Overview – Storage Sense in Windows
It seems that you’re tired of frequent storage issues on your Windows OS and looking for some automation to clean unused files from the system.
Storage Sense is a built-in Windows feature assigned the task of monitoring and freeing up the device’s space automatically. Whenever your computer is low on storage, this feature will automatically clean up the junk files in recycle bin, temporary files, and cached data.
In this way, your Windows can take care of itself in terms of maintaining sufficient storage so you can perform other important tasks.
By the end of this article, you will be able to understand how to turn on storage sense in Windows 11:
How To Enable Storage Sense in Windows 11
Step #1: Type and open the “Windows Settings” from the Start menu or press the “Windows + I” key combination.
Step #2: Select the “System” option from the left sidebar and click the “Storage” option.
Step #3: Toggle on the “Storage Sense” button.
How To Configure Storage Sense on Windows 11
Windows will utilize the default Storage Sense settings if you don’t adjust it yourself. To avoid untimely data deletion, it is advised that you configure it according to your preferences; it is also a one-time effort.
Step #1: In the Storage Sense settings, toggle on the “Keep Windows running smoothly by automatically cleaning up temporary system and app files” option and the “Automatic User Content Cleanup” option.
Step #2: Set desired time range when to run storage sense.
Step #3: Set time range to delete the files in recycle bin. Once the time interval is set, storage sense will delete the files in the recycle bin automatically.
Step #4: Set the time range to delete files in the download folder. Once the time interval is set, storage sense will delete the files in the Downloads folder” automatically.
Pros of Storage Sense
Automate Storage Cleaning
Lack of storage available on the computers is one of the common problems faced by users. To overcome that, Storage Sense can be very helpful in cleaning the unused files, folders, documents, etc, and freeing up storage in Windows.
Time Saving
It would be very convenient to automate the cleaning of unused files in windows, so you can focus on the work that holds more importance and matters for you the most.
Cons of Storage Sense
Uncertain File Deletions
You might end up deleting necessary files if the storage sense is not configured properly on your system.
The configuration totally depends on your own needs and preferences, so it’s better to spend some time configuring it once and for all.
FAQs Related to Storage Sense in Windows
What time of day does storage Sense run?
By default, the storage sense will run when your computer is running on low disk space. However, if you’ve configured the storage sense manually, then, the time at which it executes depends on your custom configurations.
Is storage Sense turned on by default?
No, by default, the storage sense is turned off on Windows. When you turn it on, it will automatically notify you and delete the used space according to the settings you specify.
Can Storage Sense clean virus from the computer?
Yes, if storage sense cleans virus-infected data automatically, then there is a high possibility that it will completely clear the virus from your computer.
Why does my Windows 11 not have storage sense?
Storage Sense may or may not be pre-activated by default on the version of Windows 11 you are using. You may use Windows Search to find the storage option by searching ‘Storage Sense’ in the start menu. Now, simply toggle it on.
Next Steps
I wish I could tell you that turning on the Storage Sense in Windows will serve the purpose to free up storage but actually, it won’t, until it’s configured properly.
It’s very crucial to configure the Storage Sense properly otherwise it might clean your important files, and documents stored in the local storage in your computer. Its configuration depends on your requirements and it’s not mandatory to copy the same settings as in the screenshots above.
Now, improve and fix your Windows Storage Related Problems by following the related articles below.
Related Articles
Delete Windows Old Folder in Windows 11
Want to free up 15-25 GB by deleting a single file? Try deleting the Windows Old folder that itself consumes 15-25 GB of Storage.
Completely Clear Cache on Windows 11
Clear your computer’s cache including app, browsing, DNS, Windows Store, file explorer Cache, DNS, and system restore caches and free up some more storage.
Allocate More RAM to Specific Apps in Windows
If you want to free up storage to speed up your Windows, try allocating more RAM to any Particular Program to boost PC performance.
