Free Up Disk Space Automatically with Storage Sense

Running low on storage? Windows quietly collects temporary files, old downloads, and a full Recycle Bin that can add up to many gigabytes. Storage Sense cleans these up for you automatically.

The Tip

Storage Sense is a built-in tool that removes junk files on a schedule, so you don’t have to hunt for them yourself.

How to Turn It On

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Storage.
3. Switch on Storage Sense.
4. Click Storage Sense again to customize how it works.

Settings You Can Adjust

• How often it runs: Every day, week, month, or only when you’re low on space.
• Temporary files: Let it delete temp files that your apps no longer need.
• Recycle Bin: Automatically empty items after a set number of days.
• Downloads folder: Optionally delete files you haven’t opened for a while. This is off by default, so be careful with it.
• Run now: Click Run Storage Sense now for an immediate cleanup.

More Ways to Free Space

• Temporary files: In the Storage page, open Temporary files to see exactly what can be removed, such as old update files, thumbnails, and the Recycle Bin.
• Disk Cleanup: Search for it in the Start menu and choose Clean up system files for a deeper clean.
• Uninstall unused apps: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and sort by size.
• See what’s using space: The Storage page shows a breakdown of apps, documents, pictures, and more.

Good to Know

Before you let Storage Sense clear your Downloads folder or Recycle Bin, make sure you’ve saved anything important elsewhere. Deleted files may not be recoverable.

Quick Recap

Turn on Storage Sense once and let Windows keep your drive tidy in the background.

Coming tomorrow: A cheat sheet of the most useful Windows key shortcuts.

How much space did you free up? Let me know in the comments!

How to Use Task Manager to Fix a Slow PC (Windows 11)

To fix a slow PC in Windows 11, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. When your PC freezes, slows down, or an app stops responding, Task Manager is the first place to look. It shows what's running, what's using your resources, and lets you shut down anything that's misbehaving.

How to Open Task Manager in Windows 11 (3 Ways)

• Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Opens Task Manager directly (the fastest way).
• Ctrl + Alt + Del: Opens a menu where you can choose Task Manager. This works even when things are badly stuck.
• Win + X: Opens the power user menu, which also lists Task Manager.

How to Find What's Using CPU, Memory or Disk

1. Processes: Click the CPU, Memory, or Disk column headers to sort by the apps using the most.
2. Performance: See live graphs for your processor, memory, disk, and network, so you can tell what's being maxed out.
3. Startup apps: Control which apps launch when Windows starts. See How to Disable Startup Apps and Speed Up Windows 11.
4. Details: A more technical view of every running process.

How to End a Frozen App and Use Efficiency Mode

• Close a frozen app: Right-click it in the Processes list and choose End task.
• Efficiency mode (Windows 11): Right-click a busy background app and choose Efficiency mode to limit how much power it uses.
• Open file location: Right-click a process and choose it to see where the program lives on your drive.
• Search online: Not sure what a process is? Right-click it and choose Search online.

Is It Safe to End a Task in Task Manager?

Only end tasks you recognize. Ending a system process can cause Windows to behave strangely, and unsaved work in an app you close will be lost. If you're unsure, search for the process name first.

Summary: Fix a Slow PC With Task Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, sort by CPU or Memory, and end the app that's causing trouble. For more ways to speed up your computer, read How to Speed Up an Old Windows PC for Free.

Related guides

• How to Disable Startup Apps and Speed Up Windows 11
• How to Speed Up an Old Windows PC for Free

Ever had to rescue a frozen PC with Task Manager? Tell me in the comments what caused it.

File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11 That Save Clicks

These File Explorer shortcuts for Windows 11 save you clicks. You probably open File Explorer dozens of times a day, and a handful of shortcuts, like Win + E and Ctrl + L, make moving around your files much faster. You won't need to touch the mouse as often.

File Explorer Shortcuts to Open and Navigate

• Win + E: Open File Explorer from anywhere.
• Alt + ↑: Go up one folder level.
• Alt + ← / →: Go back and forward, just like in a web browser.
• Ctrl + L (or Alt + D): Jump to the address bar so you can type or paste a path.
• Ctrl + E (or F3): Jump to the search box.

File Explorer Shortcuts to Manage Files

• Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder.
• F2: Rename the selected file. Press Tab to jump to the next file and rename it too.
• Alt + Enter: Show properties for the selected item.
• Ctrl + A: Select everything in the folder.
• Alt + P: Show or hide the preview pane.

