How to free up disk space by focusing on Microsoft Edge

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When you use Microsoft Edge daily, the browser accumulates cache, cookies, temporary files, and website data that take up disk space and, over time, can slow everything down. If you also have limited free storage on Windows, every gigabyte counts, and thoroughly cleaning Edge is one of the quickest ways to free up space on your computer. Alternatively, you can learn how to uninstall Edge on Windows.

In this article, you'll see, step by step, how to free up disk space focused on Edge (by clearing the cache and configuring automatic cleanups) and, in addition, how to complement that cleanup with other tasks in Windows and macOS to gain even more space: deleting temporary files, using built-in cleaning tools, uninstalling programs, controlling disk space, disabling hibernation, and options like the cloud or external drives.

Why free up disk space and clean up Microsoft Edge

With use, Edge stores images, scripts, static files, and cookies from the websites you visit. This speeds up page loading, but it can also cause display errors, login problems, strange crashes on some websites, and, of course, storage consumption that isn't immediately apparent. If you're interested in optimizing resources, learn how to make Microsoft Edge use less RAM.

In addition, your system needs free disk space for many internal tasks: creating temporary files, downloading and installing updates, saving information from RAM when it's full, and storing browser data. When the C: drive is almost full (for example, above 85-90%), your PC may become slower, more unstable, and even display constant low disk space warnings.

The main culprits behind a full disk are large files (videos, games, high-resolution photos) , system files ( Windows updates , hiberfil.sys, page file), piles of temporary files, heavy applications, old backups, duplicate files, and forgotten email attachments.

If your hard drive is always at 100% usage and running very slowly, it may even be starting to fail. In these cases, in addition to freeing up space, it's a good idea to check the drive's health and consider migrating to an SSD, which usually offers better performance and reliability.

How to clear the cache and cookies in Microsoft Edge

The most direct way to free up space associated with Edge is to clear the cache and other browsing data. This not only recovers megabytes or gigabytes, but also resolves many page loading issues and improves browser response times.

Access privacy settings in Edge

To begin, you need to access the settings area where Edge groups everything related to privacy, search, and browsing data. It's a very quick process that you can repeat whenever you need to perform a manual cleanup.

These are the steps to reach the correct section:

• Open Microsoft Edge on your Windows computer.
• In the upper right corner, click the button with three horizontal points to display the main menu.
• In the menu, select the option Configuration.
• In the left sidebar, enter “Privacy, Search, and Services”.
• Scroll down until you locate the block “Clear browsing data”.
• Press on “Choosing what should be erased”.

From that screen you can decide with considerable precision what data you want to delete and from what time period , so you can do a light cleanup or a deeper deletion if Edge has been accumulating information for a long time.

Choosing exactly what to delete in Edge

Once you're in the browsing data clearing window, you'll see that Edge offers a drop-down menu for the time range and several checkboxes for different data types. The key to freeing up space without complications is to select the right options.

To clear Edge's cache and reclaim space, follow these steps:

• En "Time interval"Open the drop-down menu and choose the period you're interested in. If you want a deep clean, choose “Always”.
• Check the box “Cached files and images”, which is the one that stores most of the files that take up space.
• If you want to troubleshoot login issues or websites that aren't displaying correctly, you can also select “Cookies and other site data”Knowing that you will have to log in again on several pages.
• Check if you're interested in activating other boxes, such as browsing history or form data, if you want a more thorough cleaning.
• Click on the “Delete now” and wait for Edge to finish the process.

Keep in mind that clearing your cache and cookies may cause Edge to take a little longer to load pages initially because it will have to re-download images, scripts, and resources . This is normal, and in return, you'll free up space and resolve many unusual bugs that appear over time.

Configure automatic deletion when closing Edge

If you don't want to remember to perform manual cleanups every so often, Edge lets you configure automatic data cleanup every time you close the browser . It's not mandatory to enable it, but it's very useful if you tend to use your PC for many hours a day and browse many different websites.

