If your Windows storage usage settings is misreporting files by a huge amount, take your time to explore this article to troubleshoot the issue.

Why doesn’t storage space add up?

There is almost no straightforward cause for this. However, you may have hidden files and directories that contain system files unaccounted for in the calculation. Other probable causes are:

Too many tiny files stored on disk – Small files take up more space on the disk than the initial size. They occupy the initial size and take a chunk in the file system to save names and properties. Hence, these may be unaccounted for. Unaccounted files in Recycle bin – If you have too many deleted files, they are stored in the Recycle bin. Hence, they are hidden and may cause a disparity in storage space. Content indexing takes up space – Allowing files on the drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties may create an unaccounted space on your device. Enabled System Restore points – When enabled, it creates new files regularly whenever updates are installed, and this consumes a large chunk of storage space, which may be unaccounted for. This may also cause Windows to be slow after Windows Restore.

Although the causes are not only limited to these, let’s explore the possible ways to troubleshoot the problem.

What can I do if storage space doesn’t add up in Windows 11?

Before proceeding to explore advanced fixes on account used space on the hard drive, you should consider performing the following preliminary checks:

Ensure to clear long and overdue files in your Recycle bin. Uninstall all unnecessary applications and remove programs that are not useful to you. Consider clearing out the temporary files on the computer. Delete files in your download folders if they have not been opened for a long period.

Having checked the above and you still have a whooping amount of storage space that doesn’t add up, you can then explore the solutions provided below:

1. Check your System’s Cleanup recommendations

Alternatively, there are other ways you can clear out more spaces by removing other recommended files on Windows.

2. Remove temporary files

Alternatively, if you need a more simplified approach to accessing and deleting temporary files in Windows 11 you can check here.

3. Delete hibernation files

Running the above command easily frees up much space on the drive where the operating system is installed. Also, some hibernation files may be corrupt, so it is wise to clear them out. SPONSORED

4. Run System Maintenance Troubleshooter

The storage problem on Windows 11 should be fixed. Alternatively, you can check out our list of the best PC maintenance software.

5. Uninstall unnecessary software

Alternatively, you can save up more storage space by using one of the best automated uninstaller software available for use by checking here. A specialized program that we recommend you try using in this situation is CCleaner. It has a software uninstaller feature that allows you to easily uninstall programs or a group of programs with just a single click.

6. Reconfigure your System Restore settings

This should reduce the gap in the storage on Windows 11 if it’s not adding up due to system restoration files. Also, consider checking here for what to do if the Restore points fail to work. However, avoid dragging the value to 0 because that would prevent your system from saving previous updates. Hence, you will have no Windows backups to roll back to if you ever need to.

7. Perform a disk cleanup

You can also select from our list of best tools to delete unnecessary files and free up your storage space. All the troubleshooting steps provided in this article are a great solution to fixing your Windows 11 storage space issue. If any fixes have solved your problem, kindly let us know by using the comments below. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to use this section if you have further questions or suggestions.

SPONSORED Name * Email * Commenting as . Not you? Save information for future comments
Comment

Δ