Managing storage space on a Windows laptop is essential for optimizing performance and ensuring you have enough room for your files and applications. Here are a few ways to effectively manage storage space:
- Delete unnecessary files: Start by reviewing and deleting any files, folders, or applications that you no longer need. These can include old documents, unused software installations, or temporary files. Be cautious while deleting, ensuring you don't remove any important files.
- Uninstall unused programs: Go through your list of installed programs and uninstall those that you no longer use. This will not only free up storage space but also declutter your system.
- Optimize storage settings: Windows provides several built-in tools that help optimize storage. For example, you can enable Storage Sense, which automatically deletes temporary files and empties the Recycle Bin when space is running low. You can also adjust the Storage settings to save files to an external drive or cloud storage instead of the local disk.
- Utilize cloud storage: Consider moving some of your files, such as photos, videos, or documents, to cloud storage solutions like Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. This allows you to access your files from any device while freeing up space on your laptop.
- Store files on an external drive: If you have large files or media libraries, such as movies or music, you can store them on an external hard drive or USB flash drive. This way, they won't take up valuable space on your laptop's internal storage.
- Compress files and folders: If you have files that you don't access frequently but still need to keep on your laptop, consider compressing them into a single folder or using file compression tools. This reduces their size, saving storage space.
- Run disk cleanup: Windows has a built-in Disk Cleanup tool that identifies and removes unnecessary files, such as temporary Internet files, system-generated error logs, and Windows update files. You can access this tool by searching for "Disk Cleanup" in the Windows search bar.
- Manage your downloads: Regularly clean up your Downloads folder, deleting any files that you no longer need. It's easy for this folder to accumulate large files that you've forgotten about, taking up valuable space on your laptop.
Remember, it's important to regularly maintain your laptop's storage space to prevent storage-related issues and keep your device running smoothly. By following these tips, you can effectively manage and optimize storage space on your Windows laptop.
Best Windows Laptops to Buy in December 2024
1
Rating is 5 out of 5
HP Pavilion Laptop, 15.6" FHD Touchscreen, 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U Processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Webcam, Fingerprint Reader, Backlit KB, Wi-Fi 6, Windows 11 Pro, Blue
-
【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】32GB high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer.
-
【Processor】13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U Processor (10 Cores, 12 Threads, Base Frequency at 1.2GHz, Up to 5.0GHz at Max Turbo Frequency), with Intel Iris Xe Graphics
-
【Display】15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080) Touchscreen, IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 250 nits
-
【Tech Specs】1x USB Type-C 3.0, 2x USB Type-A 3.0, 1x HDMI, 1x Headphone/mic combo; Backlit Keyboard (On: F11); Fingerprint Reader; Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth;
-
【Operating System】Windows 11 Pro - Organize open apps with pre-configured layouts to optimize productivity, Navigate with more intuitive experience to get things done, Collaborate with teams with more features
2
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Lenovo V15 Laptop, 15.6" FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Hexa-core Processor (Beat Intel i7-1065G7), 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, HDMI, RJ45, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Pro, Black
-
【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】16GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
-
【Processor】AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor (6 Cores, 12 Threads, 8MB L3 Cache, Clock Speed:2.1GHz, up to 4.0GHz Turbo)
-
【Display】15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080)
-
【Tech Specs】1 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 1 x headphone/microphone combo, Numeric Keyboard, Webcam, Wi-Fi
-
【Operating System】Windows 11 Pro-Get all the features of Windows 11 Home operating system plus Mobile device management, Group Policy, Enterprise State Roaming, Assigned Access, Dynamic Provisioningm, Windows Update for Business, Kiosk mode, and Active Directory/Azure AD
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) Gaming Laptop, 16” 16:10 FHD 165Hz, GeForce RTX 4070, Intel Core i9-13980HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JI-AS94, Eclipse Gray
-
POWER UP YOUR PLAY - Draw more frames and win more games with Windows 11, a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU at 140W Max TGP..Anti-glare display, Refresh Rate: 240Hz, Response Time: 3ms, 720P HD camera.
-
BLAZING FAST MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask swiftly with 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz memory and speed up loading times with 1TB of PCIe 4x4.
-
ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – To put this amount of power in a gaming laptop, you need an even better cooling solution. The Strix features Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU, and a third intake fan among other premium features, to allow for better sustained performance over long gaming sessions.
-
SWIFT VISUALS – The Strix G16 has a fast FHD 165Hz panel to make sure you never miss a moment. It also covers 100% of the sRGB color space and feature Dolby Vision, Adaptive-Sync support, and an 90% screen-to-body ratio for a stellar gaming and viewing experience.
