Devices View Storage Usage of Drive in Windows 11

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Strorage_Usage_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to view the storage usage of local storage drives in Windows 11.

Storage usage lets you see how your storage is used on a drive and how you can free up space.


Contents

  • Option One: View Storage Usage of a Drive in File Explorer
  • Option Two: View Storage Usage of a Drive in Settings
  • Option Three: View Storage Usage of System Drive in Settings




Option One

View Storage Usage of a Drive in File Explorer


1 Open This PC in File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Right click or press and hold on any local drive, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

Storage_usage_Properties-1.png

3 In the General tab, click/tap on the Details or Storage usage button. (see screenshots below)

Storage_usage_Properties-3.png
Storage_usage_Properties-2.png

4 You will now see how storage is being used on this specific drive. You can click/tap on each usage item for any available options to manage its storage usage to free up space. (see screenshot below)

Storage_usage_Settings-4.png

6 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.




Option Two

View Storage Usage of a Drive in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Storage on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Storage_usage_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.7705 (24H2) and build 26200.7705 (25H2), to help ensure that only authorized Windows users can access system files, Windows now displays a User Account Control (UAC) prompt when you open Storage settings (Settings > System > Storage).

Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.8524 (24H2) and build 26200.8524 (25H2), Microsoft updated Settings > System > Storage, so rather than seeing a UAC prompt immediately when you go to the page, you’ll only see it when going to view temporary files.


4 Click/tap on Advanced storage settings on the right side to expand it, and click/tap on Storage used on other drives. (see screenshot below)

Storage_usage_Settings-2.png

5 Click/tap on a drive you want to see the storage usage of. (see screenshot below)

Storage_usage_Settings-3.png

6 You will now see how storage is being used on this specific drive. You can click/tap on each usage item for any available options to manage its storage usage to free up space. (see screenshot below)

Storage_usage_Settings-4.png

7 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.




Option Three

View Storage Usage of System Drive in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on About on the right side. (see screenshot below)


System_drive_storage_Settings-1.webp

3 You will now see the Storage usage of your system drive on the card at the top. (see screenshot below)

System_drive_storage_Settings-2.webp


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Option 2 works as expected but with Option 1 using File Explorer I'm missing the 'Storage Usage' button and simply see the familiar 'Disc Cleanup' button instead. I'm running 22000.176 build.

What am I missing?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest buildsIntel i58GbIntel HD Graphics
OS
W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest builds
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
CPU
Intel i5
Motherboard
Unknown
Memory
8Gb
Graphics Card(s)
Intel HD Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Internal
Hard Drives
2 x 256Gb SSD
PSU
Dell 240 watt
Mouse
Dell Premier Bluetooth
Internet Speed
50Mbps
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Default Microsoft Security
Mooly said:
but with Option 1 using File Explorer I'm missing the 'Storage Usage' button and simply see the familiar 'Disc Cleanup' button instead. I'm running 22000.176 build.
Click to expand...
Mine is the same.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 WorkstationRyzen 9 5950XCorsair Vengeance RGB PRO Black 64GB (4x16GB)...ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB ROG Strix LC OC
    OS
    Windows 11 Workstation
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    doofenshmirtz evil incorporated
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5950X
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO Black 64GB (4x16GB) 3600MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB ROG Strix LC OC
    Sound Card
    Sound BlasterX Katana
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x27" Dell U2724D & 1 x 34" Dell U3415W
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB M.2 2280 PCI-e 4.0 x4 NVMe Solid State
    Drive
    PSU
    ASUS ROG THOR 850W 80 Plus Platinum
    Case
    ASUS ROG Strix Helios Midi-Tower ARGB Gaming Case
    Cooling
    ASUS ROG Strix LC Performance RGB AIO CPU Liquid Cooler - 360mm
    Keyboard
    Logi Ergo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Vertical
    Internet Speed
    1000/200 Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Pro
    Other Info
    HP M281 Printer
    Logitech Brio Stream webcam
    Logitech G Yeti orb mic

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X2 Plus64GB
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop
    CPU
    Snapdragon X2 Plus
    Memory
    64GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15"
  • Nothing to see here.
Thanks for checking/confirming. At least its not just me missing something.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest buildsIntel i58GbIntel HD Graphics
OS
W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest builds
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
CPU
Intel i5
Motherboard
Unknown
Memory
8Gb
Graphics Card(s)
Intel HD Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Internal
Hard Drives
2 x 256Gb SSD
PSU
Dell 240 watt
Mouse
Dell Premier Bluetooth
Internet Speed
50Mbps
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Default Microsoft Security
Mooly said:
Option 2 works as expected but with Option 1 using File Explorer I'm missing the 'Storage Usage' button and simply see the familiar 'Disc Cleanup' button instead. I'm running 22000.176 build.

What am I missing?
Click to expand...

It appears option 1 is currently only available in Windows 11 build 22449 and higher.

Lower builds haven't had "Disk Cleanup" replaced with "Storage usage" yet.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Thanks for the explanation Shawn.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest buildsIntel i58GbIntel HD Graphics
OS
W11 Pro x64 ongoing Canary 29500 latest builds
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell 7760 Mobile Precision 17"
CPU
Intel i5
Motherboard
Unknown
Memory
8Gb
Graphics Card(s)
Intel HD Graphics
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Internal
Hard Drives
2 x 256Gb SSD
PSU
Dell 240 watt
Mouse
Dell Premier Bluetooth
Internet Speed
50Mbps
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Default Microsoft Security
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