Resolve "Deleting Files Doesn't Free Up Space" Error in Windows 10/8/7

5 Ways to Recover Deleted Files and Free Up Disk Space

It appears that encountering the issue where deleted files still occupy drive space, even after being removed, is no longer a novel problem for users. The question remains: how can one resolve the issue of "file deleted but space not freed" in Windows 10 and reclaim available storage on their device? Fear not! Simply follow these tips, and you will easily rectify the "deleting files doesn't free up space" error and liberate space on your Windows disk, external hard drive, USB, SD card, and other devices.

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Available Disk Space Does Not Increase After Deleting Files

"Hello, If I delete files from my F: drive on a Windows 10 computer, the available space doesn't reflect the deletion. Upon checking Storage, I notice that the 'System & Reserved' section is expanding (now at 177 GB) on my 207 GB F: drive. This means that if I delete a 20 GB folder, the 'System & Reserved' space will increase to 197 GB.  

I've attempted junk file cleanup, examined the system using WinDirStat and Treesize (neither of which display these files even when run with administrative privileges). I've researched the purpose of "System" and "Reserved" files. I've also deleted system restore points. I don't believe indexing is enabled.

So the question really is, how do I stop System and Reserved files from consuming my computer?"

Available disk space does not increase after deleting files. When a file is removed, the space it occupied on the disk is not released until the file is completely erased. To resolve this issue without data loss, you can try these solutions.

Solution 1: Check and Repair Disk Errors with CHKDSK

The "Free disk space does not increase after deleting files Windows 10" error might occur if there are issues with your disk. To resolve this, you should fix any disk errors and utilize the CHKDSK utility for assistance.

Step 1. Press the Windows key and type cmd.

Step 2. Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."

Step 3. Type the following command (replace "E" with the drive letter of the partition you want to check.)

chkdsk E: /f /r /x

Solution 2: Run CHKDSK Alternative to Resolve Space Not Increasing

If the command line isn't your preferred option, you can use this command-line alternative tool - CleanGenius. Employ this one-click solution to fix the file system error on your hard drive.

Step 1. Download CleanGenius for free on your computer.

Step 2. Launch the software. Click "Optimization" on the left panel, and then select "File Showing."

Step 3. Go to "Choose drive" and select the drive with a file system error. Check the "Check and fix file system error" option and click "Execute".

Step 4. Wait for CleanGenius to complete the repair process. After that, click on "here" to view the results.

Solution 3: Transfer Data to an External Device (Backup Data)

To prevent unexpected data loss while freeing up space on your devices, it's essential to back up important data or move saved files to other locations. You can either manually copy your disk or partition data to an external device or utilize third-party backup and recovery software. Tools like Todo Backup make it easy to back up operating systems, personal files, and entire partitions or disks. Here's a step-by-step guide to backing up your files to an external device: 1. Connect your external device to your computer. 2. Download and install Todo Backup on your computer. 3. Launch the software and select the type of backup you want: - For system backup: Choose "System Backup." - For file backup: Select "File Backup." - For partition or disk backup: Go with "Disk Backup" or "Partition Backup." 4. In the "Backup Source" section, browse and select the files, folders, partition, or disk you wish to back up. 5. Under "Backup Destination," choose your connected external device as the save location. 6. Customize any additional options, such as compression level, encryption, or scheduling backups (if needed). 7. Click "Start Backup" to initiate the backup process. Wait for the process to complete. Once the backup is finished, you can safely free up space on your device, knowing that your important data is securely stored on the external device. In case of any data loss, you can easily restore the backup using Todo Backup.

Step 1. Click "Select backup contents" to start a backup.

Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail. Click File.

Step 3. Local and network files will be displayed on the left side. You can expand the directory to choose which files to back up.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the location where you want to save the backup.

Click "Options" to encrypt the backup with a password in "Backup Options," and to set up a backup schedule and initiate a backup at a specific event in "Backup Scheme." Numerous other customization options are available for the backup process.

Step 5. You can save the backup to a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

Step 6. Todo Backup allows users to back up data to a third-party cloud drive or its own cloud drive.

If you want to back up data to a third-party cloud drive, select Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, add your account, and then log in.

You can also save backups to the tool's cloud storage service. Click on "tools Cloud" and sign up for a tools Account to log in.

Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to start the backup process. When the backup is complete, it will appear as a card on the left panel. To manage the backup job further, right-click on it.

Solution 4: Format the Partition to Free Up Space

Once you have created a backup, you can attempt to format the drive with the space not increasing issue. Windows 10 provides users with a built-in Disk Management tool to create, delete, extend, shrink, and format partitions. The simplest method to format the hard drive is by using Disk Management:

Step 1. Right-click on the Windows icon and choose "Disk Management".

Step 2. Right-click on the target drive or partition and select "Format."

Step 3. Choose the file system and set the cluster size.

Step 4. Click "OK" to format the drive.

Fix 5: Wipe the Hard Drive If It's Still Full After Deletion

If this issue persists, you can contemplate erasing the disk to resolve the problem of "deleting files not freeing up space." The Partition Master tool can permanently erase data from the disk(s) or partition(s). Additionally, it allows you to delete a partition, merge partitions, and format a partition effortlessly. Follow these steps to easily wipe your hard drive.

After data erasure, you can use partition software tools to partition the hard drive and restore the backup to your drive.

Conclusion

When you remove files, use the right-click context menu and choose Delete. When files are deleted, they are moved to the Recycle Bin. After you empty the Recycle Bin, the space they occupied is freed up. If a file is deleted but the space isn't released on Windows 10, try the five methods illustrated in this tutorial.

FAQs: Deleted Files But Hard Drive Still Full

It can be truly frustrating when you delete files from your hard drive yet it still indicates no free space. You can resolve this issue by following the steps outlined above. If you continue to encounter problems, feel free to consult these frequently asked questions for further assistance.

Why is my hard drive still full even after deleting files?

Available disk space does not immediately increase upon deleting files. When a file is deleted, the space it occupied on the disk is not released until the file is permanently erased. The trash or recycle bin on Windows is, in fact, a hidden folder situated within each hard drive.

< strong > Are deleted files ever really gone? < /strong >

When you delete a file from your computer, it doesn't vanish completely from existence. Even if you promptly empty the Recycle Bin or Trash folder, all that your deletion action does is mark the space occupied by that file on your hard drive as available for reuse. The actual data remains until it's overwritten by new information.

Is Disk Cleanup safe for SSD?

Yes, and if you don't frequently use System Restore, it's advisable to disable it as well, particularly if you have an Intel SSD. They recommend keeping it disabled for their SSDs. However, this doesn't imply that you should never utilize System Restore when needed.