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# How to Find Big Files on Windows 10? Top 3 Ways\!

Published/Updated on Friday, October 30, 2026

![M3 Software author Serena Wang](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/authors/25-Serena-Wang.jpg)

Written by

*English*

## How to find large files on Windows 10/11?

**Quick Answer:**

Use[File Explorer](#fileexplorer)or[Command Prompt](#cmd).

Use[iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows](#diskgeeker)to find big files and clean up space at one click\!

![find big files on Windows 10](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/summary-find-big-files-on-windows.jpg)

Running out of drive space on Windows 10 usually comes down to a handful of massive, forgotten files—like old disk images, uncompressed video, or leftover installer packages. Tracking them down manually can be frustrating, but Windows offers several built\-in tools \(and reliable third\-party utilities\) that make the process quick and precise.

In this guide, we'll show you how to locate and clear giant files using[File Explorer](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/wiki/windows-file-explorer.html), Command Prompt, and specialized storage analyzers.

If your Windows PC keeps filling up with unknown files, follow:[What to do if the C drive keeps filling up](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/howto/c-drive-keeps-filling-up.html)?

## Use File Explorer to Find Big Files on Windows 11/10

Looking for specific files by typing the file name into the search bar inside File Explorer is known by almost all Windows users, what most users don't know is how to locate big files more efficiently through File Explorer.

Before getting started, ensure the hidden files and folders can be found:

1. Press the "Windows\+S" keys on your keyboard and type "Show hidden files and folders" into the Start menu search bar.
2. Go to the "View" tab and tick the "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" option. ![show hidden files and folders on Windows 10](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/show-hidden-files-and-folders-windows.jpg)
3. Click "Apply" and "OK."

Note:The above setting should be set back to the default after finishing finding big files on Windows 10\!

Here's how to find big files on Windows 10 using File Explorer:

1. Press the "Windows\+E" keys or double\-click the "This PC" icon on the Desktop to open File Explorer.
2. Click the search bar inside the File Explorer, type in the specific file name, and click the Search tab. ![find big files on Windows 10 via File Explorer search bar](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/file-explorer-search-bar.jpg)
3. Select the file size range under the search tab. ![find big files on Windows 10 via File Explorer search bar and search tab](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/file-size-range-under-search-tab.jpg)

If you tend to locate all large files instead of files with specific names, here's how:

1. Open File Explorer and click "This PC" on the left side panel.
2. Type a "\*" into the search bar. This allows Windows to show all files and folders on your PC. ![search for all files and folders in File Explorer](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/search-for-all-files-and-folders-file-explorer.jpg)
3. Choose the file size range under the "Search" tab.
4. You can also customize the size range you prefer by typing the range into the search bar like this: size: \>1GB ![find big files on Windows 10 by typing file size range in File Explorer search bar](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/search-for-large-files-by-typing-file-size-range-file-explorer.jpg)
5. Search results will be displayed based on the size range you choose or set.

## Use iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows to Find Large Files on PC

Finding large files in Windows 10 using built\-in tools can be time\-consuming due to complex steps and unintuitive interfaces. A reliable third\-party tool offers a faster, easier way to locate large files.

[iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/diskgeeker/)is a professional and user\-friendly disk management tool containing the "Search for large files" feature, which helps you analyze, locate, and delete large files on the disk, thus the disk space usage can be well optimized.

iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows lets you filter files by extension and minimum size to quickly locate large files on external drives. Its intuitive directory view displays folder sizes, system partitions, and user folders, making it easy to identify what consumes the most storage space.

1. Download, install, and launch iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows version 2.0.
2. Tap on the "Search for large files" button in the "Optimize tools" module from the “AI disk space optimization” section. ![Search for large files in DiskGeeker](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/what-to-do-when-external-hard-drive-is-full/diskgeeker-search-for-large-files.jpg)
3. Select the Personal Files \(E:\) drive to search for large files. Click **Advanced Settings** in the lower\-left corner to configure scan filters, such as excluded file extensions and minimum file size. Click Confirm, then select **Scan for Large Files** to start the scan. ![set scan filters](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/what-to-do-when-external-hard-drive-is-full/scan-filter.jpg)
4. Select the large files you no longer need to free up space. In this example, drive E: contains two large files totaling 17.83 GB. I select the macOS Tahoe 26 installer ISO for deletion while keeping the macOS 27 ISO for future use. Finally, click Clean Selected Files in the lower\-right corner to delete the selected file from Windows 11. ![Select large files to clean](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/what-to-do-when-external-hard-drive-is-full/diskgeeker-large-file-select-clean.jpg) If your Windows 10/11 is still insufficient in space after clearing big files, you can use its **Optimize tools** to visually analyze your disk space. Click Optimize tools \> click “Specific folder analysis” \> choose your drive \(internal or external drive\). Then the drive space analysis result will appear as a directory map. ![Choose specific folder anaysis](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/what-to-do-when-external-hard-drive-is-full/diskgeeker-specific-folder-analysis.jpg)

If you want, you can compare this tool with other[free C: drive cleaners](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/windows/best-free-c-drive-cleaner-software.html).

