If you plan to install Windows 10 on your PC's SSD, you may wonder how much space it will take up. Will it leave enough room for your files and applications or hog all the storage space? Let's find out.
When it comes to operating systems, Windows 10 is one of the most popular choices worldwide. However, its frequent updates and feature additions can affect your SSD's storage capacity. As a result, it's crucial to understand how much space Windows 10 occupies on your SSD and how you can optimize it for better storage management.
Whether you are planning to upgrade your current SSD or simply looking to free up some space, knowing the exact storage footprint of Windows 10 is essential. This information will help you make informed decisions about your storage needs and ensure enough room for other important files and applications. In this article, we will explore the space requirements of Windows 10 and provide tips on managing its storage usage on your SSD efficiently.
How Much Space Does Windows 10 Take Up On SSD?
The amount of space that Windows occupies depends entirely on the user’s needs and preferences. A 500 GB HDD is a good option for Windows 10, as it can accommodate most everyday tasks people use their Windows PCs for. This includes working with office applications, surfing the web, and enjoying casual video games. However, suppose you are involved in projects that require a lot of storage space, such as 4K video editing or keeping an extensive collection of games. In that case, you will need at least 1 TB of HDD to ensure a smooth and satisfying experience.
When Windows 10 is installed on an SSD, it takes up around 20GB of space for the 64-bit version and at least 16 GB for the 32-bit version. However, these are the minimum requirements, and having more space is recommended for optimal performance and functionality. Extra length is also required for the weekly updates that Windows 10 receives, which can improve your system's security and performance. These updates usually need around 10 GB of additional space.
In addition, every six months, Windows 10 releases a new version that can take up to 30 GB of space to back up your current version and install the new one.
Also, users will need to take into account the space taken up by their data, such as documents, photos and music. This can add up quickly, so keeping track of how much space is used is essential.
Ways To Reduce Disk Space in Windows 10
Windows 10 is not a static system but a dynamic one that will expand and increase in size over time. Therefore, we will provide some helpful advice for reducing the hard disk space that Windows 10 occupies. The following are some methods to enlarge or keep the size of Windows 10 on an SSD to a minimum. These are;
Method 1: The first is to ensure they keep their files organized and delete unnecessary items.
Method 2: It is also essential to ensure the SSD is optimized for performance by regularly running a disk clean-up and defragmentation utility. Finally, users should consider using cloud storage solutions to move some of their data off the SSD.
Method 3: Turn off the System Restore: System Restore is a function in Windows that allows users to restore their computer to a prior state, which can help recover from system failures or other issues. A large amount of space is occupied on the device, and turning it off can be considered if you want to lower the space covered by Windows 10. Follow these steps;
- Step 1: Go to This PC. Select ‘Properties' Choose ‘Local Disk' Click on the ‘Configure' Choose the ‘Disable system protection' icon. Then, choose OK.
- Step 2: Turn Hibernation Off. The hibernate feature in Windows 10 uses less power than ‘sleep,' When you restart the computer, you will be right where you left off. The steps for disabling hibernation are given below- In the Search function, type' command prompt.'
- Step 3: Choose ‘Run as administrator. Type ‘powercfg/hibernate off‘ and press enter.
Method 4: Use cloud storage services to store your files online and free up space on your SSD. You can access your files from any device with an internet connection. Some popular cloud storage providers are OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud.
Method 5: Use an external hard disk drive to store large files that take up much space on your SSD, such as videos, photos, games, or backups. You can connect it to your laptop via a USB cable and transfer your files quickly. They are more expensive and bulkier than an SD card or a USB flash drive but offer more storage capacity and speed.
Method 6: Reduce or turn off your virtual memory, a feature that uses part of your SSD as extra RAM. This can improve your SSD performance and save some space, but it may affect your system's stability and performance if you run out of RAM. You can adjust your virtual memory settings in the Control Panel. This can be done by going through the following steps;
- Step 1: Right-click on This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings.
- Step 2: Select the Settings button from the Performance section. Click the Advanced tab in the Performance Options box, then click the Change button next to Virtual Memory.
- Step 3: In the Virtual Memory window, click the radio button next to Automatically manage paging file size for all drives to deactivate it. You can make any changes and click OK to save the changes.
Method 7: Extend System Partition
Extending system partition, as the name implies, enlarges the system as a whole. However, the HDD must have an unallocated storage space to carry out the process effectively. Remember that the unallocated area must always be close to the partition you intend to enlarge. Follow the procedures below to extend the partition effectively.
Extend System C drive with unallocated space
- Step 1: Right-click on the System C: drive and select “Resize/Move”.
