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Storage is full

BRL 20 Reputation points
2026-05-01T13:02:33.2333333+00:00

I've run all of the clean up and storage is still full, what do I do next? Add RAM? External drive?

Processor AMD Ryzen 5 Microsoft Surface (R) Edition (2.20 GHz)

Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.45 GB usable)

Graphics card AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics (496 MB)

Storage 222 GB of 238 GB used

Device ID [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed]

Product ID [Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed]

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch Pen and touch support with 10 touch points

Surface | Surface Laptop | Performance and maintenance
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-05-01T13:02:45.9433333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Do not add RAM to fix a “storage full” problem. RAM affects performance, not how much data can be stored on the drive. Focus on freeing or moving data, or adding more storage (external drive or larger internal SSD).

    Work through these steps in order and check space after each:

    1. Check what is using space
    • Press Windows key + E → select This PC.
    • Under Devices and drives, check how full the main drive (usually C:) is and which folders (Downloads, Videos, Pictures, etc.) are largest.
    1. Use Storage settings and Storage Sense
    • Select Start > Settings > System > Storage.
    • Turn on Storage Sense so Windows automatically removes temporary files and items in Recycle Bin.
    • Use Cleanup recommendations to delete:
      • Temporary files
      • Large or unused files
      • Files already synced to the cloud
      • Unused apps
    1. Clear Microsoft Store cache (helps if Temp is filling up)
    • Press Windows key + R.
    • Type wsreset.exe and select OK.
    • A Command Prompt opens briefly, then Microsoft Store opens. This clears its cache.
    1. Move personal files off the internal drive
    • Connect an external USB drive, SD card, or external SSD/HDD.
    • In File Explorer, move large personal files (videos, photos, music, documents, installers, ISO files, etc.) from the internal drive to the external drive.
    • After copying, delete them from the internal drive and empty the Recycle Bin.
    1. Change where new content is saved
    • Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings.
    • Select Where new content is saved.
    • Change locations for new documents, music, pictures, and videos to another drive (for example, an external drive) if it will be connected regularly.
    1. Use OneDrive to offload files
    • Turn on OneDrive Files On-Demand so only placeholders stay on the device and full files stay in the cloud. This reduces local disk usage while keeping access to files.
    1. Free space specifically for Windows updates (if updates are failing)
    • If Windows says it cannot install updates due to low disk space, you can:
      • Use the Tips to free up disk space steps above.
      • Or connect an external drive (10 GB or more free) and use the Fix issues option under Start > Settings > Windows Update to let Windows use the external drive during the update.
    1. Run antivirus/malware scan
    • Use Windows Security (or another trusted antivirus) to scan for malware that might be generating large temporary files.
    1. When to add more storage
    • If, after cleaning and moving data, the drive is still nearly full (for example, system and apps legitimately use most of the 238 GB), then:
      • Use an external SSD/HDD for large personal data permanently, or
      • Consider a device with a larger internal SSD if internal storage cannot be upgraded.

    RAM upgrade is only useful if applications are slow or frequently out of memory; it does not increase disk capacity.

    References:

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. Clary-N 10,920 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-02T01:06:30.42+00:00

    Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.

    Hi BRL,

    Just to add to the helpful steps above, based on your current usage, you may still continue to see storage warnings if most of the space is already taken up by apps or personal files.

    If you haven’t already, you can also review your apps directly under Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then sort by size to quickly identify any larger apps or games that may be using a significant amount of space. If you find anything you no longer need, uninstalling it can help free up storage more effectively. This provides a clearer view than Cleanup recommendations and can help you decide what can be removed.

    As another quick check, you can search for large files by typing size:>1GB in File Explorer (in your C: drive). This can help surface items that may not appear clearly in cleanup tools.

    If space continues to run low after this, using an external drive for larger files (such as videos, backups, or installers) is often the most practical long-term option. Windows also tends to run more reliably when around 20–25% of the drive remains free.

    If you’d like, feel free to share a screenshot of your Storage breakdown and I’d be happy to help identify what’s taking up the most space.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

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