How to Increase Storage on a PC or Laptop

Running out of storage space slows down your computer and stops you from installing new programs or saving files. This guide covers the practical ways to free up space and add more capacity, from quick cleanup tricks to installing a new internal drive, so you can choose the right fix for your situation.

What You’ll Need

Administrator access to your PC or laptop
For internal drive installation: a compatible SSD or HDD, a screwdriver (usually Phillips #0 or #1), and possibly a SATA-to-USB adapter for cloning
For external storage: a USB 3.0 or USB-C external drive or SSD
Free software: the built-in Disk Cleanup tool (Windows) or Optimize Storage (macOS)
An internet connection for downloading system updates and tools

Step-by-Step

Check what is eating your space. On Windows, open Settings > System > Storage. On macOS, click the Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage. This shows a breakdown by category (apps, documents, system, etc.). On Windows, click each category to see the largest items.
Run the built-in cleanup tool. Windows: Search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu, select your main drive (usually C:), and let it scan. Click “Clean up system files” for a deeper scan. Check the boxes for Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Delivery Optimization Files, then click OK. macOS: Go to About This Mac > Storage > Manage, then click “Optimize Storage” and “Empty Trash Automatically.”
Delete temporary files and old downloads. Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS). Navigate to the Downloads folder and delete anything you no longer need. Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. On Windows, use the Storage Sense feature (Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense) to automate this monthly.
Uninstall programs and games you do not use. Windows: Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Sort by size and uninstall the biggest ones you have not opened in months. macOS: Finder > Applications, drag unused apps to the Trash, then empty it. For large games on Steam or Epic, uninstall through their launchers to remove all associated files.
Move personal files to an external drive. Connect a USB external drive. Cut and paste your Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music folders to it. On Windows, you can also change the default save location: Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved, and change each category to the external drive.
Use cloud storage for old files. Sign up for a cloud service (OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox) and upload files you access rarely. On Windows, enable OneDrive’s free tier and right-click files to “Free up space” so they exist only in the cloud. On macOS, use iCloud Drive the same way.
Enable Storage Sense or Optimize Storage. Windows: Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense, turn it on, and set it to run weekly. macOS: System Settings > General > Storage > Optimize, and enable “Empty Trash Automatically.”
If you still need more space, install a larger internal drive (desktop PCs only). Shut down the PC, unplug it, and open the case. Find a free SATA port on the motherboard and a spare power cable from the power supply. Mount the new drive in a free bay, connect both cables, close the case, and boot up.
Clone your old drive to the new one (desktop or laptop). Use a SATA-to-USB adapter to connect the new drive externally. Download a free cloning tool (like Macrium Reflect Free or Clonezilla). Follow its wizard to clone your current system drive to the new one. Then swap the drives inside the machine.
For laptops, use an external SSD instead of opening the case. Most modern laptops have no internal bay for a second drive. A fast USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt external SSD gives you near-internal speeds without voiding your warranty.

Common Mistakes

Deleting system files you do not understand. Only remove items in Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense. Manually deleting from C:\Windows or System32 can break your operating system.
Moving the entire Users folder. On Windows, do not cut and paste the whole C:\Users folder. Move individual subfolders (Documents, Pictures) instead, and use the built-in “change save location” feature.
Forgetting to empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. Deleting files only frees space after you empty these. Do it right after a large deletion.
Buying a drive without checking compatibility. Laptops use 2.5-inch drives or M.2 NVMe sticks. Desktops can take 3.5-inch drives. Check your manual or look inside before buying.
Not backing up before cloning. If the clone fails partway, you can lose everything. Always back up critical files to an external drive or cloud first.

Tips

Use a disk space analyzer. Free tools like WinDirStat (Windows) or DaisyDisk (macOS) show a visual map of what is taking up space. You will often find huge files you forgot existed.
Compress old folders. Right-click a folder > Properties > Advanced > “Compress contents to save disk space.” This works well for documents and spreadsheets but not for already-compressed files like JPEGs or MP4s.
Move your page file or hibernation file. On Windows, you can disable hibernation entirely with the command powercfg /h off in an admin command prompt, freeing several gigabytes. Do not disable the page file; instead, move it to a secondary drive if you have one.
Keep your new drive as a secondary data drive. If you install a second internal drive, put your games and media on it and keep the OS on the original. This makes future backups and reinstallations easier.
Check for duplicate files. Use a duplicate finder tool to locate and remove copies of photos and downloads you may have saved twice.

Troubleshooting

Disk Cleanup does not free much space. Run “Clean up system files” again after a Windows update. If it still shows little, use the Storage Sense settings to also clean “Previous Windows installations” (these can be 20+ GB).
The new drive is not showing up in Windows. Open Disk Management (right-click Start > Disk Management). Find the new disk marked “Unallocated.” Right-click it, choose “New Simple Volume,” and follow the wizard to format it as NTFS.
Cloning fails halfway. Check that the new drive has enough capacity (it must be equal to or larger than the used space, not the total space). Try a different USB port or cable. If it still fails, use a different cloning tool.
Laptop still slow after freeing space. Low storage is often not the only issue. Check your RAM usage in Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). If memory is at 90%+, adding RAM will help more than storage.
External drive disconnects randomly. Use a powered USB hub if the drive needs more power than the port provides. Also, avoid using USB hubs for high-speed SSDs; plug directly into the motherboard port.
The “This PC” shows the wrong drive size. Right-click the drive in File Explorer > Properties > Tools > Check. If the size is wrong after cloning, the partition may not have expanded. Open Disk Management, right-click the partition, and choose “Extend Volume” if there is unallocated space next to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much free space should I keep on my main drive?
Keep at least 15â€“20% of your drive empty. Windows and macOS use this space for temporary files, updates, and virtual memory. Below that, performance drops noticeably.

Is an external SSD fast enough to replace an internal one?
Yes for most tasks. A USB 3.2 Gen 2 external SSD reaches about 1,000 MB/s, which is slower than an internal NVMe (3,500+ MB/s) but still much faster than a traditional hard drive. Gaming load times will increase slightly.

Can I use a microSD card to expand a laptop’s storage?
Yes, if your laptop has a microSD slot. It is a low-cost way to add storage for documents and media. It is not suitable for running applications or games because read/write speeds are much slower than internal drives.

What is the difference between an SSD and an HDD for extra storage?
SSDs (solid-state drives) have no moving parts, are faster, quieter, and more durable, but cost more per gigabyte. HDDs (hard disk drives) are cheaper for large capacities (4TB+) but slower and more fragile. For a laptop, always choose an SSD. For a desktop media archive, an HDD is fine.

Will deleting temporary files break anything?
No. Temporary files, browser caches, and thumbnail caches are safe to delete. Windows and macOS will recreate them as needed. Avoid deleting anything in the System32 or System folders.

How long does cloning a drive take?
For a 500GB drive with about 200GB used, expect 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the USB speed and the tool. The process is fully automated; just let it run.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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