To enable automatic data deletion in Edge, within the same privacy section:

• In the part of “Clear browsing data”Locate the option that allows you to choose What gets deleted every time you close your browser?.
• Go into that option and select the types of data you want to be automatically deleted: for example, cache, cookies or history, depending on your priority between privacy and convenience.
• Close the settings; from that moment on, every time you close Edge, the deletion will be performed automatically.

This type of configuration helps keep the browser lightweight and free of digital junk , although if you constantly delete cookies you will have to log in more often to your usual services.

Check how much disk space you have left

Before you start deleting things like there's no tomorrow, it's a good idea to check how much free space you actually have. This way you can prioritize your actions: cleaning Edge and a few temporary files might be enough, or perhaps your disk is so full that you need to do more thorough cleanup with programs, backups, or large files.

View disk space in Windows 10 and 11

In Windows 10 and 11, you have several quick ways to check the status of your drives. One of the simplest is to use File Explorer itself , which provides a clear view of each drive and its usage.

Follow these steps to check the remaining space on your C: drive and other partitions:

• Click on the folder icon from the taskbar to open File Explorer.
• In the left panel, click on "This team".
• In section "Devices and drives" You will see your C: drive and any other internal or external drives.
• Look at the color bar and the text that indicates used and available spaceIf drive C: is almost full (the red bar or very full), you need to start freeing up space as soon as possible.

Another option is to go to Settings > System > Storage , where Windows shows you a breakdown by categories (apps, temporary files, documents, etc.), which is very useful for seeing what kinds of things are eating up your disk.

Check storage on macOS

If you use a Mac, you can also visually see how much free space you have and where it's being used. This is the first step in deciding whether simply clearing caches and temporary files is enough, or if you need something more drastic.

To view available storage on macOS:

• Click on the menu of the apple apple (upper left corner).
• In modern versions, enter "System settings" and later “General > Storage”.
• In the upper right corner you will see How much total space do you have and how much is free?, along with a breakdown by categories (apps, documents, system, etc.).

Sometimes you'll see a category called "Other" that groups various files. While it's not always obvious what's in there, this information helps you understand where your storage space is going so you can optimize and speed up your Mac.

Use the built-in cleaning tools in Windows and Mac

In addition to Edge's specific cleaning, Windows and macOS include utilities designed to remove temporary files, update remnants, system caches, and other unnecessary data without putting your personal files at risk.

Disk Cleaner and Storage Sense in Windows

Windows has included the Disk Cleanup tool for years , which analyzes your system and shows you everything you can safely delete. In more recent versions, this feature is complemented by Storage Sense , which automates the process.

To use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 and 11:

• In the Start menu search bar, type “Disk cleaning” and open it.
• If prompted, choose the drive you want to clean (usually C:) and confirm.
• Wait a few seconds while Windows calculates how much you can free up.
• Check the boxes for the types of files you want to delete (temporary files, trash contents, update remnants, etc.) and see how much space you will free up.
• Do not select the option to “Windows ESD Installation Files” unless you know exactly what you're doing.
• Click on Accept and confirm to start the cleaning.

If you want to go a little further, click on “Clean system files” within the same tool, which will allow you to remove even more items related to updates and old components.

To automate these tasks, you can activate Storage Sense :

• Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.
• Flip the switch “Storage sensor”.
• Tap the arrow or the sensor settings option to choose how often it runs and what type of files it should clean (temporary, trash, old downloads, etc.).

This allows Windows to periodically sweep up unnecessary files , preventing your disk from filling up again in a matter of weeks.

Optimize storage on macOS

macOS also has a built-in feature for getting rid of files you no longer need, especially media you've already watched and other large files. The tool is integrated into the system's storage panel.

To use the Optimize Storage option on your Mac:

• Click on the Apple menu and enter "System settings".
• Go to “General > Storage”.
• Look for the recommendations section and locate “Optimize storage”.
• Press on "Optimize" to allow macOS to automatically delete movies, TV shows, and other large files that you've already watched and that take up a significant amount of disk space.

