Free up space with Storage Sense Free up space with Disk Cleanup Free up space to install the latest Windows 10 update Delete personal files or move them to an external storage device.

To free up RAM on your Mac, firstly, you should find out what app uses so much of your memory. The memory-heavy programs are listed in Activity Monitor, Memory tab. If there is an app you aren’t using at the moment, click it and press the “X” sign to quit it. This will, in turn, free some of the application memory. If the free space is too low, under 5% of total disk space, it is time to free up space on the disk. Use the following steps to check the amount of free space on the hard drive.

Anyone who regularly works with a computer and has to deal with software which requires a lot of processing power knows how important powerful hardware is. Most people immediately think of the processor or graphics card (especially when the focus is on image and video editing). However, the main memory is also of fundamental importance for the smooth operation of the system and other software. This memory is required by the processor to manage the data of running programs and services or processes. The capacity of the main memory has a decisive influence on how many applications can be loaded simultaneously and how quickly data can be processed.

In principle, the more memory, the better. However, since the costs also play a role and the RAM memory cannot be expanded, many people use a fairly simple trick when the memory reaches its limits - deleting processes that are no longer required from the cache, and creating space for the data that is relevant for your current activities. This increasing your RAM. So all you do is clear the RAM or free it up.

1. Free up your RAM – here’s how

What is the function of the main memory?

The main memory, also called RAM memory, is the central storage unit for all data that is required for programs or program parts that are currently running and for all active system processes. This memory, whose data is automatically lost when the computer is switched off, is accessed directly by the processor. If there is not enough memory available to process the relevant data during such an access attempt, the execution of the respective application will not work. The more processes take place simultaneously and the higher the system requirements of the executed programs, the more important a high capacity RAM becomes.

Which factors are vital for an efficient RAM?

The performance of the main memory is affected by the following three factors:

• Access speed: time required for successful access (write or read operation)
• Data transfer rate: a value that indicates the amount of data that can be transferred in a given time
• Memory capacity: available RAM

These three things are essential for the efficiency of the main memory in managing processes to be executed. Capacity is of particular importance, as it sets a strict limit to the storage capacity. For example, if an application requires 2 gigabytes and another 3 gigabytes of memory over a longer time, both cannot run simultaneously if only 4 gigabytes of memory are available. However, when it comes to processing a large number of temporary processes, access speed and data transfer rate come into play. The faster the individual data is processed and then disappears from the main memory, the faster space is freed up from the RAM for new processes.

Why is it a good idea to clear your RAM? And when should you do this?

A slow PC can be frustrating, especially when you need to problem solve and use your computer quickly. An ever decreasing performance of the computer is often connected with straining the RAM. On the one hand, it is already automatically occupied by the operating system and system processes, on the other hand, it gets a bit fuller with every open program. Often it is of little use to close programs again. The latter is due to the fact that all files are rarely deleted from memory when you close an application. In addition, there are programs and processes that are active but not actually needed. For the above reasons, it may be advisable to clear the RAM if your computer shows signs of a significant decrease in performance

Free up your RAM – here’s how

Even if you are unsure whether your computer's memory is actually too full, you can try and free it up anyway. This way you’re only pre-empting an operation that would be performed automatically when you turn off your computer (but save the files you are working on so that your work results are not lost). In general, you have three different options for clearing your RAM manually:

1. Empty the working memory via the task manager of your system
2. Write a script that releases used memory
3. Use an external tool that has a function for emptying RAM memory

The following sections explain what you need to do in detail.

To clear the RAM in Windows 7, 8, and 10 via the task manager

The task manager has long been an established feature in Windows systems. The background service lists running applications, services, and processes and also provides an overview of CPU and memory usage. Opening the Windows service works across all Windows versions by pressing the key combination[Ctrl] +[Shift] +[Esc]. Press these three buttons simultaneously to open the interface. Alternatively, you can also use the Windows search: Simply enter the term “Task Manager” and then click on “View running processes with Task Manager.”

To use the task manager to empty the working memory under Windows 7 and other versions select the “processes” tab:

Now go through the list of active processes and search for those that you do not need – for example, because you have already closed the program. Select the corresponding processes with a left or right click and press “end task” to close them permanently and clean up the working memory piece by piece.

Empty memory via script: the necessary steps

An interesting alternative to memory management via the task manager is to write a script that frees up a specified amount of RAM when it is executed. That sounds like a complex task at first glance – but you don't need any programming experience. A small entry in a simple text document created for this purpose is completely sufficient. To create a script to clear the RAM, proceed as follows:

Create a new text document by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting “new” and “text document” in the pop-up menu:

Open the created document and insert the following line of text:

Then save the file under the desired name. Make sure that ANSI is set as the encoding form if the editor offers an appropriate option. The last step is to replace the default extension .txt with the extension .vbs. Only in this way can Windows determine that the file is a script.

