large files on Windows 10?

When there is not enough space on C drive, the computer will run slowly. Therefore, for a better performance, Windows users will choose to clean up unnecessary large files such as outdated large files, Cache files and temp files from the C drive.

But how to locate large files occupying hard disk space in the computer? In this article, we will share 3 ways to locate large files on Windows 10 and delete them permanently.

Two ways to locate and delete large files

In order to clean up your computer for more usable space, locating and deleting large files in your computer cannot be ignored. But for many Windows users, it's tricky to locate large files on Windows 10. Therefore, we provide the following two methods to do it.

│Method 1. Locate large files with Command Prompt

In addition to basic functions such as extending/shrinking partitions and formating partitions, the well-known Windows built-in tool Command Prompt can also help users find large files hidden in Windows 10 PC. Here are the steps of how to locate large files on Windows 10 in C drive.

Step 1. Click "Windows" and then type "cmd" in the pop-up small window, then right-click "Run as administrator" to open Command Prompt.

Step 2. The path on the command prompt is C:\Windows\system32, so you need to turn to the C : drive. Type "cd C:\" and press "Enter".

Step 3. Input the command forfiles /S /M * /C "cmd /c if @fsize GEQ echo @path > largefiles.txt" and replace the "size (bytes)" with the actual size you are looking for. If you are looking for files larger than 1 GB, enter forfiles /S /M * /C "cmd /c if @fsize GEQ 1073741824 echo @path > LargeFilesList.txt".

Note: In bytes B, we need to convert unit of size to help you find these large files easily, e.g. 1 KB = 1024 B, 1 MB = 1,048,576 B, 1 GB = 1,073,741,824 B.) 

Step 5. Press "Enter" to run the entered command, which will create a file named "LargeFilesList", which contains all the large files on the C drive. Press "Win + E" to open File Explorer, then click "This PC" and C: drive in turn, find the LargeFilesList.txt file and open it.

Step 6. In the LargeFilesList.txt file, you can select the target large files and delete them one by one.

│Method 2. Locate large files with File Explorer

In the Windows system, you can also use File Explorer, an easier way to locate large files on Windows 10 PC.

Step 1. Press "Win + E" at the same time and select "This PC" in the pop-up window. Type "*" in the search bar of File Explorer to list all the files on your PC.

Step 2. Click the Search tab and click the size drop-down menu, then select the file size from the options to find the target large file according to your needs.

Step 3. Besides, if you want to find hidden files, click the View tab and check "Hidden items" to display all hidden files and folders.

Step 4. When you have selected the target large files, right-click each and click "Delete" to delete them one by one.

An accurate way to locate and delete large files on Windows 10

How to locate large files on windows 10 accurately? From the above, you can learn to use Command Prompt and File Explorer to locate large files in Windows 10. But obviously, both of them are complicated, and you need to find and delete large files one by one, so you can try AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup, a simpler and more reliable large file cleaning expert. Unlike other tools, it can:

★ Be compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, and Windows Servers.
★ Provide users with a clear and graphical interface.
★ Handle disk managing and cleaning problems with detailed guidance.

The "Delete Large Files" function can find all large files over 16MB in the computer, and users can click the folder icon to accurately locate the specific location of the large files after scanning. When you are ready to delete large files, some important files will be automatically marked in red to prevent you from accidentally deleting system-related files.

If you still want to find and delete residual files on your computer, the "PC Cleaner" function can help you dig out all files smaller than 16MB and delete them completely after you determine the target files.

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

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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.

Step 4. The scan process might take time. After the scan is complete, all large files found will be listed.

Step 5. You can also check the large files and click the button behind to locate them.

Step 6. Tick the files you want to delete, and then click the "Clean Now" button to start the deletion.

Step 7. 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. 

Step 5. Just for a while, the large files will be deleted successfully, and then you will see a warm notification suggesting you clean up your PC regularly.

Summary

In this tutorial, we have shared three effective ways to locate large files on Windows 10. By comparing, I believe you also have got the best option.