Windows 11 C Drive Full without Reason? Fix it with 9 Ways

Why is my C drive suddenly full in Windows 11?

C drive, usually the main storage location on a computer, is where the operating system, system files, and installed programs are stored. It would be lame if you find that Windows 11 C drive is full, as it may cause your computer to run slowly, prevent you from installing new programs, and may even lead to system crashes.

The most common reasons for Windows 11 C drive getting full are likely: accumulation of temporary files, hibernation files, hidden files, etc., that consume a large amount of disk space. Additionally, malware or misconfigured system settings can lead to unexpected storage consumption.

But don't worry. In the following, we will present 9 useful solutions to help you get rid of full hard drive on Windows 11 with ease.

How to Fix Windows 11 C drive full for no reason in 9 Ways

This section provides nine ways to release the C drive full on Windows 11 problems. Follow them to figure out how to clean C drive on Windows 11. But before trying these fixes, it is recommended to scan your computer for viruses and malware to make sure they are not taking up space on your C drive!

Solution 1. Run Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows tool that helps free up storage space on your computer hard drive by removing unnecessary files. It recognizes and allows you to delete temporary files, system files, and files in the Recycle Bin, to essentially reclaim storage space. You can run Disk Cleanup on Windows 11 as follows:

Step 1. Press Windows + S, type Disk Cleanup, and select the tool.

Step 2. Choose drive C and click OK.

Step 3. Select the file types to delete, such as Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin, and so on.

Step 4. Click OK and then Delete Files to confirm.

Solution 2. Delete temporary files

If your C drive is full after Windows 11 update, it may be temporary files from Windows updates or apps that occupy your storage.

Step 1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.

Step 2. Choose the files and folders that are useless and delete them to free up space to resolve my C drive is full on Windows 11.

Solution 3. Disable Hibernation in Windows 11

If you have turned on hibernation mode on Windows 11, it may create a file (hiberfil.sys) that can be several gigabytes in size, causing C drive full for no reason in Windows 11. To disable it:

Step 1. Type Command Prompt in Windows search box, and select Run as Administrator.

Step 2. Input powercfg.exe /hibernate off and press Enter. This will instantly disable hibernation and delete the hibernation file to free up space.

Solution 4. Check Hidden Files

Hidden files and folders may consume a large amount of disk space.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and click on the View tab at the top.

Step 2. Then, select Show > Hidden items from the menu.

Step 3. Then, review and delete unnecessary hidden files or folders.​

Solution 5. Move Large Files to Another Drive

If you have saved a lot of personal files/folders, like movies, videos, and photos on C drive, transferring sizable files to another drive can free up space on your C drive. You can identify large files by typing size: Large (>4GB), for example, and then move non-essential files, such as videos or backups, to an external or secondary drive.

Solution 6. Turn on Files On-Demand for OneDrive

If you are running OneDrive on Windows and keeping the OneDrive files accessible locally, they could take up your hard drive space, causing Windows 11 C drive full for no reason. OneDrive's Files On-Demand feature allows you to access files without storing them locally. Here is what to do:

Step 1. Open the OneDrive app on your Windows computer, and choose Help & Settings > Settings.

Step 2. Under the Settings section, tick the box next to Save space and download files as you use them, and click OK.

Solution 7. Use CHKDSK to check disk errors

The C drive full on Windows 11 but no files problem can be caused by file system corruption on disk. You can run the CHKDSK command to check and fix it with the following steps:

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Type chkdsk C: /f /r /x and press Enter.

Step 3. If prompted, type Y to schedule the check on the next restart.

Step 4. Restart your computer to allow CHKDSK to scan and fix errors.​

Solution 8. Uninstall useless programs and games

Sometimes, we may accidentally install a lot of useless software. Removing unused applications can free up substantial space and ease Windows 11 C drive full.

Step 1. Open the Windows Settings app.

Step 2. Click on Apps from the left sidebar, and then Installed Apps.

Step 3. Click on the three-dot button of the program you wish to uninstall, and select Uninstall.

Solution 9. Upgrade C drive to a larger drive

If you've tried everything and your C drive is still full, it might be time to upgrade:

• Choose a new HDD or SSD with greater capacity.
• Use disk cloning software to transfer your system to the new drive with no need to reinstall Windows.

AOMEI Cloner is a reliable tool for cloning your C drive to a new drive and ensuring a seamless boot. It offers Disk Clone to migrate everything from one drive to another, as well as provide System Clone to move only Windows OS and boot-related data, which can be useful for those who want to keep a bootable Windows but no redundant individual files.

Get this tool and learn how to upgrade your C drive without data loss or Windows reinstalling now!

Step 1. Use a SATA-to-USB adapter or enclosure to connect your new drive, or install it internally if there is an extra slot.

Step 2. Open AOMEI Cloner. Click Clone and Disk Clone for copying entire disk migration, or select System Clone for OS-only migration.

Step 3. Choose your C drive as the source, and select the new drive as the destination.

Step 4. Confirm your cloning settings, and hit Start Clone.

Summary

Windows 11 C drive full often arises due to too many redundant items, such as temporary files, Windows cached items, and so on. However, as your computer is used for a longer time, you will inevitably run out of hard disk space. At this time, in addition to deleting some files to temporarily alleviate this problem, the best solution is to upgrade to a larger hard disk.

With the help of the professional cloning software AOMEI Cloner, you can easily move all data from one drive to another with simple clicks.