Running out of storage space on your Windows 11 PC? You’re not alone. Over time, our computers get cluttered with large files—videos, ISO images, game files, and sometimes forgotten downloads. The problem is, these files often sit quietly in hidden corners of your drive, eating up gigabytes of space.
But here’s the good news: Windows 11 gives you multiple ways to find the biggest files on your system so you can delete, move, or back them up. In this guide, I’ll walk you step by step through different methods—both built-in and third-party.
Why Find the Biggest Files in Windows 11?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s talk about the why.
- Free up space quickly – Instead of deleting hundreds of small files, you can remove a few large ones.
- Improve performance – A cleaner system runs faster and smoother.
- Organize storage – Large downloads, videos, or backups can be moved to external drives.
- Avoid low disk space errors – Windows needs free space for updates and temporary files.
Method 1 – Use Windows 11 Storage Settings
Windows 11 has a built-in tool called Storage Settings that helps you analyze space usage.
Steps
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to System > Storage.
- Under Storage Management, click Show more categories.
- You’ll see how space is being used (apps, documents, videos, etc.).
From here, you can click categories to drill down into the biggest files.
Method 2 – Use File Explorer Search
File Explorer lets you filter files by size.
Steps
- Open File Explorer (Windows + E).
- Go to the drive you want to check (e.g., C:).
- In the search bar, type:
size:>500MB(You can change the size value depending on what you consider “big.”) - Wait for the results—Windows will list all files larger than 500MB.
Quick Size Filters
- size:>100MB – Large files
- size:>1GB – Very large files
- size:>4GB – Huge files
Method 3 – Use Command Prompt
If you like command-line tools, you can find large files using Command Prompt.
Steps
- Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click and choose Run as administrator.
- Type this command:
forfiles /S /M *.* /C "cmd /c if @fsize GEQ 104857600 echo @path @fsize"- This lists files larger than 100MB.
- Change the number (in bytes) to adjust the size limit.
Method 4 – Use Windows PowerShell
PowerShell is more powerful for scanning big files.
Steps
- Press Windows + X, then select Windows Terminal (Admin).
- Run this command to list the top 10 biggest files in C::
Get-ChildItem C:\ -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Sort-Object Length -Descending | Select-Object FullName, @{Name="Size(GB)";Expression={[math]::Round($_.Length /1GB,2)}} -First 10 - You’ll see file names and sizes in descending order.
Method 5 – Use Disk Cleanup Tool
The classic Disk Cleanup tool helps remove large temporary and system files.
Steps
- Press Windows + S, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.
- Select the drive (C:).
- Disk Cleanup scans for files you can delete (system logs, temp files, etc.).
- Check the categories you want to clean and click OK.
This doesn’t show every large file, but it’s great for freeing up space.
Method 6 – Use Storage Sense
Storage Sense is an automatic cleaner in Windows 11.
Steps
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Turn on Storage Sense.
- Configure it to delete temporary files, recycle bin items, and downloads after a set period.
It won’t directly list large files, but it prevents them from piling up.
Method 7 – Use TreeSize Free (Third-Party Tool)
If you want a visual breakdown, TreeSize Free is one of the best tools.
Steps
- Download TreeSize Free (from Jam Software).
- Install and run it.
- Select the drive (e.g., C:).
- The tool scans and displays folders by size, so you can quickly see which ones take up the most space.
Method 8 – Use WinDirStat
Another great tool is WinDirStat (Windows Directory Statistics).
Steps
- Download and install WinDirStat.
- Choose the drive to scan.
- After scanning, you’ll see a colorful map showing files by size.
- Click on any block to identify the file.
This is perfect for finding forgotten large files hidden deep in folders.
How to Delete or Move Large Files Safely
Once you find the big files, you have a few options:
- Delete – For old downloads, installers, and unnecessary files.
- Move – Transfer videos, photos, or backups to an external drive.
- Compress – Use tools like 7-Zip or WinRAR to shrink large archives.
- Cloud Storage – Move files to OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
Which Files Should You Not Delete?
Be careful—deleting system files can break Windows. Avoid removing:
- Files in C:\Windows (unless you’re sure).
- Program files in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86).
- Drivers or DLL files.
Stick to documents, media, downloads, and old installers.
How to Find Large Hidden Files
Sometimes big files are hidden. To show them:
- Open File Explorer.
- Click View > Show > Hidden Items.
- Now re-run the size search.
Tips for Managing Large Files Long-Term
- Regularly clean the Downloads folder.
- Use Storage Sense to automate cleanup.
- Move movies, games, and backups to external drives.
- Use third-party tools once a month to scan for large files.
Conclusion
Finding the biggest files in Windows 11 isn’t complicated—you just need the right tools. Whether you prefer built-in options like File Explorer, Storage Settings, and PowerShell, or third-party apps like TreeSize and WinDirStat, you can easily track down space hogs.
Once you find them, decide whether to delete, move, or compress. A few minutes of cleanup can free up tens of gigabytes, making your PC faster and smoother.
FAQs
Q1: What’s the fastest way to find large files in Windows 11?
Use File Explorer with a search filter like size:>1GB for a quick scan.
Q2: Can I delete all large files Windows shows me?
No. Avoid deleting system or program files. Stick to personal files, downloads, and media.
Q3: Is TreeSize Free safe to use?
Yes, it’s a trusted tool widely used for analyzing disk usage.
Q4: Why is my C drive full even after deleting files?
System restore points, hidden files, or updates may be taking space. Run Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense.
Q5: How often should I check for large files?
Once every month or two is enough for most users, unless you download a lot of large media or games.