10 Shocking Ways To Get Terabytes More Storage On Your PC In 2025

Running out of disk space is a universal PC user nightmare, especially as modern games, 4K video files, and professional applications balloon in size. If you’re constantly seeing the dreaded "Low Disk Space" warning, the good news is that the solutions available in late 2025 are faster, cheaper, and more efficient than ever before. Forget slow, old-school hard drives; the path to massive storage involves a combination of cutting-edge hardware and deep operating system optimization.

This guide cuts through the noise to provide you with the most current, effective, and modern strategies for how to get more storage on your PC. We will cover everything from utilizing the latest high-capacity NVMe SSD technology to mastering the hidden optimization tools within Windows 11, ensuring your computer has the space it needs for years to come.

The 2025 Hardware Upgrade Path: Speed and Capacity

The single most impactful way to increase your storage is through a hardware upgrade. In 2025, the conversation has moved almost entirely away from traditional SATA drives and is focused on Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) Solid State Drives (SSDs). These drives utilize the high-speed PCIe bus directly, offering exponentially faster read/write speeds than older technology.

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1. Install a Blazing-Fast PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD

The current gold standard for internal storage is the PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD. If your motherboard has a compatible M.2 slot, this is your primary path to massive, high-speed storage. These drives offer sequential read speeds that can exceed 10,000 MB/s, making them ideal for gaming PC storage and professional workstations.

• Flagship Models: Look for cutting-edge drives like the Samsung 9100 Pro or the Micron Crucial P510, which represent the best in PCIe Gen 5x4 technology.
• Value Powerhouses: For excellent performance without the top-tier price, the Samsung 990 Pro (PCIe 4.0) remains a phenomenal choice, especially for a gaming rig.
• The M.2 Slot: Ensure your motherboard has an available M.2 slot. Most modern motherboards, even budget options, have at least one, and many have two or more.

2. Add a Secondary SATA SSD or High-Capacity HDD

While NVMe is the fastest, it can be expensive for truly massive storage. A smart, cost-effective strategy is to use a dual-drive setup:

• Primary Drive (OS & Apps): A smaller (1TB or 2TB) NVMe SSD for your operating system (Windows 11) and frequently used applications.
• Secondary Drive (Bulk Storage): A larger, more affordable SATA SSD or a high-capacity Western Digital or Seagate Desktop HDD (up to 26TB) for storing large media files, backups, and game libraries.

3. Leverage External Storage for Archival and Portability

External drives are no longer just for slow backups. Modern external SSDs connected via USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt offer speeds fast enough for running games or editing video directly from the drive.

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• External SSDs: Perfect for a portable steam library or massive photo archives. They are fast, durable, and don't require opening your PC case.
• Network Attached Storage (NAS): For a professional or home-office setup, a NAS device allows you to create a private cloud with multiple high-capacity HDDs, accessible by all devices on your network. This is the ultimate solution for centralized, redundant storage.

Software Solutions: Deep Windows 11 Optimization

Before spending money on new hardware, you can often free up hundreds of gigabytes using built-in Windows tools and advanced software techniques. This is the "free storage" you are currently missing.

4. Master Windows 11's Storage Sense

Storage Sense is a powerful, often-ignored feature in Windows 11 that automatically manages your disk space. It’s the easiest way to keep your PC decluttered without lifting a finger.

• Automation: Toggle Storage Sense to 'On' in the Settings menu.
• Temporary Files: It automatically deletes temporary files, old system logs, and contents of your Recycle Bin and Downloads folder that haven't been opened in a set number of days.
• Cloud Content Tiers: Storage Sense can also manage your cloud-synced content, making files you haven't used in a while "online-only" to free up local disk space.

5. Aggressively Remove Hidden Junk and Bloatware

Your PC is full of hidden junk files, old installation remnants, and bloatware that accumulate over time. A combination of manual and automated steps is necessary for a deep clean.

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• Disk Cleanup Utility: Run the classic Disk Cleanup utility as an administrator to target old Windows Update files, delivery optimization files, and shader caches—which can consume dozens of gigabytes.
• DISM Commands: For advanced users, using Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) commands in the command prompt can instantly free up gigabytes of space by cleaning up component store backups.
• Uninstall Unused Programs: Go through your program list and ruthlessly uninstall applications and games you haven't touched in six months. Even small programs can leave behind large data folders.

6. Utilize Advanced File Compression and Archiving

For large archives or folders you rarely access, advanced lossless compression can save significant space without sacrificing data quality.

• 7-Zip and PeaZip: Use powerful compression software like 7-Zip (with its highly efficient 7z format) or PeaZip to compress large, static data folders, such as old project files or photo collections.
• Lossless Compression: Tools like WMaster Zipking or PowerArchiver offer hyper-compression and lossless algorithms that can reduce file sizes by a substantial percentage, especially for documents and certain image file types.
• Compress the OS Drive: Windows also offers an option to compress the main OS drive (the drive where Windows is installed), which can help gain extra space, though it may slightly impact performance.

The Cloud and Data Management Strategy

Modern storage isn't just about physical drives; it’s about a hybrid approach that integrates fast local storage with vast, scalable cloud resources.

7. Migrate Documents and Media to Cloud Storage

Cloud services are no longer just for backup; they are an extension of your hard drive. By moving your personal files off your local drive, you free up immediate capacity.

• OneDrive/Google Drive/Dropbox: Set your large folders (Downloads, Documents, Desktop) to sync to the cloud and then use the "Free up space" or "online-only" feature to remove the local copies.
• Streaming vs. Downloading: For media, use streaming services for movies and music instead of maintaining a massive local library.

8. Clear Out System Hiberfil.sys and Pagefile.sys

Two of the largest files on a Windows PC are often hidden system files: the hibernation file and the paging file. While necessary, they can be optimized.

• Hiberfil.sys: This file stores your PC's memory state when you hibernate. You can significantly reduce its size or disable hibernation entirely (if you never use it) via the Command Prompt, instantly freeing up space equal to your RAM size (e.g., 16GB or 32GB).
• Pagefile.sys: The Windows virtual memory file. While not recommended to disable, you can move the pagefile to a secondary, larger drive (like your SATA SSD) to free up space on your primary NVMe drive.

9. Manage Your System Restore Points

System Restore is a critical feature, but it can be a massive storage hog, especially on smaller drives. By default, Windows may reserve a large percentage of your drive for restore points.

• Adjust Allocation: Use the System Protection settings to reduce the maximum disk space allocated for System Restore. Reducing it from 10% to 3-5% can free up dozens of gigabytes while still providing protection.
• Delete Old Points: Perform a Disk Cleanup (as mentioned in point 5) and select the option to delete all but the most recent System Restore point.

10. Optimize Storage for a Gaming PC

Gamers face the biggest storage challenges due to game sizes often exceeding 100GB. Modern solutions focus on speed and external access.

• External Gaming SSDs: Use an external drive, such as a Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD, to install and run less frequently played games. This keeps your primary NVMe drive clear for competitive titles.
• Game Compression: Some game launchers (like Steam) allow you to compress game files when not actively playing them, though the space savings are often minimal compared to a full uninstall.
• Move Game Folders: Use the built-in features in game launchers (Steam, Epic Games, etc.) to easily move installed games from your primary drive to a secondary high-capacity drive without having to reinstall them.