How to Reclaim Disk Space in Three Ways in Windows 10/8/7

• Applies to: Windows 10 update eats up disk space, C drive full after Windows 10 update, delete large Windows 10 update files to free up disk space
• Assistive tool: EaseUS Partition Master Free

Have you finished upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10 or installing a new Windows 10 Anniversary Update/Creators Update in recent days? If this post grabs your attention and you click inside, you must run into trouble of Windows 10 update taking up incredibly huge disk space. Usually, that of the System C drive if you didn't choose to install Windows 10 on an external hard drive. I assume that you want to reclaim disk space in Windows 10 very badly.

The Relationship Between Windows 10 Update and Disk Usage

According to Microsoft, every Windows 10 update requires a certain amount of storage space on your device to help ensure the installation goes smoothly and that it runs well. Otherwise, you'll receive a warning message telling that Windows needs more space if there isn't enough space.

So, how much disk space does the Windows 10 update need exactly? Approximately 20 GB (for 32 bit and 64 bit). That is to say; your hard drive will use 20 GB disk space to make room for tons of Windows 10 update files, including the old updates, temporary files, etc. These are massive dumps of files, and they do not get cleaned up automatically. Indeed, they are useless large files after some time when you don't want to uninstall the update at all.

A Free Partition Manager You Need

So, when you see C drive running out of free space after Windows 10 update, your first step shouldn't just spend money on a new larger hard drive. That's not a cost-effective plan. Instead, only a piece of free partition manager software can reduce your cost in making efforts to reclaim enough storage space on a hard drive.

EaseUS Partition Master, it's the free plan for you to optimize the disk space you already have by providing you with three options.

1. 1. Get rid of system junk files, Windows built-in applications and massive cache data which is downloaded from applications and web browsers.
2. 2. Scan large files the system update generates, like old .iso files, uninstalled program files, and delete the unnecessary ones.
3. 3. Add much free space from other drives like D, E, F to C drive. Increase C drive space.

How to Reclaim Disk Space in Windows for Free With EaseUS Partition Master

Download EaseUS Partition Master on your Windows 10 computer. Any one of the three steps in below helps regain much storage space on the hard drive, but we suggest you take all the steps to achieve the best result.

Part 1. Clean Junk Files

Step 1: Launch EaseUS Partition Master. Select "Tools" and click "System Optimization".

Step 2: Click "Junk File Cleanup". Then you can click "Analyze" to let EaseUS Partition Master find junk files on your PC.

Step 3: You can check and choose junk files and click Clean up. All of the selected junk files will be cleaned and deleted from your PC. Click "Yes" to clean up junk files.

Part 2. Clean Large Files

Step 1: Launch EaseUS Partition Master in Windows PC. Select "Tools" and click "System Optimization".

Step 2: Choose the right feature - Large File Cleanup that you need to locate, find and delete large files from PC.

Step 3: Select the drive and click "Scan" to let the program locate, find all large files on your disk.

Step 4: Identify and select useless large files and click "Delete" to remove those files from your PC or laptop. A message tells you this process will permanently delete the files, click "Yes" to start the process.

Part 3. Extend C Drive Space

This behavior of reclaiming storage space requires a neighboring unallocated space next to C drive, which you can spare some from other drives, like D, E, F...

Step 1: Launch EaseUS Partition Master

Step 2: Add space to the System C drive

1. Shrink partition and leave unallocated space for extending C: drive:

1. Right-click on a partition next to the C: drive and select "Resize/Move".
2. Drag the end of the partition that is next to the C: drive and shrink it, leaving unallocated space next to the system C: drive, and click "OK".

2. Right-click on the System C: drive and select "Resize/Move".

To add space to the C: drive, drag the system partition end into the unallocated space.

Step 3: Confirm to extend system C drive

Click the "Execute Operation" button, it will list the pending operations, and click "Apply" to execute the changes and extend the C drive.