You can share this professional disk management tool with your friends\!

## Use Command Prompt to Find Big Files on Windows 11/10

The[Command Prompt](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/wiki/windows-command-prompt.html)\(aka CMD\), best for users with certain technical skills, allows you to interact with your PC by typing commands, which give precise and quick control over the operating system. Here's how to use Command Prompt to find big files on Windows 10:

1. Type "cmd" into the Start menu search bar and select "Run as administrator." ![cmd run as administrator](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/cmd-run-as-administrator.jpg)
2. Type the following command and hit the "Enter" key: cd C:\\
3. Type the following command and replace "bytes" with the file size range you prefer: forfiles /S /M \* /C “cmd /c if @fsize GEQ bytes echo @path \> LargeFilesList.txt”
4. For example, you need to find big files larger than 1GB, the command should be: forfiles /S /M \* /C “cmd /c if @fsize GEQ 1073741824 echo @path \> LargeFilesList.txt” ![forfile command to find big files on Windows 10](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/images/en-howto/find-big-files-on-windows-10/forfile-command-to-find-big-files-on-windows-10.jpg)
5. Hit the "Enter" key to execute the command.
6. A folder named LargeFileList will be created, which contains the found files larger than the size you set.
7. Open the LargeFileList folder in File Explorer and delete the unwanted files.

Tips:1KB=1024 Bytes, 1MB=1048576 Bytes, 1GB=1073741824

## What's good for finding big files on Windows?

Here we list some benefits of finding big files on Windows 10, which explains why it is so essential in maintaining your PC and system.

- Improve system performance: Finding and deleting gigantic junk files helps improve system performance, especially when the system needs free space to run efficiently.
- Prevent errors and crashes: Locating and removing big and unnecessary files contributes to system errors and app crashes.
- Maintain [SSD health](https://www.m3datarecovery.com/news/ssd-health-check.html) : Finding big files on Windows 10 and keeping a certain amount of free space \(about 20%\) are essential in maintaining SSD health and prolonging its lifespan.
- Software or updates installation: Insufficient free disk space can block you from installing software or updates, and this also tells why finding big files on Windows 10 is crucial.
- Optimize gaming or file processing: One simple way to let gaming, video editing, or other software run smoothly is to find big files on Windows 10 and delete them.

## Conclusion

To find big files on Windows 10/11, you can use File Explorer for straightforward searches, Command Prompt for command\-based file searches, or iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows for configurable scan filters and visual disk\-space analysis. Choose the method that best suits your needs and the amount of data you want to examine.

Before deleting any files, check their purpose and make sure they are no longer needed, as some may be essential to Windows or installed applications.

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## FAQs

AYou can use File Explorer, Command Prompt, or a third\-party tool such as iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows. File Explorer lets you search by file size, Command Prompt can locate files using commands, and iBoysoft DiskGeeker provides scan filters and a visual directory view to help identify large files.

AOpen File Explorer, select the drive or folder to search, and enter size:\>10GB in the search box. Windows will search for files larger than 10 GB within the selected location. The search may take some time if the drive contains many files. iBoysoft DiskGeeker for Windows is also able to find files larger than 10GB. Change its file size search filter to 10GB and it will do that for you.

AYes. In File Explorer, you can combine a file\-type filter with a size filter. For example, enter.iso size:\>1GB to search for ISO files larger than 1 GB. You can replace.iso with another file extension to find large videos, archives, or other file types.

ANot all large files are safe to delete. Personal videos, old installers, and duplicate files may be suitable for removal if you no longer need them. Avoid deleting Windows system files, application dependencies, or unfamiliar files in protected folders. Back up important data before deleting files, and confirm that any installer or disk image is no longer needed.

AReview the search results and identify files you no longer need. Delete unnecessary personal files, old installers, duplicate downloads, and other expendable data. You can also uninstall unused applications or use Windows Storage settings to remove temporary files. Avoid deleting unfamiliar system files, and empty the Recycle Bin when you're sure you no longer need the deleted items.

Serena is a technical writer at iBoysoft and has extensive experience in computer\-related fields. She is adept at writing tutorials and troubleshooting tips concerning macOS, Windows, and software.