how to find out how much space your apps are using in windows
how to find out how much space your apps are using in windows

how to find out how much space your apps are using in windows

How to Find Out How Much Space Your Apps Are Using in Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

Hi Reader!

Are you curious about how much space those apps on your Windows computer are taking up? It’s not always easy to tell, but it’s important to keep an eye on your storage space to ensure your computer runs smoothly. In this article, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to find out how much space your apps are using and how to free up some space if needed.

Section 1: Using the Windows Settings App

The Windows Settings app is a central hub for managing various aspects of your Windows system, including app storage.

Subsection 1: Accessing the Settings App

  • Click on the Start button and select "Settings" (the gear icon).
  • In the Settings window, click on "System" and then "Storage."

Subsection 2: Viewing App Storage Usage

  • Scroll down to the "Apps & features" section.
  • Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps installed on your system.
  • Click on an app to view its storage usage.

Section 2: Using the PowerShell Command Line

PowerShell is a powerful command line tool that can be used to access and manage system information.

Subsection 1: Opening PowerShell

  • Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type "powershell" and click "OK."

Subsection 2: Running the Command

  • In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:
Get-AppxPackage | Select-Object Name, PackageFullName, Size
  • PowerShell will display a list of all installed apps and their sizes.

Section 3: Using Third-Party Tools

There are several third-party tools available that can provide more detailed information about app storage usage.

Subsection 1: WinDirStat

WinDirStat is a popular free tool that scans your computer’s hard drive and displays a visual representation of file and folder sizes.

Subsection 2: SpaceSniffer

SpaceSniffer is another free tool that provides a treemap visualization of your disk space. It allows you to easily drill down to see which apps are taking up the most space.

Section 4: Storage Breakdown

The following table provides a breakdown of how storage space is typically used on a Windows system:

Category Description
System Files Essential files for the Windows operating system
Installed Programs Applications and software installed on your computer
User Files Documents, photos, videos, and other files you’ve created or downloaded
Temporary Files Temporary data created by apps and processes

Conclusion

That’s it! You now know how to find out how much space your apps are using in Windows. Remember to regularly check your storage usage and delete any unnecessary files or apps to keep your computer running optimally.

For more tips and tricks, check out our other articles on Windows optimization and troubleshooting.

FAQ about How to Find Out How Much Space Your Apps Are Using in Windows

How do I find out how much space my apps are using?

  • Go to Settings > System > Storage. Under "Storage Sense", select "Configure Storage Sense or run it now".
  • In the "Storage Sense" window, click on "Apps & features".

Can I see how much space individual apps are using?

  • Yes, in the "Apps & features" window, scroll down to see a list of your installed apps and the amount of space they’re using.

Is there a way to sort apps by size?

  • Yes, click on the "Size" column header to sort apps by their storage usage.

Can I delete apps from this window?

  • Yes, select an app and click on the "Uninstall" button.

How do I find out how much space system files are using?

  • In the "Storage Sense" window, click on "Show more categories".
  • Under "Other", you’ll see a breakdown of how much space is being used by system files.

Is there a way to clean up system files?

  • Yes, click on the "Clean now" button in the "Storage Sense" window.
  • This will remove temporary files, empty the Recycle Bin, and perform other cleanup tasks.

How can I free up space on my drive?

  • Uninstall unused apps.
  • Move files to an external storage device.
  • Empty the Recycle Bin.
  • Disable hibernation.
  • Reset your PC.

Why is my drive still full after I’ve deleted files?

  • Some files may be hidden or in use by another program.
  • Try using a third-party disk cleanup tool to find and delete these files.

Can I use Storage Sense to automatically clean up my drive?

  • Yes, in the "Storage Sense" window, enable the "Storage Sense" option.
  • You can choose to have Storage Sense run automatically on a schedule or when your drive reaches a certain storage capacity.

How do I change where apps are installed?

  • Go to Settings > System > Storage.
  • Under "Storage Sense", click on "Change where new content is saved".
  • You can choose to install apps to your main drive, an external drive, or a specific folder.
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