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NEO A&M College — Hardware & Storage
Low Disk Space on My Computer (Windows)
Safe, step-by-step cleanup guide for Windows users seeing low disk space warnings or experiencing slowdowns.
โ ๏ธ You May Be Experiencing This If…
- You see "Low disk space" warning messages on your screen
- Your computer is running slowly, apps are crashing, or Windows updates are failing
๐ Before You Begin
- โ
A Windows computer (these steps are for Windows 10 or Windows 11)
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You are logged in as a user with administrator access
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A stable internet connection (if moving files to OneDrive)
- โฑ๏ธ Estimated time: 10–20 minutes
๐๏ธ Jump to Your Section
๐๏ธ Step 1 — Empty the Recycle Bin โฑ๏ธ ~1 min
- Find the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
- Right-click it and select Empty Recycle Bin.
- Click Yes to confirm.
๐ก Tip: This is the quickest win — deleted files sit in the Recycle Bin and still take up space until it is emptied. Always do this first.
๐งน Step 2 — Run Storage Cleanup โฑ๏ธ ~5 min | Windows 10 / 11
- Click the Start button and open Settings.
- Go to System > Storage.
- Click Temporary files.
- Check the temporary items you want to remove.
- Click Remove files to complete the cleanup.
โ ๏ธ Warning: Do not select Downloads unless you are certain you no longer need those files — this will permanently delete everything in your Downloads folder.
๐๏ธ Step 3 — Remove Unused Apps โฑ๏ธ ~5 min | Windows 10 / 11
- Open Settings and go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Scroll through the list and identify programs you no longer use.
- Click the three-dot menu (โฏ) next to an app and select Uninstall.
- Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the uninstall.
โ ๏ธ Note: Only uninstall programs you personally installed. If you are unsure whether an app is required for work, contact the IT Help Desk before removing it.
โ๏ธ Step 4 — Move Large Files to OneDrive โฑ๏ธ ~5 min | Internet Required
Large files like videos, photos, and project folders take up significant local disk space. Moving them to OneDrive or approved network storage frees up space without losing access to your files.
- Open File Explorer and locate large files (videos, photos, large project folders).
- Right-click the file or folder and select Move to OneDrive, or drag it into your OneDrive folder in File Explorer.
- Wait for the upload to complete — a green checkmark icon means the file is safely stored in the cloud.
- Restart your computer after completing all cleanup steps above.
๐ก Tip: Once files are in OneDrive, you can right-click them and select Free up space to remove the local copy while keeping them accessible from the cloud.
๐ซ When to Submit a Help Desk Ticket
Submit a ticket at support.neo.edu if any of the following apply:
- You still have less than 10 GB of free space after completing all cleanup steps
- You are seeing repeated Windows update failures
- You are unsure what is safe to delete
Helpful info to include in your ticket:
- A screenshot of the Storage settings page — this shows what is using the most space on your drive
๐ก Tip: To take a screenshot on Windows, press Windows key + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool, then drag to select the Storage settings area.
๐ Still Need Help?
If you encounter any issues not covered in this guide, please contact the NEO A&M College IT Help Desk:
| ๐ Phone: |
(918) 540-6099 |
| ๐ง Email: |
neosupport@neo.edu |
| ๐ข Walk-in: |
I.T. Services, Library/Administration Building, 2nd Floor, Room 216 |
| ๐ Hours: |
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |