Windows 10 low space after update. Uninstalling unnecessary programs

System update - a necessity or an overkill? Well-oiled Swiss watch mechanism or chaotic data flow? Sometimes there are situations when it is necessary to remove updates that, in theory, should stabilize the operation of Windows 10 or other systems. The reasons can be different, whether it is an incorrectly installed upgrade or unwillingness to make changes to save space on the hard drive.

How to remove the latest installed updates in Windows 10

It often happens that a freshly installed OS update harms the performance of your computer. Problems can occur for a number of reasons:

the update may have installed with errors;
the update does not support the drivers that are installed for the correct operation of your PC;
when installing updates, there were problems that led to critical errors and disruption of the operating system;
the update is outdated, not installed;
the update was installed two or more times;
Errors occurred while downloading updates;
there were errors on the hard drive on which the update is being installed, etc.

Photo gallery: Errors when installing Windows 10 updates

Database corruption errors windows updates» Duplicate Windows 10 Update in Update History Update failed due to hard drive failure

Removing updates through the "Control Panel"

Removing updates via Windows Update

Uninstall updates via command line

Instead of [update number], enter the numbers from the second column of the list displayed on the command line. The first command will remove the update and reboot the computer, the second will do the same, only the reboot will occur if necessary.

All updates are removed in the same way. You only need to choose which particular upgrade incorrectly affects the operation of the OS.

How to delete Windows 10 updates folder

The magic folder is named WinSxS and all updates are downloaded to it. After a long lifetime of the operating system, this directory is increasingly overgrown with data that is in no hurry to be deleted. No wonder sophisticated people say: Windows takes up exactly as much space as it is given.

Do not flatter yourself, believing that the problem can be solved with a single click on the Delete key. A simple, rough deletion of the updates folder in any version of Windows can lead to a deterioration in the operation of the OS, slowing down, freezing, refusing other updates, and other "joys". This directory should be cleared by operating system tools. This safe operation will release the maximum amount of memory.

There are several ways to optimize the updates folder:

Disk Cleanup utility;
using the command line.

Let's consider both methods in order.

The second method is even faster, but it does not clean the entire system or other disk and deals exclusively with OS updates.

How to cancel a Windows 10 update

Unfortunately or fortunately, canceling Windows 10 updates is not so easy. AT simple settings you will not find an option to opt out of receiving new upgrades. Such a function is not included in the Top Ten, because the developers promise lifetime support for this system, which means they guarantee its stability. However, threats, new viruses and similar "surprises" appear daily - accordingly, your OS must be updated in parallel with them. Therefore, it is not recommended to disable system updates, although this can be done by a workaround.

Video: How to cancel a Windows 10 update

How to delete Windows 10 update cache

Another option for cleaning and optimizing your system is to clear cached information files. An overflowing update cache can affect system performance, constantly search for new updates, etc.

Video: How to Clear the Windows 10 Update Cache

Programs for uninstalling Windows 10 updates

Windows Update MiniTool is a free and easy-to-manage program that will help you customize your Windows 10 update environment to your liking.

Windows Update MiniTool - a program for working with Windows updates

This utility looks for current updates, can remove old ones, reinstall upgrades, and much more. Also, this software product allows you to opt out of updates.

Revo Uninstaller is a powerful program similar to the Windows Add/Remove Programs service.

Revo Uninstaller is a program for working with software and OS updates

This is a functional application manager that allows you to track how and when the operating system or any individual application was updated. Among the advantages is the ability to remove updates and applications in a list, and not one at a time, which significantly reduces the cleaning time of your device. In cons, you can write down a complex interface and a general list for programs and updates, which in Windows Service divided.

Why is the update not being removed?

The update cannot be removed only because of an error or a series of errors that occurred during the installation or operation of the update patch. The Windows system is not perfect: every now and then there are problems due to the load on the OS, inaccuracies in the network, viruses, hardware failures. So, critical errors during the installation of an update can be located in the registry, in which the update data is recorded, or in the hard disk sector where the update files are stored.