Combined with the removal of caches and temporary files, this type of tool helps you recover several gigabytes at once without having to go file by file manually.

Delete temporary system files

Beyond Edge, both Windows and macOS generate numerous temporary files related to installations, updates, internal caches, and background processes. Many of these can be safely deleted once they are no longer in use.

Temporary in Windows

In Windows, temporary files are distributed among folders such as C:\Windows\Temp or each user's Temp directory. Before deleting anything, it's advisable to close any programs that are using these files to avoid conflicts.

One way to manually delete temporary files is:

• Open the Task Manager Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and, in the Processes tab, close programs you don't need (right-click > End task).
• Balance Windows + R, writes temp and press Enter. The user's temporary files folder will open.
• Balance Ctrl + A to select all and then Delete (or Ctrl + D) to remove.
• If the system indicates that a file is in use, click on Skip and leave those files as they are.
• Repeat the process with % Temp% in the Run dialog box, and you can also check manually C:\Windows\Temp and the Temp folder within your user profile.

Don't forget to empty the Recycle Bin afterward to ensure the space is freed up effectively. Keep in mind that temporary files in Edge and other browsers are best managed through their own settings, as we've seen before.

Temporary files and cache in macOS

On a Mac, much of the temporary data is stored in the user and system cache folders . Cleaning them thoroughly can free up several gigabytes and, in many cases, improve overall performance.

To clear user caches in macOS:

• Open the Finder and in the menu bar choose Go > Go to folder….
• Write ~ / Library / Caches / and press Go.
• Go into the folders you see and move the files you don't need to the trash, being careful not to touch anything you're not sure about.

Some cache files will be regenerated, but at least you'll have removed old data that no longer serves any purpose and was just taking up space.

Remove duplicate files, compress and uninstall programs

In addition to cleaning Edge and temporary files, there are three very effective actions to free up space more thoroughly: deleting duplicate files, compressing large files that you don't use daily, and uninstalling applications that you no longer need.

Detect and delete duplicate files

Over time, it's easy to end up with multiple copies of the same document, video, or photo collection. While you can check them manually, it's a rather tedious task, so many people opt to use specialized duplicate detection apps to be on the safe side.

If you prefer a manual review:

• On Windows, open the File Browser and go to the folder you want to review.
• Use the view "Details" (View tab) to be able to sort by name or size.
• Order by Name o Size and locates files that appear to be duplicates.
• Right-click on the ones you don't need and choose Delete.

On macOS, the process is similar with the Finder , using the display options to sort by name or size and sending duplicates you confirm are unnecessary to the trash.

Compress large files to save space

Another way to free up disk space is to compress large files that you don't use often : high-resolution photos, videos, large audio files, old projects, etc. By packaging them in ZIP or other formats, you free up space without losing the files.

On Windows you can do it like this:

• Right-click on the file or folder you want to compress.
• Choose “Send to > Compressed folder (zip file)”.
• A new ZIP file will be created in the same location.
• Once you've verified that the ZIP file is correct, delete the original file or folder to save space.

On macOS the method is very similar:

• In the Finder, Control-click on the file or folder.
• Choose “Compress”.
• A .zip file will be generated; delete the original if you no longer need it in its uncompressed form.

Keep in mind that to use that content again you will have to unzip the ZIP file , so this method is best suited for material that you need to save, but don't need to open constantly.

Uninstall apps you don't use

Programs you install "just in case" end up devouring space without you even realizing it, especially games, editing suites, testing tools , and bloatware that came pre-installed on your computer. To identify what to delete, consult the guide to unnecessary programs for Windows . Uninstalling what you don't use frees up gigabytes with just a couple of clicks.

In Windows:

• Write "Add or Remove Programs" in the search bar and open it.
• Check the list of installed applications.
• Before deleting anything, search online for any programs you don't recognize to check if they are important system components (generally, anything that includes Microsoft or Windows (It's best to leave it as is, in the name).
• In the apps you don't need, click on the three points from the right and select uninstall.

