Free up over 30GB of storage space by cleaning up after the Windows 10 April 2018 Update
Microsoft has just released another huge update to Windows 10. The April 2018 Update introduces lots of new features and general improvements, including Timeline, and Focus Assist, as well as some lesser known improvements.
Of course, a big update like this requires a big download, and the files that Microsoft places on your system don’t get removed afterwards. In other words, the April 2018 Update could be responsible for taking a massive bite out of your free hard drive space -- tens of gigabytes in fact. Fortunately it’s easy enough to reclaim this.
SEE ALSO:
- Windows 10 April 2018 Update rolling out now
- How to upgrade your PC to the Windows 10 April 2018 Update now
- How to delay the Windows 10 April 2018 Update
- Six great hidden features in the Windows 10 April 2018 Update
- How to download the Windows 10 April 2018 Update and create your own installation USB flash drive or DVD
There are two ways you can get your disk space back. The first is by clicking Start and typing Disk Cleanup. Right-click the Disk Clean-up entry, and select Run as administrator. Make sure your system drive is selected, and click OK.
The tool will calculate how much space can be regained. Ignore this for now and instead click on the Clean up system files button. Select your system drive once more, and click the OK button again.
The tool will recalculate your space savings, but this time include a new option -- Previous Windows installation(s). This will include the files created by installing the April 2018 Update -- a whopping 29GB in my case. Check that box, and the Temporary Windows installation files one as well and click OK to remove those backed up files and regain your missing hard drive space.
The April 2018 Update also offers another way to do the same thing. Open Settings and go to System > Storage. Under Storage Sense click Free up space now. On the next screen, click select the Previous Windows Installation(s) option, then click Remove Files.
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A word of warning however, these files are used to roll back your system to a previous installation of Windows and removing them takes away that option. If, however, you intend to stick with Windows 10 (and remember, the April 2018 Update is mandatory, although you can delay it), they serve little use and so can be cleared out without problem.