You can now execute the script simply by double-clicking it. The code proposed here automatically releases 32 megabytes of main memory, and this process can be repeated as often as required. Of course you can also adjust the amount and empty 128 megabytes (“Space(128000000)”). However, the value should never exceed half of the built-in memory size – otherwise there is a risk of program errors or even system crashes.

How to clear RAM with external tools

If you want to use an external solution instead of the system-internal possibilities for memory cleaning, this is also possible without problems: there are various programs that were developed especially for this purpose and are mostly freeware. One of the most popular tools of this kind is Wise Memory Optimiser. The program by the developer company WiseCleaner is completely free of charge and available for all current Windows systems. After you install and start Wise Memory Optimizer, you will be taken to the main screen of the application, which displays both the occupied and free memory. With a single click on “Optimize Now” you can use the tool to empty the memory under Windows XP up to 10.

Under the tab “settings” (the gear symbol), you can activate auto-optimization. Use the slider to specify how much should be cleared from the RAM automatically (for example, if less than 1280 MB is free, then the RAM should be optimized).

As an alternative to Wise Memory Optimizer, you can also use the tools RAMRush or Mz RAM Booster to clear your RAM.

Summary :

Receiving 'There is not enough free space on partition (C:)' error? C drive keeps filling up? We show you some fixes to free up disk space as well as how to use free partition manager to upgrade hard drive in Windows 10.

What Is Taking up Space on My Hard Drive

In the daily usage of computer, you may find hard drive space disappearing and wonder 'what is taking up space on my hard drive?' Indeed, it is hard to tell what is taking up disk space simply by looking at installed apps and saved files in Windows Explorer. Luckily, Windows helps you make it out.

Go to Settings -> System -> Storage, you will see all drives listed there. You can select a drive to see what's taking up space.

Besides, you can even click each item to go deeper. For instance, you will be able to see how much disk space an app/game takes.

Right now, we show you how to clean hard drive in multiple solutions.

Fix #1: Delete Unnecessary Files

Here are two approaches for you to do this. The first one is to select and delete some files you no longer use manually. The second one is to make use of Storage Sense. Storage Sense was introduced in Windows 10 version 1703 to get rid of temporary files and stuff in your Recycle Bin. If you have Storage Sense turned on in Settings, Windows can automatically free disk space by removing files you don't need.

If your Storage Sense is still OFF, you can now make it work.

Step 1. Go to Start menu -> Settings -> System -> Storage. Toggle the option for 'Storage Sense' ON and click the option 'Change how we free up space'.

Step 2. In the next window, check what kind of temporary files to delete. You can also press 'Clean now' to free up disk space Windows 10 now.

Fix #2: Uninstall Apps You No Longer Need

If you have some programs installed for problem-solving and now they are no longer needed, you can go ahead and uninstall them to free up disk space. To do this, right-click Windows Start menu and click 'Programs and Features'. Then right click the program you no longer need and choose 'Uninstall'. Repeat this process to remove the rest unnecessary apps.

Fix #3: Run Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a built-in tool that deletes temporary and unimportant files. When your hard drive like C drive keeps filling up, you can go ahead and use Disk Cleanup to free disk space. Simple guide is shown below:

Step 1. Go to Explorer and navigate to 'This PC'. Then right-click the drive you want to clean up and choose 'Disk Cleanup' from the best match.

Step 2. After several minutes' calculation, you will be given a new interface listing files in total that can be cleaned as well as the file size taken by each file type. At this time, check the ones you don't want and click OK.

Fix #4: Disable Hibernation Mode

Hibernation in computing is to power down a computer while maintaining its state. If you have enabled Hibernation Mode in Windows, by changing the Folder Options to 'Show hidden files, folders and drives' and unchecking 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)', you will find a file named 'hiberfil.sys' located in the C drive, taking several gigabytes' storage space.

To free up disk space taken by this file, you can open CMD and run this command:

Powercfg /hibernate off

By doing this, the 'hiberfil.sys' is deleted totally.

Fix #5: Enable Compact OS

Free Up Memory Pc

Compact OS is introduced with Windows 10. It decreases the operating system's size using the combination of compression and software tricks. It also reduces the footprint of Windows apps to free up disk space, making sense in Windows disk cleanup.

Enabling Compact OS is easy. However, since you are handling the operating system, it is significant to create a system image backup before you proceed.

Step 1. Search for Command Prompt and run it as Administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command to compress Windows 10 and applications and press Enter:

Compact.exe /CompactOS:always

Step 3. This process will take around 20 minutes. When it finishes, you get 2GB around disk space.

Fix #6: Reduce the Size of WinSxS Folder

If your C drive keeps filling up, you can go to C:Windows to find a folder named 'WinSxS'. By viewing its properties, you will see it takes quite a lot of disk space (image attached).

The WinSXS folder contains all Windows system components and continues to grow with the time Windows installed. It also builds up unnecessary files like old versions of system components over time.

Free Up Memory Windows 7

Now you may ask:

'Can we remove WinSxS folder for Windows disk cleanup?'