How to remove non-removable updates

There are no standard methods for removing "unremovable" items. The occurrence of such a situation means that there are critical errors on your device that prevent the operating system from working correctly. It is necessary to take a whole range of measures to solve this problem:

scan your computer for virus programs with several defender programs;
carry out complex diagnostics of the hard disk with specialized programs;
run a utility to clean the registry;
defragment hard drives;
start the service Windows Recovery from the installation disk.

If all these measures did not lead to the desired result, contact the specialists or reinstall the operating system. The last measure, albeit a drastic one, will definitely solve the problem.

Updating the system is not a big deal. However, to keep your computer performing at its best, you need to make sure that all updates are installed on time and correctly.

For stable and fast operation of the Windows 10 operating system, there must be enough space on the disk where it is located. Recently, users are increasingly using low-volume ones, installing on them exclusively a system and programs whose fast operation is necessary. However, over time, there will be less and less space on the system hard drive, and there will be no visible files for deletion. There are two effective ways to free up disk space with Windows 10 quickly and without third-party applications - remove the "garbage" and "shrink" the operating system. In total, this can help free up to 20-30 GB.

How to clear a Windows disk of temporary files

The Windows operating system “remembers” a lot of data in the process of work, saving them as temporary files on the disk where it is installed. This can be data about thumbnails of files in folders, temporary files for restoring a previous version of the operating system, "garbage" that remained after Windows installation, and much more. The user can delete all this information from hard drive, which sometimes takes tens of gigabytes, using the preinstalled Disk Cleanup utility.

Important: Before deleting any data, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the purpose for which they were saved by the system. Most often, when cleaning disks, you can gain a place if you remove the "Previous installations" and "Temporary files" of the operating system. But it is important to understand that without them it will not be possible to return the previous Windows version if there are problems with the current one. Accordingly, you should delete these files only if you are sure that the current version of the operating system is stable.

To clean your Windows 10 disk from temporary files, you need to do the following:

It will take a few seconds to clear the hard disk of unnecessary information, after which space will be freed up on the drive.

How to free up disk space with Windows using Compact OS

In the operating room Windows system 10, Microsoft has added a new tool that aims to optimize system disk space. It is called Compact OS and is supposed to be used from the command line. With Compact OS, the user can free:

Approximately 2 GB hard drive with x64-bit operating system;
Approximately 1.5 GB on a drive with x32-bit operating system.

When using the Compact OS utility, hard disk space is freed up by compressing system files and pre-installed universal applications in Windows. Microsoft is warning Windows 10 users that compressing operating system files with Compact OS can slow down the speed of the device. In practice, this problem is not observed.

On some versions of Windows 10, file compression with Compact OS may be enabled by default. To determine whether the optimization of the operating system data size is enabled or not, you need to run and enter the following command in it:

Compact /compactos:query

After entering the command, press Enter. Whether compression is enabled or not command line various messages will appear.

If file compression using Compact OS is not used by the system, it can be enabled with administrator rights. To do this, you need to write on the command line:

Compact /compactos:always

After pressing Enter, the command line will display how many files were compressed, how much they weighed before optimization, and how much they weigh after it.

As a result of these manipulations, the properties window of the drive installed in the system will open.

So, we got to the cleaning mechanism. All groups of files that are listed in the list that opens can be safely deleted. As you check the boxes, the system calculates the amount of free space. However, the possibilities of the utility do not end there. Since we are going to carry out a total cleaning, we will clean up the system files at the same time.

The parameters indicated in the screenshot allow you to:

Remove programs that have not been used for a long time. Selecting the first item "Clear", we will move to the standard software management menu. As a result, it works as an interactive reminder for especially forgetful users;
The second point is much more interesting. If your computer has System Restore enabled, which creates restore points, you can delete them. In a long-running system, they can take up significant space.

The actions performed when selecting the second item will need to be confirmed additionally.

Go to the main tab and confirm the choice again.

The system is deleting temporary files. The time to complete the operation will depend on their volume and type of drive.