On macOS, the easiest way is to use Launchpad :

• Open Launchpad from the Dock or from the Applications folder.
• Press and hold the icon of the app to be deleted until it starts to move.
• Click on the X that appears next to the application to uninstall it.

After uninstalling, residual or temporary files are often left scattered throughout the system. If you want to be extra thorough, you'll have to locate these folders and delete them manually or use a reliable third-party cleanup tool to do it for you.

Other advanced ways to recover disk space

If after cleaning Edge, temporary files, and programs you're still short on space, you have several extra options: adjust System Restore settings , move data to the cloud , use external hard drives , and even disable hibernation mode to remove the hiberfil.sys file.

Configure System Restore in Windows

System Restore reserves a percentage of your disk space so you can revert to a previous state if problems arise after updates or installations . It's a very useful safety net, but it also takes up space. The default settings are usually reasonable, although you can adjust them in extreme situations.

To change the space used by System Restore:

• In the search bar, type “System protection” o “Create a restoration point” and open it.
• Select the main Windows drive (usually C:).
• Click on "Set up".
• Use the slider to reduce or increase the maximum use of space.

Keep in mind that if you reduce this margin too much you will have fewer restoration points available, so consider whether you prefer more security or more free space.

Move files to the cloud

Once you've deleted what you don't need but still have a full hard drive, a good idea is to move those files you need to keep to the cloud, even if you don't use them daily: important documents, photos, videos, old projects , etc.

Some common options include OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, or encrypted services like Proton Drive. The idea is simple: you store your files on remote servers, free up disk space, and can access them from any device with your account.

For example, to move files to Microsoft OneDrive in Windows:

• Open the OneDrive app and sign in with your Microsoft account.
• Check your available space in the options Account.
• Open File Explorer and drag the documents or folders from your local disk to the OneDrive folder.
• Wait for the synchronization to finish and, once verified, delete local copies if you want to save space.

On macOS, iCloud Drive works very similarly: you activate iCloud, drag files to iCloud Drive in the Finder, and once they're uploaded, you can manage what stays locally and what's only in the cloud.

Use external drives to offload your internal storage

External hard drives and portable SSDs are a classic solution for backing up and transferring large files from your main computer . Photos, long videos, virtual machines, or projects you only need occasionally are ideal candidates.

In Windows the typical process is:

• Connect the external drive using USB or another compatible connection.
• En "This team"Make sure it appears correctly and check its properties to see the available space.
• Open another Explorer window, select the files or folders you want to move, right-click, and choose Cut.
• Paste those files onto the external drive.
• When the copy is finished, use the option to “Safely remove hardware” in the taskbar before disconnecting the cable.

On macOS, first make sure your external drive is formatted in a compatible way (APFS, HFS+, or exFAT). If you need to reformat it, do so using Disk Utility , keeping in mind that this will erase all its contents. Afterward, simply drag your files to the external drive's icon in Finder and eject it from the context menu when you're finished.

Disable hibernation to free up space in Windows

Windows hibernation saves your session state in a file called hiberfil.sys on your C: drive. This file can take up several gigabytes, especially if your computer has a lot of RAM. If you don't use hibernation, you can disable it and reclaim that space.

To do it:

• Write "Symbol of the system" In the Start menu, right-click and choose "Execute as an administrator".
• In the window that opens, type the command powercfg -h off and press Enter.
• Hibernation mode will be disabled and the hiberfil.sys file will be removed from the system.

If you ever want to restore that function, repeat the process but with the command `powercfg -h on` . macOS doesn't have a hibernation mode identical to Windows; the system uses sleep and safe sleep modes that are part of macOS's design and cannot be disabled in the same way.

With all these techniques—clearing Edge's cache and cookies, deleting temporary files, using built-in tools, checking programs, compressing and moving files to the cloud or external drives—you have a complete arsenal for freeing up disk space and keeping your computer faster and more stable . The key is to combine a good, timely cleanup when you see your disk filling up with certain regular habits (like checking downloads, the Recycle Bin, browser caches, and folders that get out of control) so you don't have to keep battling the "low disk space" warning.