Windows 11 automatically reserves a portion of your system storage — typically around 7 GB — to ensure that updates, drivers, and temporary files can install smoothly. This feature, called Reserved Storage, was introduced in Windows 10 and continues in Windows 11 as part of Microsoft’s system maintenance design.
While Reserved Storage is helpful for maintaining update reliability, it can be inconvenient if your PC has a smaller SSD or limited free space. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t offer a direct option in the Settings app to disable it permanently. However, with a few command-line tweaks, you can temporarily disable or reduce Reserved Storage to free up some space when you need it.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to safely disable and re-enable Reserved Storage in Windows 11 using supported methods.
Temporarily Disable Reserved Storage in Windows 11
Before you start, make sure you have administrator access on your PC. You’ll also need to use either Command Prompt or PowerShell to change the Reserved Storage configuration.
Tip: Disabling Reserved Storage can free up several gigabytes, but it may affect your ability to install future Windows updates if your drive runs out of space. Only disable it temporarily if you’re confident you have enough space to manage updates manually.
Step 1: Check How Much Space Reserved Storage Is Using
Before disabling Reserved Storage, it’s helpful to see how much space it’s currently reserving.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to System → Storage.
- Click Advanced storage settings → Storage used on other drives → This PC (C:).
- Scroll down and select System & reserved.
Here, you’ll see the Reserved Storage section and the exact amount of space it occupies. This value can range from 5 GB to 10 GB depending on your system and installed features.
Step 2: Open PowerShell as Administrator
To make changes to Reserved Storage, you’ll need to use an elevated PowerShell window.
- Press Windows + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
- Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
You’re now ready to view and modify Reserved Storage configurations.
Step 3: Check the Current Status of Reserved Storage
Before disabling it, let’s confirm whether Reserved Storage is currently enabled.
In the PowerShell window, run the following command:
Get-WindowsReservedStorageState
If it returns Reserved storage is enabled, you can proceed to disable it.
If it shows Reserved storage is disabled, there’s nothing more to turn off — though you can re-enable it later if you’ve previously disabled it.
Step 4: Disable Reserved Storage Using DISM Command
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool lets you configure and disable Reserved Storage directly.
To disable it, run this command:
DISM /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Disabled
Wait a few moments for the process to complete. You should see a message saying “The operation completed successfully.”
Once this is done, Windows will immediately release the reserved space back to your main storage drive. You can confirm by checking the storage usage again in Settings.
Step 5: Re-Enable Reserved Storage Later (Optional)
If you want to turn Reserved Storage back on after freeing up space, you can re-enable it at any time.
Open PowerShell (Admin) and run:
DISM /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Enabled
After re-enabling, Windows may not immediately reclaim the reserved space — it typically takes effect after one or two cumulative updates or a system restart.
Step 6: Verify the Change
To make sure the setting has been applied correctly, check the current state again by running:
Get-WindowsReservedStorageState
If you see Reserved storage is disabled, your change was successful. You can also revisit Settings → System → Storage → System & reserved to confirm that Reserved Storage no longer appears in the list.
Step 7: Free Up Additional System Space (Optional)
Disabling Reserved Storage will give you back several gigabytes, but if you’re still low on space, there are additional ways to clear storage safely.
- Open Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files.
- Select items like Windows Update Cleanup, Downloaded Program Files, and Recycle Bin.
- Click Remove files.
- You can also use Storage Sense under Storage management to automate cleanups.
These methods ensure you recover even more space without harming system stability.
Step 8: Understand the Risks of Disabling Reserved Storage
While disabling Reserved Storage is safe, it does have implications:
- Windows Updates may fail if your drive runs out of free space.
- Temporary files and cache data could accumulate, causing performance issues.
- Some feature updates might re-enable Reserved Storage automatically.
That’s why it’s best to treat this as a temporary solution, not a permanent change. If you rely on Windows Update for critical patches, re-enable Reserved Storage once you’ve cleared or expanded your storage.
Wrapping Up
Reserved Storage is one of those background features that’s easy to overlook until you’re running out of space. While it’s designed to keep Windows updates running smoothly, disabling it temporarily can free up several gigabytes when you need them the most.
Using PowerShell and the DISM command, you can turn Reserved Storage off and on whenever necessary — giving you flexibility without compromising system stability.
Just remember to re-enable it once you’ve made room or installed your updates. That way, your PC stays both efficient and reliable, with plenty of breathing space for future upgrades.
