Hard disk space management is a constant struggle, especially if you have limited storage space. If you upload a lot of files, you suddenly run out of space.
If you are running out of capacity on your hard drive and are not sure which files are taking up space, you will need a disk space analyzer.
Disk Space Analyzer provides a visual analysis of your hard drive, allowing you to find out what files are taking up space, where the largest files are hiding on your disk, duplicate files and much more.
1. WinDirStat
WinDirStat is one of the best tools for analyzing disk space and is definitely one of the most popular. It’s easy to use, open source, provides detailed analysis of your drives, and has a giant visual display of your hard drive.
You can also manage files on your computer from WinDirStat Right-clicking on a file or folder opens a context menu. From here you can move files to trash, permanently delete, open directory, etc.
Another handy feature of WinDirStat is to find a specific file type. If you have a bunch of files of the same type and want to find them (perhaps to combine them in one folder), you can search and show where they are hiding on your hard drive.
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2. DiskSavvy
DiskSavvy is a powerful disk space analysis tool with a significant set of tools. You can download and use DiskSavvy for free. However, the free version limits analysis to 500,000 files. This means that DiskSavvy is useful for analyzing specific folders, but does not process the entire hard drive.
However, DiskSavvy‘s tools make it a useful option for hard drive analysis. There are options to view your files as various pie charts, to categorize by extension type, to analyze by media or document type, creation or modification time and date, and more. DiskSavvy‘s Analysis Wizard contains an extensive list of predefined analysis options, making it easy to switch between search options.
DiskSavvy also lets you scan and analyze network devices. This means that you can connect your NAS (network attached storage) to DiskSavvy and visualize your disk usage.
All in all, DiskSavvy is a great option for disk analysis. The 500,000 file limit in the free version is the only major drawback. Upgrading to DiskSavvy Pro will set you back $ 50 for a limited license.
When you’re done analyzing your drive, you can format it. Check out the best formatting and partitioning utilities for managing your hard drive.
3. JDisk Report
Another great disk analysis option is JDisk Report, a free Java tool that you can use to analyze files on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The JDisk report is now slow. There is no beating in the bushes. That’s the way it is. However, once the JDisk report is done analyzing, you will see a giant pie chart representing your hard drive. Optionally, you can replace the pie chart with a bar chart.
Clicking on the segments of the pie chart will take you to the file system level. For example, clicking on Program Files opens an analysis of the Program Files folder.
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4. TreeSize Free
TreeSize Free is a convenient tool for analyzing disk space with good visualization capabilities.
TreeSize Free displays your hard drive in the left window detailing sizes, modification dates and file paths. Selecting the TreeMap chart switches the view of the window to a series of blocks, each of which displays a folder and its current size on your disk. You can also use the slider to change the level of display detail, decreasing the level so that fewer files and folders are displayed, or vice versa.
TreeSize Free has a graphical interface similar to Windows Explorer. You will find disk analysis options on the top toolbar, as well as various views and other tools.
Disk analysis is just one way to keep an eye on your computer. Check out other tools you can use to improve the condition of your PC.
5. SpaceSniffer
SpaceSniffer is a free disk space analyzer that focuses on visualizing your hard drive. After selecting a hard drive for analysis, the SpaceSniffer window immediately begins to fill with tiles. Tiles represent the various folders on your hard drive, as well as the space that each tile is currently using.
Selecting a tile takes you to a lower level of detail in folders and files. You can filter and compare files and folders with integrated tools, and save custom layout or search options for future reference.
SpaceSniffer‘s approach to disk analysis may seem a bit overwhelming at first. There are many squares, some are flashing, and everything changes when you select them. But once you adjust to the style, you will see that SpaceSniffer is a great disk analyzer.
6. Windows Integrated Tool
Windows has a built-in disk analysis tool. It’s not the brightest, and it lacks many of the features available in dedicated third-party options. However, this is a handy tool worth mentioning.
Press Windows Key + I, then type Storage into the search bar. Select the first option to open the storage settings. The Hard Disk Analyzer will populate various columns with your files and folders. Folder selection expands the analysis to the next level.
What is the best disk space analyzer?
When it comes to disk space analyzers, WinDirStat is still one of the best options. It’s completely free, open source, and does its job well. It even has a massive block renderer at the bottom of the window, as well as some handy filtering and analysis tools.
If you need more power than WinDirStat offers, DiskSavvy is a great option. Its integrated tools are among the best, with many predefined analysis parameters. The cost of upgrading the Pro might scare some users off, but that’s a personal choice.
Need more hard drive space? Here are the best ways to free up hard drive space in Windows 10.
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