-
MUX SWITCH WITH ADVANCED OPTIMUS - A MUX Switch increases laptop gaming performance by 5-10% by routing frames directly from the dGPU to the display bypassing the iGPU. With Advanced Optimus the switch between iGPU and dGPU becomes automatic based on the task, optimizing battery life.
4
![Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3520 Business Laptop Computer[Windows 11 Pro], 15.6'' FHD Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1135G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Black](https://blogweb-static.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/images/be6234ae-b2de-4259-a764-ab161c6cb9b8/rating/51o3nnfyjpl-sl160.jpg)
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3520 Business Laptop Computer[Windows 11 Pro], 15.6'' FHD Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1135G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Black
-
【15.6" Full HD Touchscreen】The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient LED backlight. Designed with tiny rubber feet and bumpers on the hinge that keep it from skidding and provide additional stability.
-
【11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor】Ultra-low-voltage platform. Quad-core, eight-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go. Your always-ready experience starts as soon as you open your device. Turn on, boot-up, and log-in quickly.
-
【16GB DDR4 RAM + 1TB PCIe SSD】16GB RAM can smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. A 1TB NVMe PCIe solid slate drive that leaves the power at your fingertips with the fastest data transfers currently available.
-
【Easy-to-use Technology】Long-lasting battery and express charge capability, to keep going for longer. Comes with Express Charge capabilities that minimize the time you spend tethered to an outlet and will recharge your battery 80% in 60 minutes. Built-in media reader for simple photo transfer.
-
【Windows 11 Professional】Experience the most secure Windows ever built with fast boot times, increased responsiveness, and added protection against phishing and malware. Plus, you can switch out of S mode.
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (2022), 13.5" Touch Screen, Thin & Lightweight, Long Battery Life, Fast Intel i5 Processor for Multi-Tasking, 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage with Windows 11, Platinum
-
Introducing Copilot on Windows 11, your everyday AI companion - Copilot empowers you to create faster, complete tasks with ease and lessens your cognitive load - making one complicated task, simple.
-
Your style – complemented – Sleek and ultra-smooth 13.5” PixelSense touchscreen for ultra-portable productivity. Make it your own with your choice of four bold colors [1].
-
Lift the lid and get in the flow – Effortlessly open with one finger and sign-in securely in seconds with Windows Hello and your face as your password.
-
Type accurately and quickly with exceptional typing comfort – Featuring the perfect balance of key travel and responsiveness, plus easy navigation on the large touchpad.
-
See more and do more – With the 3:2 Surface ratio on the vibrant PixelSense touch display, Surface Laptop 5 has 18% more vertical screen real estate for less scrolling and more doing [2].
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop, 15.6” FHD Touchscreen Display, Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, 20GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 6, SD Card Reader, HDMI, Webcam, Windows 11 Pro, Grey
-
【High Speed RAM And Enormous Space】20GB high-bandwidth DDR4 RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows to fast bootup and data transfer
-
【Processor】11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor (2.40 GHz up to 4.20 GHz, 4 Cores, 8 Threads)
-
【Display】15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Anti-Glare, Touchscreen, 45%NTSC, 300 nits, 60Hz, LED Backlight, Narrow Bezel
-
【Tech Specs】1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB-A 2.0, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo, 1 x HDMI, 1 x SD Media Card Reader; Wi-Fi 6 AX and Bluetooth 5.1; Touchscreen; Numeric Keyboard; Windows 11 Pro
-
【Authorized KKE Bundle】 Bundled with KKE Mousepad
7
Rating is 4.4 out of 5
ASUS VivoBook 15.6" Touchscreen FHD Laptop, 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1255U, 16GB RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, Backlit Keyboard, WiFi 6, Windows 11 Pro, Quiet Blue, 32GB Hotface USB Card
-
【15.6" FHD Touchscreen Display】15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch screen Display. Embark on a visual journey where vibrant colors and high resolution come to life at your fingertips.
-
【Intel Core i7-1255U Processor】1.7 GHz (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 10 cores), saving you time and increasing your ability to prioritize important tasks. Embrace highly efficient multitasking, powering through new levels of productivity and unleashing your full potential in a boundless journey.
-
【16GB DDR4 RAM】Seamlessly tackle resource-intensive tasks, smoothly run multiple applications simultaneously, and enjoy lightning-fast responsiveness that keeps you in the flow.【512GB PCIe SSD】Delivers lightning-fast boot-up speed, enhanced storage capabilities, and support for high-definition video playback. Effortlessly store an extensive digital library and access your virtual world with ease.