- Step 2: Drag the system partition end into the unallocated space to add it to the C: drive. Click “OK”.
- Step 3: Click “Execute Task” and “Apply” to execute the operations and extend the C drive.
Drive without Unallocated Space.
- Step 1: Right-click a big partition with enough free space on the system disk and select “Allocate Space”.
- Step 2: Select the system drive at the Allocate Space From (*) To section, and drag the end of the System C drive into the unallocated space. Click “OK” to confirm.
- Step 3: Click “Execute Task.” It will list the pending operations, and click “Apply” to save the changes and extend the C drive.
Method 8: Turn off Hibernation
Here, we need to turn off hibernation via Windows Terminal. Here is how to:
- Open Windows Terminal as an administrator.
- To stop hibernation, copy & paste the command below and hit Enter
Method 9: Uninstall Applications
If you have a lot of unnecessary software installed on your system partition, you can make room for your Windows 10 by uninstalling the software. So, how do you uninstall the software on the system partition? Please read the steps below carefully.
Step 1: Click Settings from the Start menu to continue.
Step 2: Click system on the Settings page to continue.
Step 3: Click storage and select C: drive on the right to continue.
Step 4: Click storage and choose C: drive
Step 5: Click Apps & games to continue.
Step 6: Click Apps & games.
Step 7: Choose an app to uninstall and click Uninstall to free some space.
To check how much Windows 10 occupies, first, we need to install Windows 10 on a computer. Once the installation process is finished, go directly to the operating system unit to see exactly how much it occupies, after which we will see that Windows 10 occupies about 20 GB of space on the disk, including drivers (for instance, the NVIDIA drivers).
Making the Most of Available Space
Users should use Windows 10's built-in features when optimizing the space on an SSD. For example, users can use the Storage Sense feature to delete temporary files and move files to the cloud to free up space. Additionally, users can use the Disk Clean-up utility to delete unnecessary files and the Disk Defragmenter utility to optimize the disk for performance.
You should also consider what kind of SSD you are using. Some SSDs can store more data and work faster than others. Ensure that the SSD fits your needs and has enough space for your data.
Choosing the Right SSD
When choosing an SSD, users should consider the type of drive, the capacity and the speed. SSDs come in different form factors, such as 2.5″ and M.2, and capacities ranging from 128GB to 4TB. Additionally, they come in different speeds ranging from SATA to NVMe. Choosing an SSD suitable for the user's needs is essential and can hold the amount of data they will be storing.
FAQs
Q. How Big is Windows 10 on an SSD?
Windows 10 takes up approximately 15-20GB of space on a Solid-State Drive (SSD). This includes the operating system itself, all the updates, and any extra installed programs and applications. While this is a relatively small amount of space, it is still important to consider when choosing an SSD for a new computer or upgrading an existing system.
Q. What is the Difference Between Windows 10 on an SSD and HDD?
The speed is the main difference between Windows 10 on an SSD and an HDD. SSDs are much faster than HDDs in terms of reading and writing data, which makes them ideal for operating systems like Windows 10. SSDs also have no moving parts, which makes them less prone to failure than HDDs.
Q. Are There Any Benefits to Installing Windows 10 on an SSD?
Yes, there are several benefits to installing Windows 10 on an SSD. These include improved boot times, faster program execution and performance, and more reliable data storage. Additionally, SSDs are more energy efficient than HDDs, so they can help save on electricity costs.
Q. What Are the Disadvantages of Installing Windows 10 on an SSD?
The main disadvantage of installing Windows 10 on an SSD is the cost. SSDs are more expensive than HDDs, so they may not be an option for budget-conscious buyers. Additionally, SSDs have limited storage space, so they may not be suitable for users who need to store large amounts of data.
Q. How much space does Windows 11 take on an SSD?
Devices must meet the following minimum hardware specifications to install or upgrade to Windows 11: Processor: A system on a chip (SoC) or processor running at one gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores. Memory: 4 GB or more is required—storage: 64 GB of free disk space or more.
Q. How much space does Windows 10 take on Mac?
Only the following Mac devices with at least 55 GB of free space can install Windows 10 using Boot Camp:
- MacBook Pro, Mac mini, MacBook Air (2012 and later)
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- Mac mini-Server (Late 2012)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
Final Thoughts
Choosing an ideal SSD can take time and effort for a user who wants to use Windows 10 effectively. Therefore, if you're going to run Windows 10 smoothly and seamlessly on an SSD, you should have at least 40 to 50 GB of free space and more. This will allow you to enjoy the fast and reliable performance of an SSD, as well as the versatile and user-friendly features of Windows 10.