How to Show File Extensions and Other Handy Tricks

• Open a terminal in any folder: Click the address bar, type cmd or powershell, and press Enter.
• Show file extensions: Go to View > Show > File name extensions so you can see whether a file is .jpg, .png, .docx, and so on.
• Pin favorites: Right-click a folder and choose Pin to Quick access for one-click access.
• Change the view size: Hold Ctrl and scroll the mouse wheel to zoom icons larger or smaller.

Warning: Shift + Delete Skips the Recycle Bin

Shift + Delete deletes a file permanently, skipping the Recycle Bin. It's fast, but use it carefully because there's no easy undo.

Summary: The 3 File Explorer Shortcuts to Learn First

Learn just three: Win + E to open, Ctrl + L to type a path, and F2 to rename. They'll pay off every day. For more time-savers, see Windows 11 Clipboard History.

Related guides

• Windows 11 Clipboard History: Use Win + V to Paste More
• PowerToys for Windows 11: 7 Free Tools Worth Installing

Which shortcut was new to you? Tell me in the comments.

PowerToys for Windows 11: 4 Free Tools Worth Installing

PowerToys is a free collection of utilities made by Microsoft that adds features Windows should probably have had all along. If you only install one extra tool on Windows 11, make it this one. Here are 7 PowerToys tools worth turning on.

How to Install PowerToys on Windows 11

• Search for PowerToys in the Microsoft Store and install it, or
• Open Terminal and run: winget install Microsoft.PowerToys

The Best PowerToys Tools

• FancyZones: Create your own custom window layouts. Hold Shift while dragging a window to snap it into a zone. It's perfect for ultrawide and large monitors. For the built-in option, see Snap Layouts in Windows 11.
• PowerToys Run: A fast launcher. Press Alt + Space, type the name of an app or file, and press Enter.
• Text Extractor: Press Win + Shift + T and select any text on your screen, even inside images or videos, to copy it.
• Color Picker: Press Win + Shift + C to grab the exact color code of anything on screen.
• PowerRename: Rename many files at once. Right-click the files and choose PowerRename.
• Always on Top: Press Win + Ctrl + T to keep a window floating above all others.
• Keyboard Manager: Remap keys and shortcuts to whatever you prefer.

How to Set Up PowerToys

1. Open PowerToys from the Start menu.
2. Browse the list of tools on the left side.
3. Turn on only the ones you want. Most are off until you enable them.
4. Click a tool to change its shortcut or settings.

Can You Change the PowerToys Shortcuts?

Yes. The shortcuts above are the defaults and may change between versions, so you can always check or customize them inside PowerToys. You don't have to enable everything. Start with one or two tools and add more as you get comfortable.

Summary: PowerToys for Windows 11

Install PowerToys, turn on FancyZones and PowerToys Run, and you'll feel the difference on your very first day.

Related guides

• Snap Layouts in Windows 11: Split Your Screen Fast
• Windows 11 Clipboard History: Use Win + V to Paste More

Have you used PowerToys before? Tell me in the comments which tool is your favorite.

How to Disable Startup Apps and Speed Up Windows 11

You can speed up Windows 11 by disabling startup apps in Settings > Apps > Startup. If your PC takes forever to start, or feels sluggish for the first few minutes after you sign in, the cause is often a long list of apps that launch automatically without you asking them to.

Why Startup Apps Slow Down Windows

Many apps add themselves to startup when you install them. Each one uses memory and processing power in the background. Turning off the ones you don't need is one of the easiest ways to make Windows feel faster.

How to Disable Startup Apps in Windows 11 Settings

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Startup.
3. Sort the list by Startup impact to see the heaviest apps first.
4. Switch off the toggle next to any app you don't need at boot.

How to Disable Startup Apps in Task Manager

You can also do this from Task Manager: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open the Startup apps tab (called Startup on Windows 10), right-click an app, and choose Disable. New to Task Manager? See How to Use Task Manager to Fix a Slow PC.

Which Startup Apps Should You Disable?

• Game launchers and chat apps you don't use right away
• Update helpers for software you rarely open
• Music, video, and cloud apps you can start manually
• Anything with a high startup impact that you don't recognize as important

Which Startup Apps Should You Keep?