New cleaning menu

In addition to the classic method that we just reviewed, Windows 10 has a new one. To use it, go to the options menu.

We will use the search function as a universal option suitable for any user.

Select the item highlighted in the screenshot to go to the new system settings.

In the quick transition menu located on the left side, select the item "Vault". We click on the stylized image of the system disk, which displays the degree of its filling.

Disk space usage statistics opens, showing the size occupied by each file category. We are interested in deleting temporary files, so let's move on to the corresponding item.

We tick the necessary items and confirm our action. After making sure that the operation is completed, we return back to the section "Vault". In it, we still have one more option not considered. Pay attention to the position of the slider in the "Memory Sense" section. His position answers the question: why are temporary files not deleted, accumulating in the system over time. It is always disabled by default.

Move the slider to the on position to allow Windows to automatically clean up temporary files. Opening the link "Change the Way to Release" and see what exactly falls under the action of automation.

If you do not use the basket as a pantry for storage junk files, you can leave the sliders on. We click on the highlighted button to make sure that there is no “garbage” left in the system. On this cleaning can be considered complete.

System cleanup after update

After another update from Microsoft, called the Fall Creators Update, Windows 10 received additional tweaks and the first elements of Fluent Design. The main changes affected the optimization of the executable code and are almost invisible from the outside. This is where the good news ends. After installing it, the user may be faced with the fact that the disk "FROM" crowded.

Let's see where the place went after the update. First, let's see how long Windows 10 takes after installation. Open the system drive in File Explorer.

Pay attention to the highlighted folder Windows.old- we will return to it a little later. We find the directory with the installed OS and right-click the context menu.

We are interested in the item marked in the screenshot. By clicking on it, we will open the properties of the selected folder.

Now let's go back and by analogy check the size Windows.old.

Now you understand how it turned out that the disk is full.

At the time of installing the update, Windows makes a complete copy of the previous version so that the user can go back if something does not suit him. Microsoft allocates 10 days for testing. After they expire, the copy should be deleted automatically. If there is really not enough space on the system drive, you need to delete the Windows.old folder ahead of time.

We go to the section in which we configured the settings for automatic cleaning of temporary files.

After installing the Fall Creators Update appearance it has changed a bit. Added auto-cleaning of the downloads folder, and replaced the sliders with checkmarks. We go down and see additional options related to the latest OS update. To delete a saved copy, check the corresponding item and press the highlighted button. As a result, we return almost 20 GB of disk space.

How the OS interacts with RAM

A few more gigabytes can be taken from the system by changing the order of working with memory. In the process Windows work creates and uses two hidden files with "sys" extension:

Pagefile- the so-called "paging file" or virtual RAM. To take advantage of the processing speed of RAM, it caches non-urgent data. By default, the size of this file is controlled by the operating system. If the amount of RAM is large enough, from 8 GB or more, it is practically not used. The smaller the RAM value, the larger the swap file will reach;
hiberfile- is intended to store the contents of RAM at the time of transition to the "deep sleep" or hibernation mode. Accordingly, in order to successfully save information, it must have a size within 75% of RAM.

The use of the options listed in this part depends on the tasks for which the computer is being used and its hardware configuration. The struggle for free space should not be done at the expense of performance.

Resizing Pagefile

To change the size of the paging file, you will need to open the system properties (Win + Pause / Break).

We select the marked item and move to the window of additional parameters.

Go to the desired tab and open the performance settings.

Again we change the tab and go to the management of virtual memory.

We carry out the sequence shown in the screenshot, first of all, unchecking the automatic size selection. After that, the remaining items are activated. To determine how much space to allocate for the pagefile, we will use the value recommended by the OS. In this case, let's agree and reduce the size of the paging file by setting it to a fixed value. On click "OK" You will be warned that a reboot is required.

We confirm our decision. After restarting, the computer will use the limited amount of disk space allocated to it to organize virtual memory.

