To find large files on Windows 10, open File Explorer, click the drive you want to search (such as C:), and type size:gigantic in the search box to list files over 4 GB, or size:>500MB for a custom size. Then click the Size column header to sort the biggest files first. For a folder-by-folder view, use Settings > System > Storage. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027.
Quick Answer
File Explorer > This PC > C: > search size:gigantic (or size:large) > switch to Details view > sort by Size.
Method 1: File Explorer Size Filter
- Press Windows + E and click the drive, such as Local Disk (C:).
- Click the search box and type
size:gigantic. You can also pick Search > Size on the ribbon. - Choose View > Details and click the Size column to sort.
- Right-click a result and choose Open file location before deleting, so you know what it belongs to.
Size Filters
| Filter | Finds files |
|---|---|
| size:medium | 1 MB to 128 MB |
| size:large | 128 MB to 1 GB |
| size:huge | 1 GB to 4 GB |
| size:gigantic | Over 4 GB |
| size:>500MB | Over any size you type |
Method 2: Storage Settings
- Open Settings > System > Storage.
- Click a drive or Show more categories to see what’s using space: apps, temporary files, documents and more.
- Click Temporary files to remove old update files and the Recycle Bin safely.
Method 3: Command Line
In PowerShell, Get-ChildItem C:\Users -Recurse -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Sort-Object Length -Descending | Select-Object -First 20 FullName, Length lists the 20 largest files in your user folders.
New to the drive layout? See what is on the C drive.
Troubleshooting
- Huge hiberfil.sys or pagefile.sys: These are system files. Don’t delete them directly; manage them through Windows settings.
- Search is slow: Unindexed drives take longer. Search a narrower folder, such as Users.
- More ways to free space: See getting more storage on Windows and cleaning a hard drive.
- Lots of photo copies? See finding duplicate photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete large files I find?
Only if you know what they are. Videos, ISO images and old backups you made are usually fine; files in Windows or Program Files aren’t.
Why doesn’t Windows show hidden large files?
Turn on hidden items in View to include them in results.
Does Storage Sense help?
Yes. Turn it on in Settings > System > Storage to clear temporary files automatically.
Summary
- Search a drive with size:gigantic or size:>500MB.
- Sort by Size in Details view.
- Check what each file is before deleting.
- Use Storage settings for a category view.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.