Storage Sense – its name itself defines itself. It is an inbuilt tool that Microsoft has added in Windows 10. You’ve tried many third party cleaner to free up space in your mobile or PC, but this cleaner is of Microsoft’s. Storage Sense work as a cleaning tool, it is designed to manage the storage space in Windows 10 device. Microsoft has also provided the choice to use it, means you can enable or disable the feature manually as well as manage the settings according to your needs. Here is how to manage and use Storage Sense in Windows 10 May Update.
Steps to Enable and Disable Storage Sense
You can quickly manage the settings for Storage Sense right from the Settings app. But, you might not want everyone to access and change the settings in your PC. It can simply be done by using Group Policy, and once you edit Storage Sense settings from Group Policy, no one can easily change them.
1. Type and search for ‘gpedit.msc’ with Start.
2. Select ‘OK’ to open ‘Local Group Policy Editor.’
3. Now, use the left menu bar to navigate to Storage Sense.
4. Search and click on ‘Computer Configuration.’
5. Then click ‘Administrative Templates.’
6. Select ‘System.’
7. Choose ‘Storage sense.’ Some setting option comes up in the right side section.
8. Click twice on ‘Allow Storage Sense.’ Windows interface will change, and options for enabling and disabling Storage Space appears at the upper left side.
9. Click ‘Enable’ or ‘Disable.’
10. Then click on ‘Apply.’
11. And click ‘OK.’
Settings will be applied immediately. If you’ve enabled the Storage Sense, then it will automatically free up space by deleting temporary files, cleaning Downloads folder, removing previous installation files, emptying the Recycle Bin, and more when your PC running on low storage space, or do nothing if it is disabled. As well as, no one can change these settings from the Settings app. Users can only access the settings page and clean the space manually.
How to schedule automatic cleanup in Storage Sense
You can choose and configure when Storage Sense active and work; here is how.
1. Type and search for ‘gpedit.msc’ with Start.
2. Select ‘OK’ to open ‘Local Group Policy Editor.’
3. Now, use the left menu bar to navigate to Storage Sense. First, search and click on ‘Computer Configuration’ > select ‘Administrative Templates’ > ‘System’ > ‘Storage sense’. Some setting option comes up on the right side.
4. Click twice on ‘Configure Storage Sense cadence.’
5. Then click on ‘Enabled.’
6. Click and open the dropdown box of ‘Run Storage Sense.’
7. Select a time (Every day, week, month, or during low free disk space) to run the tool automatically.
8. Then click on ‘Apply.’
9. And click ‘OK.’
The settings will be applied immediately. Now, Storage Sense runs and cleans the PC according to time you’ve chosen in settings.
How to stop Storage Sense from deleting temporary files
You can use Storage Sense as you want. If you don’t wish Storage Sense delete the temporary files, then it will not delete, just manage the settings. Here is how.
1. Open ‘Start.’
2. Open ‘Local Group Policy Editor.’
3. Browse and open Storage Sense from the left menu bar.
4. Then, double click on ‘Allow Storage Sense Temporary Files cleanup.’ It is the second option on the right side.
5. Click on the ‘Disabled’ option. Select ‘Enabled’ if you want to lock the feature settings from the Settings app.
6. Then click on ‘Apply.’
7. And click ‘OK.’
Once you finish all the steps, changes will be applied immediately. From now, Storage Sense will not be able to delete temporary files. If you want to clean them, then you’ve to delete them manually.
Tips: You can revert the changes anytime that you’ve done in Group Policy by selecting ‘Not Configured’ option.
Source: Use Storage Sense in Windows 10 May Update , Brother printer support
