Check How Much Space You Have

First, see what you're working with:

Open **File Explorer** (Windows key + E)

Click **This PC** on the left

Look at your main drive (usually C:) to see how much space is used

If your drive is more than 90% full, your computer will start slowing down significantly.

Step 1: Empty the Recycle Bin

Deleted files still take up space until you empty the Recycle Bin:

Right-click the **Recycle Bin** on your desktop

Click **Empty Recycle Bin**

Confirm the deletion

Step 2: Run Disk Cleanup

Windows has a built-in cleanup tool:

Search for **Disk Cleanup** in the Start menu

Select your main drive (C:)

Tick all the boxes (Temporary files, Thumbnails, etc.)

Click **Clean up system files** for even more options

Click **OK** to delete

Step 3: Uninstall Programs You Don't Use

Go to **Settings > Apps > Installed apps**

Sort by **Size** to find the biggest programs

Click the three dots next to programs you don't need

Select **Uninstall**

Step 4: Clear Browser Downloads

Your Downloads folder can grow surprisingly large:

Open your **Downloads** folder

Sort by **Date** or **Size**

Delete old files you no longer need

Look for duplicate downloads

Step 5: Find Large Files

Use Windows Search to find big files taking up space:

Open **File Explorer**

Click in the search bar

Type **size:gigantic** to find files over 4GB

Or type **size:huge** for files over 1GB

Delete or move anything you don't need

Step 6: Move Files to External Storage

For files you want to keep but don't access often:

Move photos and videos to an **external hard drive**

Upload documents to **cloud storage** (OneDrive, Google Drive)

Archive old projects to a **USB drive**

How Much Space Do You Need?

**Minimum:** Keep at least 10-15% of your drive free

**Ideal:** 20-30% free space

**For Windows updates:** At least 20GB free on your C: drive

**Still running low?** If you've tried everything and still need more space, Midland Computers can help with a larger drive upgrade or set up external storage solutions.