How to Search for Large Files on Your Computer


Introduction

An easy way to clean up clutter on your computer and reduce storage needs is to periodically search for large files. You may use your file explorer to do this on PC(Section 1 below), or the System Settings Menu on Mac (Section 2 below).


NOTE: Finding large files on your PC or Mac using the methods listed below will just list your large files for you, not order their importance or relevance to your work; be sure to carefully consider which (if any) large files you delete when following this guide.

Instructions

Table of Contents:

Section 1 - Windows PC Instructions

Section 2 - Mac instructions

 

Section 1 – Use Your PC’s File Explorer to Locate Large Files

Step 1 - Open File Explorer

  1. Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar at the bottom of your desktop.
    Image of desktop taskbar; File explorer is highlighted

Step 2 - Navigate to the Directory You Want to Search

  1. In the lefthand menu, navigate to the directory or drive that you would like to search; a good place to start is in the This PC(1) section (if you've named your computer something other than the default when you were setting it up, the name will be different, but the icon will be the same). Click on Windows (C:)(2) (This name could also be different than "Windows," but it will still be the (C:) drive), click on the Users folder(3), then click on the folder with your username.(This PC>Windows(C:)>Users>yourusername).
    Image of File Explorer window; The this pc directory, c drive, and users folder are highlighted

Step 3 - Search for Large Files

  1. Once you have opened the directory, type “size:>1gb” into the Search bar in the top right of the window. This will search the directory for any file with a size of over 1gb. You can enter file sizes other than 1gb, but it’s a good size to begin searching for most users. You can also use the search terms: “size:Large” “size:Huge” and “size:Gigantic” which will search for file sizes from 128mb to 1gb, 1gb to 4gb, and larger than 4gb, respectively.
    Image of File Explorer window; the search bar and the phrase: "size:>1gb" are both highlighted

  2. You don’t need to initiate the search manually; as you type, File Explorer will automatically start to run your prompt. The window will notify you that it is working on your search. This may take anywhere from a few seconds to several hours, depending on the size of the directory that you are searching, and whether or not the directory that you are searching includes your OneDrive Folders. If your OneDrive folders are searched, this process will take a long time.

Step 4 - Sort and Manage your Large Files

  1. Once the search has completed, your File Explorer window will show you a list of all the files that are over 1gb in size (or whichever size parameter that you searched for). To order the list by size, you may have to click on the Sort(1) icon in the navigation bar, then click More(2) from the dropdown menu and select Size(3). Your files should now be ordered by size (you can order your files in ascending or descending order from the Sort dropdown menu).
    Image of File Explorer window showing the results of a large file search. The sort icon, more option in the dropdown menu, and size options are all highlighted

  2. REMEMBER: Carefully review your large files, and remove any that are unneeded. 



Section 2 – Use Your Mac’s System Settings Menu to Find Large Files

Step 1 – Open the Storage Menu

  1. Click on the Apple icon in the Top Menu bar.
    Mac top menu bar with Apple menu icon highlighted

  2. Click on the System Settings option from the drop-down menu.
    Apple dropdown menu; the System Settings option is highlighted

  3. When the System Settings window opens, click on the General(1) tab in the lefthand menu, then select the Storage(2) option from the General list.
    System settings window; the General tab and storage options are both highlighted

  4. Click on the Documents tab in the Storage menu.
    Storage menu; the Documents tab is highlighted

Step 2 – Search for Large Files

  1. After you select Documents from the Storage menu, a new Documents window will open, showing a list of all the files on your Mac. The Large Files filter should be selected by default; if not, click the Large Files(1) filter. You can order the size of the files by clicking on the Size(2) column on the righthand side of the window. From here, you can select a file that you want to delete by clicking on it, then click Delete…(3). After you are finished, click the Done(4) button at the bottom of the window.
    Documents window/file searcher. The large files filter, size filter, Delete button and Done button are all highlighted

  2. REMEMBER: Carefully review your large files, and remove any that are unneeded. 


If you encounter problems with this guide, please contact us at engtechteam@vt.edu or 540-231-9076