WINDOWS
How to turn on Storage Sense on Windows 11
Real screenshot · Microsoft Cloud PC, Windows 11In short
Open Settings, click System, then Storage, and switch on Storage Sense. Click Storage Sense to choose how often it runs and after how many days files in the Recycle Bin and the Downloads folder are deleted.
Storage Sense is Windows' own cleaner. It deletes temporary files and empties the Recycle Bin by itself, so that the drive does not fill up unnoticed. It works on the system drive, usually C:.
6 of 6 steps show a real screenshot from our Microsoft Cloud PC.
Steps
- 1
Open Settings, System, Storage
Open Start, Settings, System and click Storage.
The bar at the top shows how much of the system drive is used and free. On our Cloud PC it read Windows (C:) - 127 GB, with 41.2 GB used and 86.1 GB free.
- 2
Switch on Storage Sense
Under Storage management, switch on Storage Sense.
With the default settings it runs when the PC is low on disk space. On our Cloud PC it was already On.
- 3
Click Storage Sense to choose how often it runs
Click the Storage Sense row itself. Make sure Automatic User content cleanup is On.
Under Run Storage Sense, choose Every day, Every week, Every month or During low free disk space (default).
- 4
Set the Recycle Bin
Under Delete files in my recycle bin if they have been there for over, choose a number of days.
The default is 30 days (default). After that time, deleted files are gone for good.
- 5
Decide about the Downloads folder
Delete files in my Downloads folder if they haven't been opened for more than is set to Never (default).
Leave it on Never if you keep things in Downloads that you still need.
- 6
Run it once now
Click Run Storage Sense now at the bottom of the page to clean up straight away. This permanently deletes files.
The page also says how much space it cleaned up in the past month. On our Cloud PC it said: We cleaned up 0 bytes of space in the past month.
If you do not see this option
- Storage Sense does not clean another drive. Microsoft says it works on the system drive only. For other drives, open Settings, System, Storage, Advanced storage settings, Storage used on other drives. Source: Manage drive space with Storage Sense
- It has not run yet. Microsoft says it cannot run unless you are signed in and online for more than 10 minutes. With the default setting, During low free disk space (default), it runs only when the drive is low on space. Source: Manage drive space with Storage Sense
- Your Downloads folder is never cleaned. That is the default: the Downloads setting is Never (default). Choose a number of days on the Storage Sense page if you want it cleaned.
If this does not work
- A file from OneDrive now shows as online-only. Microsoft says Storage Sense makes OneDrive files online-only when they have not been opened for 30 days, by default. It does not delete them; they download again when you open them. Files marked Always keep on this device are left alone.
- You want to remove the old Windows installation after an update. Microsoft says to open Settings, System, Storage, Temporary files, tick Previous Windows Installation(s) and select Remove files.
- Nothing seems to have been cleaned. Check the line under Automatic User content cleanup on the Storage Sense page, which shows how much was cleaned up in the past month. On our Cloud PC it showed 0 bytes. Click Run Storage Sense now to clean up straight away.
Good to know
If you use OneDrive, Storage Sense can also turn files you have not opened for a while into online-only files. They stay visible and download again when you open them. Files marked Always keep on this device are never touched.
Storage Sense only runs when you have been signed in and online for more than ten minutes.
For a one-off clear-out with more options, see how to free up disk space on Windows 11.
About this guide
- Device
- Windows
- Shown on
- Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › System › Storage
- Real screenshots
- 6 of 6 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Did this guide work for you?
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