Note that you should not delete the entire WinSxS folder or delete some files from it, as this might severely damage your system, making your PC impossible to restart or update. However, you can do the followings to remove the unnecessary files.

Step 1. Go to Control Panel.

Step 2. Set to view by Category and select 'System and Security'.

Step 3. Select 'Schedule tasks' under Administrative Tools.

Step 4. In the left panel, select Task Scheduler Library -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Servicing.

Step 5. In the middle panel, right-click 'StartComponentCleanup' and choose 'Run'.

After the above trying, if your hard drive space keeps disappearing, you may consider the rest workarounds.

Fix #7: Turn on OneDrive Files On-Demand

If your PC is running Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and higher version, you can free up disk space by turning on OneDrive Files On-Demand. With this feature enabled, you'll be able to get to your OneDrive files from your PC without having to download them all, thus, freeing up a lot of disk space.

Step 1. Click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar and log into your account.

Step 2. Right click the OneDrive icon and choose 'Settings'.

Step 3. Navigate to 'Settings' tab and make sure the option 'Save space and download files as you use them' is CHECKED.

Step 4. Open your OneDrive folder, select all the files and folders, bring up the context menu and choose 'Clear space'. In this way, all files are kept in the cloud, freeing up disk space Windows.

Fix #8: Move Files to another Location

If you have numbers of pictures, audios, videos and other large files saved on the drive, consider moving them to another location such as an external hard drive to free disk space.

Step 1. Open File Explorer, enter each partition and pick up the ones you want to move.

Step 2. After that, go to the Home tab on the ribbon, select Move to and then Choose location.

Step 3. Select your external hard drive from the location list and then select Move.

Fix #9: Save New Files to another Location

Instead of saving all your new files to the same location, save some of them to a different drive to free up disk space.

Step 1. Open the Start menu and select Settings -> System -> Storage.

Step 2. Under More storage settings, select 'Change where new content is saved'.

Step 3. For each content type, select a drive to save new files from the drop-down menu.

Reading here, we hope you have resolved Windows disk cleanup. But if partition bar gets red from time to time, you still have the last choice…

Fix #10: Get a Larger Hard Drive

Hard drive upgrade is the most effective way to remove 'low disk space warning'. If you have the budget to purchase a larger hard drive, you can choose any of the following methods. And luckily, MiniTool Partition Wizard can help you all.

Before you start, download and install this free partition manager on computer.

Option A: Clone Disk

This way will copy the source disk entirely to the larger one, enabling you to extend each partition size at the same time

Step 1. Select the disk to be copied and choose 'Copy Disk' from the action panel.

Step 2. On the next interface, select the larger drive as the target disk. Note that all data on the target disk will be cleaned. Click 'Next' to continue.

Step 3. Choose the copy options depending on the basis of your preference. It is worth mentioning that no matter you choose 'Fit partitions to entire disk' or 'Copy Partitions without resize', you can resize each partition by dragging the slider on the lower part.

Step 4. Here you will be told how to boot from the destination disk. Please keep this information in mind and click 'Finish'.

Step 5. Finally, click 'Apply' to save the changes.

Step 6. Remove the original system disk and boot from the larger hard drive.

Option B: Migrate OS Only

If you only want to move the operating system to a second drive, you can choose 'Migrate OS to SSD/HD'. This feature is able to clone the OS related partitions like System Reserved Partition, EFI System Partition, System Partition and Recovery Partition.

Step 1. Connect the hard drive to your PC and then run MiniTool Partition Wizard to get the main interface. Select 'Migrate OS to SSD/HD' from the toolbar.

Step 2. In the pop-up window, choose option B, i.e. 'I would like to move my operating system to another hard disk.'

Step 3. Select the target disk. All data on the target disk will be removed.

Step 4. Select the copy options and adjust the partition size.

Free Up Memory Mac

Step 5. Read the Note carefully and click 'Apply' to finish.

Step 6. When the OS is migrated, boot your PC from the larger drive and delete the operating system from the original hard drive.

For the details, please read How Can You Migrate Windows 10 to SSD without Reinstalling OS.

Free Up Memory On My Phone

Option C: Copy Some Partitions

You can also choose to move some data partitions to another hard drive, which will free up disk space to the largest extent.

Step 1. Select the partition you want to copy and choose 'Copy Partition' from the left action panel.

Step 2. Select a location to create the copy of the target partition. Please note that only unallocated space can be selected. Click 'Next' to go on.

Step 3. Determine the partition size and location. To resize partition, drag the slider bar to shrink or extend. To move the location, drag the partition leftwards or rightwards. Then click 'Finish'.

Step 4. Click 'Apply' to start the copy.

Free Up Memory On Computer

Free Up Memory On Iphone

Now, It's Your Turn

In this post, we show you 10 ways to free up disk space, and hope you never go to the last costly one. If you have come across other workarounds, please list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below. If you have any questions towards using MiniTool software, you can contact us by sending an email to [email protected].