-
【Backlit Keyboard】The illuminated keys make it easier to locate specific keys and improve typing accuracy, allowing you to be more productive and focused on your tasks.【720p HD Camera】Provides high quality video calls, virtual meetings and online interactions.
-
【Windows 11 Pro】Enjoy effortless Windows 11 Pro gaming performance with the ASUS Vivobook! 【Dimensions & Weight】9.15 x 14.16 x 0.78 Inches, 3.75 lb.【Ports and Accessories 】1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x HDMI, 1x Audio jack, 1x DC-in, Quiet Blue. Bonus 32GB Hotface USB Card.
How to manage files stored in the Recycle Bin?
To manage files stored in the Recycle Bin, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking on its icon located on your desktop.
- Once the Recycle Bin window opens, you will see a list of all the files and folders that have been deleted from your computer.
- To restore a file or folder, simply select it by clicking on it once. Then, right-click on the selected item and choose the "Restore" option. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the item to a desired location on your computer to restore it.
- If you want to permanently delete a file or folder, select it and press the "Delete" key on your keyboard, or right-click on the selected item and choose "Delete." This will remove the file or folder from the Recycle Bin and it cannot be restored.
- You can also empty the entire Recycle Bin at once to permanently delete all its contents. Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon and select "Empty Recycle Bin." A confirmation prompt will appear, asking you to confirm the action. Click "Yes" to proceed with the deletion.
- If you accidentally delete a file or folder and cannot find it in the Recycle Bin, it may have been deleted permanently by using the "Shift+Delete" key combination. In this case, you might need to use data recovery software to attempt to recover the lost files.
Remember to regularly manage the contents of your Recycle Bin to prevent it from taking up unnecessary storage space on your computer's hard drive.
How to transfer files to an external SSD for faster access?
To transfer files to an external SSD for faster access, follow these steps:
- Connect the external SSD to your computer. You can use a USB cable or any other appropriate connector that suits your SSD.
- Ensure that the external SSD is recognized by your computer. It should appear as a new drive in your file explorer (e.g., Windows Explorer or Finder).
- Open your file explorer and locate the files you want to transfer. You can either select individual files or entire folders.
- Once you've selected the files to transfer, right-click on them and choose "Copy" (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on Mac).
- Go back to the file explorer and navigate to the external SSD drive where you want to transfer the files. Open the drive folder.
- Right-click inside the external SSD drive folder and choose "Paste" (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac). This will start the file transfer process.
- Wait for the files to complete transferring. The duration will vary depending on the size and number of files being transferred as well as the speed of your SSD and the USB connection.
- Once the transfer is finished, you can safely disconnect the external SSD from your computer. Eject the drive by right-clicking on it in your file explorer and selecting "Eject" or "Safely Remove".
After transferring files to the external SSD, accessing them should be faster compared to a traditional hard drive. SSDs offer quicker read/write speeds, which enhance file retrieval and transfer speeds.
How to use external storage drives for overflow storage?
Using an external storage drive for overflow storage is a great way to increase the available storage space on your computer or other devices. Here's how you can utilize an external storage drive for this purpose:
- Connect the external storage drive to your computer: Use the appropriate cable (USB, Thunderbolt, etc.) to connect the external storage drive to your computer's available port. Ensure that the drive is properly connected and recognized by your computer.
- Format the external storage drive: If the drive is new or has not been formatted for your operating system, you may need to format it before use. Formatting erases all existing data on the drive, so ensure you have a backup if required. To format the drive, go to your computer's Disk Management tool (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac) and follow the instructions to format the drive.
- Transfer files to the external storage drive: Once the drive is connected and recognized, you can start transferring files to it. You can do this by manually dragging and dropping files or folders from your computer's storage to the external drive. Alternatively, you can use file management software or backup utilities to automate the process.
- Set default storage location for new files: You can change the default storage location for new files, such as documents, downloads, or media files, to the external storage drive. This ensures that these files are directly saved on the external drive rather than on your computer's internal storage. To do this, go to your computer's settings or preferences, find the storage settings, and set the external drive as the default location for saving files.
- Organize your files: To efficiently use the external storage drive, create folders and organize your files in a way that is easy to navigate. This will make it easier to find specific files when needed.
- Regularly back up your external storage drive: It is important to have backups of your external storage drive to protect your data in case of drive failure or other unforeseen events. You can periodically create backups of your external drive by copying its contents to another secure location, such as an additional external drive or cloud storage.
Remember to safely eject or disconnect the external storage drive when it is not in use to prevent data loss or corruption.