Disable hibernation

Users who prefer to turn off the PC after each working session can safely get rid of hiberfile. It is worth noting that this may slightly increase the overall boot time of the OS. If ten seconds are not critical, then run PowerShell in administrator mode.

The menu shown in the screenshot is called by right-clicking on the button "Start". If you at one time did not agree to switch to a new shell, the command line will be located in this place. The functionality of PowerShell is higher, but using any of these tools will produce the same results.

Entering the command shown in the screenshot instantly deletes the Hiberfile from the hard drive. Replacement « off" on the "on" puts it back in place. A reboot is not required.

Compression mode

You already know how and what can be removed from the disk to free up space, without deleting programs. Consider another useful feature available in Windows 10. It’s worth mentioning right away that you can use it successfully only on computers with a modern configuration. In this case, in accordance with Microsoft recommendations, the presence of an SSD as a drive is implied. According to the technical documentation, the Compact OS feature is enabled automatically when it does not cause a general drop in performance.

The meaning of its work lies in the "transparent" compression of system files. As a result, the space required to place the OS on the drive is reduced. You can check if compression is active on your computer with the following command (you need to enter it at the command prompt or PowerShell):

compact /compactos:query

You can see the result of its execution in the screenshots below.

Now let's see how much space it took to install Windows 10 in both cases.

It can be seen that in the right screenshot, the space occupied by the OS on the disk is 2.5 GB less than the actual size of the folder.

The result is fully consistent with the declared. In the documentation, Microsoft promises savings from 1.5 to 2.5 GB, depending on the bit depth.

If Compact OS does not start automatically, but you decide to check how it will work in your configuration, you can do it forcibly. In the above command, after the colon, enter no « query", a "always". After some time, which is spent on compactification, you will see the result.

We check how much space the system folder takes up to make sure that the actions taken are effective.

If the result of running the OS in a compressed state does not suit you, you can perform the reverse process. We enter the parameter after the colon in the command « never" and return the system to its original state.

Third party cleaners

Users who are too lazy to do the work with their hands can use third-party programs to clean up Windows. When installing such software, be sure to read the license agreement.

It says in black and white that the developers are not responsible for the consequences of using the software.

Reg Organizer

The product of domestic developers, distributed on a paid basis. The cost of a license in a personal version is 650 rubles. However, you can find version 7.52 from September 2016, which is free for non-commercial use.

You cannot upgrade the program for free, but you can use it as much as you like.

The screenshot shows the main window with a list of features expanded on the left side. You can download the program on its official website.

CCleaner

The most popular utility among Windows users. Developed by the British company Piriform Limited and distributed under a shareware license. More than 50 languages are supported, including Russian. At the time of installation, it offers to additionally install the Chrome browser.

As you can see, the program offers a lot of possibilities. Checkboxes indicate "safe" items. How inactive sections look, showing what can be removed additionally.

In any program designed for automatic cleaning, the main thing is not to overdo it. Do not repeat the mistake of users who, having discovered the OS view options, first of all seek to delete hidden files. Check only those items that you are sure of.

Finally

Reasonable use of the above methods will allow not only to restore one-time order in the computer, but also to maintain its stable operation for a long time.

Video

For those users who love visual material, we have prepared a video on the topic.

Some Windows devices, such as tablets, have a limited amount of memory. From time to time, users face a shortage of internal space when installing new programs or system updates. In this guide, we will tell you how to free up space on system Windows disk 10 from junk files.

There are many different cleaning programs, such as CCleaner, but Microsoft strongly discourages their use. That is why we will consider only systemic mechanisms.

How to delete temporary files in Windows 10

Windows 10 has a pretty easy way to delete unused temporary files.

Which files should be deleted

Let's figure out what types of files you can delete without any special consequences.