• Your antivirus or Windows Security
• Audio, touchpad, and graphics tools that came with your PC
• Anything you're unsure about. A quick web search for the app's name will tell you what it does.

Does Disabling a Startup App Uninstall It?

No. Disabling a startup app does not uninstall it. You can still open it any time, and you can turn it back on whenever you like. Restart your PC afterward to feel the difference.

Summary: Disable Startup Apps in Windows 11

Open Settings > Apps > Startup, turn off what you don't need, and enjoy a faster start every day. For more ways to speed up a slow computer, read How to Speed Up an Old Windows PC for Free.

Related guides

• How to Speed Up an Old Windows PC for Free
• How to Use Task Manager to Fix a Slow PC

How many startup apps did you find on your PC? Tell me in the comments.

Snap Layouts in Windows 11: Split Your Screen Fast

Snap Layouts in Windows 11 let you split your screen and arrange windows side by side in one move. Instead of dragging and resizing windows by hand, you can use Win + arrow keys or hover over the maximize button. This is called snapping, and it's a huge time saver.

How to Snap Windows With Win + Arrow Keys

Use the Windows key with the arrow keys to snap the active window into place:

• Win + ←: Snap to the left half of the screen
• Win + →: Snap to the right half
• Win + ↑: Maximize the window
• Win + ↓: Restore or minimize the window

After you snap one window, Windows shows your other open windows so you can click one to fill the other half. This is called Snap Assist.

How to Use Snap Layouts in Windows 11 (Win + Z)

1. Hover your mouse over a window's maximize button, or press Win + Z.
2. A small menu of layouts appears: two columns, three columns, a main window with two side windows, and more.
3. Click the zone where you want the current window to go.
4. Pick other windows to fill the remaining zones.

Drag to Snap and Use Snap Groups

• Drag to snap: Drag a window to the left or right edge for a half screen, or to a corner for a quarter of the screen.
• Snap groups (Windows 11): Windows remembers windows you snapped together. Hover over one of their taskbar icons to bring the whole group back at once.
• Turn it on or off: Go to Settings > System > Multitasking to adjust snapping options.

Is Snapping Useful on a Small Screen?

Snapping works best on larger or wider screens, but even on a laptop it's great for comparing two documents, or watching a video while taking notes.

Summary: Snap Windows in Windows 11

Use Win + Arrow keys to snap windows quickly, or hover over the maximize button on Windows 11 for ready-made layouts.

Related guides

• Virtual Desktops in Windows 11: How to Use Them
• PowerToys for Windows 11: 4 Free Tools Worth Installing

Which layout do you use the most? Tell me in the comments.

How to Take a Screenshot on Windows 11 (Win + Shift + S)

To take a screenshot on Windows 11, press Win + Shift + S. You don't need a third-party app. Windows has a fast, built-in screenshot tool that most people never use to its full potential.

How to Take a Screenshot With Win + Shift + S

Press this shortcut anywhere in Windows:

Win + Shift + S

Your screen dims and a small toolbar appears at the top, letting you choose exactly what to capture.

The Four Screenshot Capture Modes

1. Press Win + Shift + S.
2. Pick a mode from the toolbar: Rectangle, Freeform, Window, or Full screen.
3. Click and drag (or click) to capture what you want.
4. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard. Paste it anywhere with Ctrl + V.
5. A notification also appears. Click it to open the image in the Snipping Tool, where you can draw, highlight, crop, and save.

Save a Full-Screen Screenshot and Other Tricks

• Save a full-screen shot instantly: Press Win + PrtScn. The image is saved automatically in Pictures > Screenshots.
• Use the Print Screen key: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on "Use the Print screen button to open screen capture."
• Record your screen: In newer versions of Windows 11, the Snipping Tool can also record a video of your screen.
• Delay a capture: Open the Snipping Tool app and use the delay option to capture menus or tooltips that disappear when you click.

Where Do Win + Shift + S Screenshots Go?

A Win + Shift + S screenshot only lives on your clipboard until you copy something else. If you want to keep it, save it from the notification, or get it back with Windows 11 clipboard history (Win + V).

Summary: Win + Shift + S in Windows 11

Press Win + Shift + S, choose what to capture, and paste. It's the fastest way to share what's on your screen.

Related guides

• Windows 11 Clipboard History: Use Win + V to Paste More
• File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11 That Save Clicks

Do you take a lot of screenshots? Tell me in the comments what you use them for.