Beginner’s Guide to Cleaning Up Disk Space on Windows and macOS

Over time, your computer can become cluttered with files and programs you no longer need. This not only takes up precious storage but can also slow down your system. The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to reclaim your disk space.

In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn safe and effective ways to clean up your disk space on both Windows and macOS—without using any paid tools or risky third-party apps.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with Microsoft, Apple, or any other brand mentioned.

Why Cleaning Disk Space Matters

Cleaning up your disk space helps:

• Improve system performance

• Create room for new files and apps

• Prevent software crashes

• Speed up backups and updates

For Windows Users

1. Use Disk Cleanup Tool

• Press Windows + S and search for Disk Cleanup

• Choose the drive you want to clean (usually C:)

• Select file types like Temporary files, Recycle Bin, Thumbnails, etc.

• Click OK > Delete Files

2. Uninstall Unused Programs

• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a Program

• Sort by “Installed On” or “Size” to spot old or large apps

• Right-click and uninstall what you don’t need

3. Empty the Recycle Bin

Right-click on the Recycle Bin on your desktop and choose Empty Recycle Bin.

4. Clear Temporary Files Manually

• Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and press Enter

• Delete all files in the folder

• Repeat with temp (without % signs)

5. Move Files to an External Drive or Cloud

Store large files like videos, photos, and installers on:

• External hard drives

• Cloud services (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox)

For macOS Users

1. Use Built-in Storage Management

• Click Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage

• Use the recommendations like:

  • Store in iCloud

  • Optimize Storage

  • Empty Trash Automatically

2. Delete Unused Applications

• Go to Finder > Applications

• Drag unused apps to the Trash

• Empty the Trash afterward

3. Clear Downloads Folder

• Open Finder > Downloads

• Sort by size or date and remove old installers or files

4. Empty the Trash

Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash

5. Clear Cache Files (Optional)

• Open Finder > Go > Go to Folder

• Type ~/Library/Caches and delete old or large folders (be careful not to delete system-critical files)