Windows Update files. You can and should get rid of them (since Windows 10 Update often forgets to do this automatically), but we recommend using the utility for this Disk Cleanup or clear the update center folder manually (this will be discussed a little later in our instructions). Application Options sometimes it cannot cope with the removal of these system files and freezes.
Files for Windows Error Reporting. This temporary data can be safely deleted.
Windows Defender Antivirus. You can also safely get rid of these files.
Sketches. You should not delete these files on weak devices or on devices with not the most fast drive, especially if you view photos in File Explorer quite often. The thumbnail cache usually doesn't take up much space, but it speeds up File Explorer a lot.
Files from previous versions of Windows. For the first 10 days after installing a major update, you have the option to rollback to a previous version of Windows using these files. If you are not going to do this, or 10 days have already passed, you can delete them. True, as in the case of the Windows Update cache, for this we recommend using the utility Disk Cleanup.
Temporary files. They can be removed without any problems.
Temporary internet files. After removing them, you may notice a slight slowdown in the Microsoft Edge browsers or internet explorer, but this will pass very soon - as soon as browsers create new cache files.
Delivery Optimization Files. You can easily remove them.
DirectX Texture Builder Cache. You can also get rid of these files without any problems.

How to enable and configure automatic deletion of temporary files

How to Clear App Cache from Windows Store

Each application from the Windows Store creates its own temporary files in order to work correctly. Some of these objects are deleted automatically, while others are not. For manual cleaning, there is a separate option to delete unnecessary temporary files.

Note: Please note that after such an operation, you will have to re-login to your account in the application and set it up. All current data will be lost.

How to remove unnecessary applications

Almost everyone has unused applications on their computer. So that they do not take up extra space, it makes sense to get rid of them.

Pass in Settings - Apps - Apps & features.
Click on menu Filter by and select the item This computer (C:).
Find the programs you don't need in the list of applications.
Click on such application and click Delete.

Please note that not all standard applications can be uninstalled in this way. If you want to get rid of standard programs, the instruction "" will help you.

How to use the built-in Disk Cleanup utility

For many years, Windows has a special utility for removing most non-critical system files. It works pretty well, so you should not neglect it.

How to clear the folders with the cache of Win32 programs and Update Center

Above, we showed you how to remove temporary app files from the Windows Store. But normal Win32 programs often create even more cache. In addition, Windows Update often keeps files of already installed system updates for a long time. Luckily, all of this is easy to get rid of.

How to move system folders to another drive

Many users unknowingly store their documents, presentations, music and other files on the system drive, often without even knowing it. Recall that folders like The documents, Music, Downloads, Desktop, are located on the system drive by default. In addition, the OneDrive folder is usually placed on the C drive.

How to clean up or move system folders in Windows 10

Some system folders with temporary files cannot be cleared using normal actions. The largest of these directories is WinSxS. About that, you can read in the corresponding article.

How to activate Compact mode in Windows 10

In Windows 10, a special system mode has been added - Compact. It is designed for devices with SSD drives, but can be useful on regular computers as well.

The essence of the Compact mode is to compress rarely used system files, which allows you to free up to 2 GB of space on the system drive. Detailed instructions how to activate this mode, you can find in the article "".

How to Shrink or Delete the Hibernation File in Windows 10

Feature first introduced in Windows 7 hibernation, which also migrated to Windows 10. Its essence is to save all files from RAM on the system disk, so that even after turning off / on the computer you can continue working from where you left off. Also part of the hibernation feature is quick launch- a special mode that speeds up the system boot.

Plus hibernation - convenience. Minus - for its operation, the system creates a special file on the system disk, the size of which often exceeds several gigabytes. And even if you don't use it, the hibernation file will still take up precious space. But Windows developers have provided the ability to reduce the size or delete the hibernation file.

How to reduce hibernation file size

Reducing the file size will disable the ability to directly hibernate, but retain the fast launch feature.

How to delete the hibernation file

Deleting the hibernation file completely will free up more space, but will deprive you of both the hibernation and quick launch features.

How to Shrink or Delete the Page File in Windows 10

(or virtual memory) is used by the system as a replacement for RAM. It favorably affects the multitasking and performance of Windows 10, but it takes up several gigabytes of space on your system drive. The system has tools that allow you to change the file size or delete it.