🧑💻 Fix: “Apps & Features” Is Taking Up a Lot of Disk Space on Windows 11/10
You’re checking your disk usage in Settings > System > Storage, and you notice something strange:
❗ “Apps & Features” is using several GBs or even tens of GBs of storage
❗ You don’t have that many apps installed
❗ You can’t find the actual app taking up space
This issue has become increasingly common, especially after major Windows updates like 23H2 or 24H2, where corrupted app data, orphaned packages, or update leftovers cause the “Apps & Features” category to show misleadingly high storage usage.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✅ Why “Apps & Features” is using so much space
🔧 Step-by-step fixes to reclaim disk space
🛠️ Advanced tools to clean up hidden bloat
💾 How to prevent future storage issues
Let’s dive into how to fix “Apps & Features” taking up too much space on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
⚠️ What Causes “Apps & Features” to Take So Much Space?
Here are the most common reasons behind this storage issue:
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Corrupted Appx Packages | Broken system apps or store apps leave behind large files |
| Orphaned Installation Data | Unused installers or leftover package files from uninstalled apps |
| Failed Updates | Incomplete Windows Feature or Store app updates |
| Bloatware Accumulation | Pre-installed apps not properly removed |
| Registry or Cache Corruption | Invalid registry entries or corrupted cache files |
📌 This often shows as “Other” or “Apps & Features” under Storage settings, sometimes consuming 10–50 GB+ with no visible cause.
💡 Step-by-Step Fixes to Reclaim Disk Space
✅ Fix 1: Use Built-in Disk Cleanup Tool
Windows includes a powerful tool that can remove old system files, including Windows Update leftovers and setup logs.
Steps:
- Press
Win + S→ Type Disk Cleanup - Select drive (usually C:)
- Click Clean up system files
- Check the following options:
- Windows Update Cleanup
- Previous Windows Installations
- Temporary Files
- Setup Log Files
- Click OK → Confirm deletion
📌 This often frees up 5–30 GB instantly.
🧹 Fix 2: Run PowerShell Command to Clean Appx Packages
Corrupted or failed app installations can leave behind large amounts of data without being visible in the UI.
Steps:
- Right-click Start → Open Terminal (Admin)
- Paste and run the following command:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml"}- Wait for it to finish — this may take a few minutes
📌 This re-registers all system apps and removes corrupted installation remnants.
📦 Fix 3: Remove Orphaned App Packages Using DISM
If Fix 2 doesn’t help, use DISM to scan and remove invalid app packages.
Steps:
- Open Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)
- Run:
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup- Then:
dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded📌 These commands remove outdated service packs and corrupted component stores.
🗂️ Fix 4: Manually Delete Hidden AppData Folders
Some apps store large caches or databases in hidden folders.
Common Paths:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\
C:\Users\$$YourName]\AppData\Local\Packages\
C:\ProgramData\Packages\Steps:
- Enable Show Hidden Files in File Explorer
- Navigate to each folder above
- Look for unusually large folders related to Microsoft Store apps
- Backup before deleting anything
📌 Use Unlocker or Take Ownership if you lack permissions.
🛠️ Fix 5: Use Storage Sense to Automatically Free Up Space
Windows 11/10 includes Storage Sense, which automatically deletes temporary and unused files.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > System > Storage
- Toggle Storage Sense ON
- Click Configure Storage Sense or run it now
- Under Free up space now, click Clean now
📌 Set it to run weekly to avoid buildup.
🧬 Fix 6: Reset Windows Store Cache
A corrupted Microsoft Store cache can cause bloating under “Apps & Features”.
Steps:
- Press
Win + R→ Type:
wsreset.exe- Hit Enter
📌 This resets the Microsoft Store cache, often resolving invisible bloat issues.
🔄 Bonus Fix: Use Third-Party Tools to Analyze Space Usage
Sometimes, the built-in tools don’t reveal the full picture.
Recommended Tools:
- WinDirStat – Visual directory tree showing largest files/folders
- TreeSize Free – Lightweight alternative to WinDirStat
- CCleaner – Cleans temp files and registry leftovers
- SpaceSniffer – Another visual disk analyzer
📌 Always download from official sources to avoid malware.
🧠 Expert Summary Table
| Issue | Recommended Fix |
|---|---|
| Corrupted App Installs | Fix 2 (Re-register AppxPackages), Fix 3 (DISM cleanup) |
| Update Leftovers | Fix 1 (Disk Cleanup), Fix 3 (DISM) |
| Hidden App Caches | Fix 4 (Manual delete of AppData folders) |
| Microsoft Store Issues | Fix 6 (Reset Store cache) |
| Large Unknown Files | Bonus Fix (Use WinDirStat or TreeSize) |
| Preventive Maintenance | Fix 5 (Enable Storage Sense) |
📌 Final Thoughts
The “Apps & Features” taking up huge space issue can be frustrating because it’s not always clear what’s causing it. However, it’s rarely due to any single app — more often it’s corrupted system packages, update artifacts, or cache bloat.
By following this guide, you’ve learned how to:
✅ Identify and delete orphaned app packages
✅ Repair corrupted Microsoft Store apps
✅ Clear hidden caches and bloat
✅ Automate cleanup with Storage Sense
✅ Prevent future disk space issues using best practices
Now you’re ready to keep your system lean and fast.
📞 Need More Help?
If you’re still seeing excessive “Apps & Features” storage usage after trying all the above steps, feel free to share:
- Your exact Windows version (e.g., Windows 11 24H2, Windows 10 22H2)
- How much space it’s reporting under “Apps & Features”
- Whether you’re using an SSD or HDD
- Any logs or screenshots of the affected folders
I’ll help you resolve it personally.
Author:
Senior IT Systems Engineer | Windows Optimization & Performance Specialist
🔧 Over 10 years of experience helping users resolve storage, performance, and deployment issues on Windows platforms
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