How to check total hard disk space in windows 10​？

One of the first things to check when troubleshooting system performance or deciding to install large applications is your hard disk space. In Windows 10. managing your storage and knowing how much space is left on your hard drive is essential for maintaining your computer’s health. If your hard disk is running low on space, it can lead to performance issues such as slower speeds, frequent freezes, and difficulty installing or updating software.

1. Using File Explorer to Check Total Hard Disk Space

The quickest and most straightforward way to check the total hard disk space is through File Explorer. This method gives you a high-level overview of the used, free, and total space available on each drive connected to your computer.

Steps:

Open File Explorer:

Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar, or press Windows + E on your keyboard.

Navigate to “This PC”:

In the left sidebar, click on This PC. This will show all drives connected to your computer, including the internal hard drive (often labeled as Local Disk (C:)), any external hard drives, USB flash drives, and network drives.

View Storage Information:

Under Devices and Drives, each drive will display the total disk space, the used space, and the free space.

The total space is the sum of used and free space. This will help you understand how much capacity you have and how much is being used by the operating system, installed software, and files.

Example:

Local Disk (C:): 500 GB total, 150 GB used, 350 GB free.

Optional: View More Details:

Right-click on a drive and select Properties to open a detailed window. This will show a pie chart of used and free space, along with the total size of the drive.

2. Using the Disk Management Tool

If you want more detailed information about your drives, partitions, and file systems, the Disk Management tool is a powerful built-in utility in Windows 10. It offers an in-depth view of all disks and partitions connected to your system.

Steps:

Open Disk Management:

Right-click on the Start menu button and select Disk Management from the context menu.

Alternatively, press Windows + X and select Disk Management from the menu.

View the Disks and Partitions:

In the Disk Management window, you will see all connected disks and their partitions. Each disk will show the total size, used space, and free space, along with information about the file system (e.g., NTFS or FAT32).

Examine Each Disk:

In the bottom section of the window, you will see the graphical representation of each disk, where you can visually assess the amount of free space and used space on each partition.

Manage Disk Partitions:

You can also resize partitions, format drives, and assign new drive letters using Disk Management. However, it is crucial to be cautious when making changes to partitions, as this can affect your data.

3. Using the Command Prompt

For those who prefer using commands, the Command Prompt in Windows 10 offers a simple method to check disk space. Using the built-in wmic (Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line) command, you can quickly view storage information.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt:

Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) to run the command prompt as an administrator.

Enter the Command:

Type the following command and press Enter:

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wmic logicaldisk get size,freespace,caption

This command will display the total size, free space, and disk letter (caption) for each of your drives.

Example Output:

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Caption FreeSpace Size C: 150000000000 500000000000 D: 100000000000 250000000000

This output tells you that Drive C: has 150 GB of free space out of 500 GB, and Drive D: has 100 GB of free space out of 250 GB.

Exit Command Prompt:

After checking your disk space, you can close the Command Prompt window.

4. Using Task Manager

The Task Manager provides a more dynamic way to view your system’s resource usage, including disk space. This tool is helpful if you want to monitor disk usage in real-time.

Steps:

Open Task Manager:

Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

Navigate to the “Performance” Tab:

In the Task Manager window, click on the Performance tab.

View Disk Usage:

On the left side, you will see Disk 0. Disk 1. etc., depending on how many drives are connected. Select the drive you want to check.

Monitor Disk Space:

Task Manager will display real-time disk usage, including the total disk space, used space, and free space. It also provides a graph showing how much of your disk’s capacity is currently in use.

5. Using Storage Settings in Windows 10

Windows 10 includes a dedicated Storage feature under Settings that helps users get a clear overview of their disk space. This tool organizes data into categories, such as apps, system files, documents, and others, providing a breakdown of what is consuming your space.

Steps:

Open Storage Settings:

Press Windows + I to open the Settings menu.

Click on System, then select Storage from the left menu.

Select a Drive:

Under the Storage section, you will see a list of drives. Click on the drive you want to inspect (e.g., Local Disk (C:)).

Review Storage Usage:

Windows will provide a breakdown of your disk’s usage, such as how much space is used by Apps & Games, System & Reserved, Documents, Pictures, and Temporary Files.

Free Up Space:

If you find that certain categories are taking up too much space, you can click on them to see more details and free up space. For example, you can delete temporary files, uninstall unused apps, or move large files to an external drive.

6. Using Third-Party Disk Management Tools

While Windows 10’s built-in tools are sufficient for most users, third-party disk management tools can offer more advanced features, such as detailed storage analysis, space cleanup, and partition management.

Recommended Third-Party Tools:

WinDirStat: This tool visually represents your disk usage in the form of a color-coded map, helping you quickly identify which files and folders are taking up the most space.

TreeSize: A powerful disk space analyzer that allows you to scan and report on disk usage in various formats, from tree structures to pie charts.

SpaceSniffer: Similar to WinDirStat, this tool provides a graphical representation of disk usage, making it easy to identify large files and folders.

These tools can help you track disk usage and take steps to free up space, such as deleting large or unnecessary files.

7. Troubleshooting Low Disk Space in Windows 10

Running low on disk space can negatively affect your system’s performance. Here are some tips for dealing with low disk space:

Clear Temporary Files:

Use the Disk Cleanup tool to remove unnecessary files such as system logs, temporary files, and browser cache. Access it by searching for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu.

Uninstall Unused Programs:

Go to Settings > Apps to uninstall software you no longer need.

Move Files to an External Drive:

If your internal drive is nearly full, consider moving large files, such as videos and photos, to an external hard drive or cloud storage service.

Upgrade Your Storage:

If your disk space is continually running out and you don’t have the option to delete or move files, consider upgrading to a larger hard drive or SSD.