Find and remove large files on Windows with Microsoft PC Manager

Storage space issues can seriously impact your Windows computer’s performance and functionality. Microsoft PC Manager provides a straightforward way to identify and remove space-hogging files from your Windows 10 or 11 system, helping you reclaim valuable disk space quickly and efficiently.

Setting up Microsoft PC Manager

Before you can start cleaning up your storage, you’ll need Microsoft PC Manager installed on your system. Here’s how to get it running:

  1. Visit pcmanager.microsoft.com in your web browser and click the ‘Download’ button. Choose where to save the installer file.

  1. Locate the downloaded installer file and double-click the .EXE file to begin installation.

  1. When prompted by User Account Control, provide administrator permissions by clicking ‘Yes’ or entering admin credentials.

  1. Read through the End User License Agreement, check the acceptance box, and select ‘Install’.

  1. Wait while the installation completes.

  1. Click ‘Launch Now’ when installation finishes.

Managing large files with PC Manager

Once PC Manager is running, follow these steps to find and remove large files:

  1. Navigate to the ‘Cleanup’ tab in the main window.

  1. Select ‘Storage management’ from the available options.

  1. Click on ‘Manage large files’ to begin scanning your system. Note that scanning only works for the Windows installation drive.

  1. Set your file size preferences (such as >1 GB) and select the types of files you want to find. Click ‘View in File Explorer’ to see matching files.

  1. Review the list of large files in File Explorer and remove any unnecessary items to free up space.


For additional features and optimization tools available in Microsoft PC Manager, check out the complete guide for using the new PC Manager app.