How much free space should my computer have?

As a rough rule, try to keep at least 15 to 20 percent of the drive free. Below 10 percent, Windows and Mac start to struggle with updates and everything slows down. If you are under 10 percent, it is worth clearing space as soon as you can.

If I delete a program, do I lose my files?

No. Uninstalling a program removes the program itself but leaves your documents, photos, and saved work untouched. The only exception is some game save files, which live inside the program folder. If you are unsure, we can check before deleting anything during a visit.

What is the browser cache and is it safe to clear?

The cache is a folder where your browser saves copies of webpages to load them faster next time. Clearing it is completely safe. It will not delete your bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history unless you specifically ask it to. The only difference you will notice is that a few websites load slightly slower the first time after clearing.

Help Guides

How do I free up storage space on my computer?

When a computer is low on storage, everything slows down and updates start to fail. Freeing up space is simpler than most people expect, and you do not need to delete anything important.

Quick Answer

Start by emptying the Recycle Bin or Trash. Then remove any programs you have not used in the last year, clear the browser cache, and look through the Downloads folder for old files. Between those four steps, most computers recover a surprising amount of space without touching anything important.

Worried about deleting the wrong thing? That is a sensible instinct. We clean up computer storage every week in Durham Region homes and we will not touch anything without checking. Give us a call.

Work through these in order

Find out what is actually using the space

On Windows, open Settings, click System, then Storage. You will see a colour-coded bar showing how much of your drive is used by apps, files, photos and the system. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, click Storage, and then click Manage. Both give you a breakdown so you know what to target first. Nine times out of ten the biggest culprit is either videos, old downloads, or apps you have not opened in a year.

Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash

Deleting a file in Windows or Mac does not actually free space until you empty the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac). Right-click the Recycle Bin on the desktop and choose Empty. On Mac, right-click the Trash icon and choose Empty Trash. You will be surprised how often this alone reclaims several gigabytes of space.

Remove programs and apps you do not use

On Windows, open Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Sort by Size and scroll through. Any big program you have not opened in the last year is probably fair game. Click the three dots and choose Uninstall. On Mac, open the Applications folder, drag unused apps to the Trash, then empty the Trash. Old games, trial software, and unused Microsoft products are usually the biggest wins here.

Would you rather we handled this?

We take care of this during visits across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. One visit, flat fee, no jargon.

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Clear your browser cache

Browsers like Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox all save copies of webpages so they load faster next time. Over years this can eat several gigabytes. In Chrome or Edge, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Cmd+Shift+Delete on Mac), tick "Cached images and files", and click Clear. This will not delete your bookmarks or passwords, just the cached webpages. You will not notice any difference except a bit more free space.

Delete old downloads

The Downloads folder is one of the most overlooked drains on a computer. Every installer, every PDF you opened from an email, every photo someone sent you. Open the Downloads folder, sort by size or date, and delete anything you do not recognise or no longer need. Do not worry about breaking anything. Downloads are just copies, not critical files.

Move big files to an external drive or the cloud

Photos, videos, and large documents that you want to keep but rarely touch are perfect candidates for moving off your main drive. An external USB drive costs about $60 for a terabyte. Alternatively, services like iCloud, Google Drive or OneDrive let you store files online for a small monthly fee. We can set either option up during a visit and show you how to use it.

When to call us instead

Call us if your computer has less than 10 percent free space and is refusing to install updates, if you have tried the steps above and it has not helped, or if you would rather have someone go through it with you. Low storage is a common problem we handle as part of phone and computer help visits across Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa.

If the real issue is that the computer is just generally slow, our slow laptop guide and freezing computer guide are worth reading too.

Get help today

We free up computer storage safely across Durham Region, including moving files to external drives or the cloud.

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FAQ

Common questions about computer storage

How much free space should my computer have?: As a rough rule, try to keep at least 15 to 20 percent of the drive free. Below 10 percent, Windows and Mac start to struggle with updates and everything slows down. If you are under 10 percent, it is worth clearing space as soon as you can.
If I delete a program, do I lose my files?: No. Uninstalling a program removes the program itself but leaves your documents, photos, and saved work untouched. The only exception is some game save files, which live inside the program folder. If you are unsure, we can check before deleting anything during a visit.
What is the browser cache and is it safe to clear?: The cache is a folder where your browser saves copies of webpages to load them faster next time. Clearing it is completely safe. It will not delete your bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history unless you specifically ask it to. The only difference you will notice is that a few websites load slightly slower the first time after clearing.