Looking to track down the biggest files on your Windows 11? It’s a bit of a strange one, but the built-in way isn’t too shabby once you have a go. Just a matter of rummaging around in File Explorer, with a couple of handy tricks to make it easier. Basically, you want to filter by size and then sort … dead easy, right? But yeah, Windows loves to make things a bit more complicated than they need to be.
Step-by-Step to Find Your Largest Files on Windows 11
Here’s a quick rundown so you don’t end up wasting ages wandering around. Might help you free up some space, or at least see what’s gobbling up your storage.
Step 1: Open File Explorer
Click on the folder icon on the taskbar or hit Windows + E—whatever works for you. File Explorer is basically your window into the drives. Once it’s open, you’re all set to hunt for big files.
Step 2: Go to ‘This PC’
On the left sidebar, click on ‘This PC’. That’ll show all your drives—C:, D:, external drives, you name it. That’s your target zone for sniffing out large files.
Step 3: Use the Search Bar
Click the search box in the top right corner. Type in size:. This tells Windows you’re after files based on size, not just their names. A bit of a peculiar trick, but it does the job when looking for big stuff.
Step 4: Pick a Size Filter
After typing size:, a dropdown will appear, showing options like Gigantic (>128 MB). Picking that filters out the small potatoes and shows only the large files. If you want even bigger ones, just switch it to Huge (>512 MB) or whatever suits your needs.
Step 5: Sort Results by Size
Click on the ‘Size’ column header to organise the list from biggest to smallest. Now, the bulky files are right at the top. Perfect for chucking out or moving to an external drive.
Once you’ve done that, you should see a list of your space-hogs. Easy to spot what can be deleted or stored elsewhere. Weird thing is, sometimes the search doesn’t show everything straight away. Might need to restart your PC or restart Explorer if it’s acting up.
Tips for Finding Big Files on Windows 11
- Think about copying really big files to an external drive if you don’t need them all the time.
- Give your Downloads and Temp folders a tidy-up regularly—Windows doesn’t do this automatically, unfortunately.
- Run Disk Cleanup (just start typing it in the Start menu) to clear out unnecessary temp files and old system bits.
- Back up important files before deleting—can’t be too careful, mate.
- Use tools like WinDirStat or TreeSize Free to find duplicates and get a clearer picture of your disk space.
FAQs
How do I know which big files are safe to delete?
Organise by size and see what’s there. Usually, videos, installers, or old backups. Just steer clear of deleting system files or anything you’re not sure about—Windows can get a bit cranky if you do.
Is it safe to delete large files?
Most of the time, yeah. But always double-check what a file is before trashing it. Some big files are system-related or tied to apps. Removing those could cause issues.
What’s the quickest way to free up space?
Get rid of those huge old files—like videos, large ISO images, or games you don’t play anymore. Or move them to an external drive or cloud storage. Too easy.
How often should I check for big files?
If your space is running low, maybe once a month is a good shout. Keeps your PC ticking over smoothly and avoids slowdowns.
Can third-party apps help find large files better?
Absolutely. Tools like WinDirStat or TreeSize give you a visual map of your disk space. But to be honest, Windows’ own search works alright—just a bit slower to set up.
Summary
- Open File Explorer
- Navigate to This PC
- Type
size:in the search box - Choose a size filter like Gigantic
- Sort by Size to see the biggest files first
Hopefully, this saves someone a couple of hours. Something that’s worked across different machines. Fingers crossed it helps you out!