One of the biggest worries people have about clearing storage is accidentally deleting something they need. This article is designed to show you that it is entirely possible to free up a significant amount of space while keeping everything that matters to you completely safe.
The goal is not to delete everything — it is to identify and remove the things that are no longer useful, while making sure the things that matter are kept safe. Think of it like clearing out a spare room. You do not throw away everything in it — you sort through it, put the important things in a better place, and get rid of the things you no longer need.
Before you delete anything, it is worth making sure that the files you care about are stored somewhere safe. This gives you the peace of mind to delete other things freely, knowing that your important items are protected.
There are a few ways to back up your files:
An external hard drive or USB stick: You can copy important files (photos, documents, etc.) onto one of these devices and keep it somewhere safe. It plugs into your computer with a cable, just like a phone charger.
A cloud storage service: Services like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive allow you to save files online, so they are accessible from any device and are not dependent on any one computer. Our support team can help you set this up if you are interested.
Both: For the most important files — family photos, personal documents — it is ideal to have them in two places, just in case.
Once your important files are safely backed up, you can delete other things without worry.
There are certain types of files that are almost always safe to delete because they have no lasting value:
Files in your Downloads folder. This folder tends to fill up with installation files, temporary downloads, and items downloaded for a one-time purpose. Most of them are never needed again after the first use.
Duplicate photos. If you have multiple copies of the same image — which happens more often than people realise — you only need to keep one.
Old emails with large attachments that you have already saved elsewhere, or that relate to things that are long finished (old delivery notifications, event invitations from years ago, advertisements).
Programmes or apps you no longer use. If there is software on your computer you have not opened in years, it can be uninstalled safely.
If you are not comfortable deleting something but still want it off your main device, moving it is a great alternative. By transferring files to an external hard drive or USB stick, you free up space on your computer while keeping the files perfectly intact and accessible whenever you need them.
This is an especially good approach for:
Large collections of photos and videos that you want to keep but do not need to access every day
Old documents you are not ready to delete permanently but rarely use
Large files that take up a lot of space but are only needed occasionally
Once you have moved things to the Trash or Recycle Bin, remember to empty it. Until you do, those files are still technically on your device and still taking up space. Think of it as the final step of the tidying process — like taking the rubbish bags out to the kerb after you have filled them.
Windows: Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin."
Mac: Right-click on the Trash icon in the dock and select "Empty Trash."
Once your important emails are either saved or backed up, go through your inbox and other folders and delete what you no longer need. Follow the same principle — start with the biggest items first (emails with large attachments), then work through the older and less important ones.
For a full guide to this, see: "How to Delete Old Emails to Free Up Space" in the Email section.
It is completely normal to feel cautious about deleting things. Taking it slowly, one folder at a time, is perfectly fine. You do not need to clear everything in one sitting — even small amounts of space freed up regularly can make a big difference over time.
If you would like someone to guide you through this process personally, our support team is always happy to help. We can walk you through it step by step and make sure nothing important is lost along the way.