Windows 11 Install Not Enough Disk Space: Fix It with 3 Ways

User Case: Not Enough Disk Space to Install Windows 11

Recently, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 support will end later this year, on October 14, 2025, which means many users have to upgrade and install Windows 11. However, Windows 11 install not enough disk space is an obstacle. This is because, compared to Windows 10 and other old systems, Windows 11 has higher system requirements and larger disk space for installation. Some common error messages about this problem include:

"We couldn't install Windows 11"

"Low disk space on Windows 11"

"We can't install the latest Windows 11..."

"We can't tell if your PC has enough space to continue installing Windows 11"

"You are running out of disk space on system (C:)"

"you're running out of space on this PC"

But don't worry. Whatever your problem is, here we will help you solve Windows 11 installation not enough disk space easily.

How to Resolve Windows 11 Install Not Enough Disk Space

In this chapter, we will outline 3 methods to solve not enough disk space to install Windows 11. In addition to simply freeing up disk space, it also includes a permanent solution, which is to upgrade C drive (system drive) to larger disk. Let's start.

Note: Windows 11 installation requires at least 64GB of space. But the problem is that this is only the minimum requirement. Temporary installation files, system restore points, and backup images during the process all need extra space. If your drive is cluttered with old Windows updates, large games, or system logs, the installer may flag it as insufficient, even if you technically meet the minimum.

Way 1. Run Disk Cleanup to Free up Space

Over time, your PC collects a lot of unnecessary data, temporary files, update leftovers, system logs, and cached data. Disk Cleanup helps remove these files to free up critical space when Windows C drive is full to fix not enough disk space for Windows 11 installation.

Step 1. Right-click the disk that you want to make room for, and select Properties.

Step 2. Click on Disk Cleanup under the General tab.

Step 3. Then, select the items that you need to delete, and click on.

Step 4. If there is a Clean up system files option available, you can run the Disk Cleanup tool again to clear useless system files for more space.

Way 2. Check Hard Drive Errors

Sometimes, the system misreports available disk space due to corrupted files or partition errors. In this case, your drive might seem not enough disk space but there is plenty. Running a disk check can fix file system issues and correct misreported capacity that leads to issues like not enough space to install Windows 10/11.

Step 1. Type cmd in the Windows Search box and select Run as administrator under the Command Prompt app.

Step 2. Type chkdsk C: /f /r and press Enter to check the disk for errors and repair. (C: is the drive letter that you want to check for errors)

Step 3. If asked to schedule at next restart, type Y and reboot your PC.

Way 3. Upgrade Old Disk with New Larger Drive

If your current drive is just too small, what you need may be a full disk upgrade to get rid of the Windows 11 install not enough disk space problem. Replacing your old small SSD or HDD with a larger, faster SSD solves the issue once and for all. AOMEI Cloner is an excellent cloning software that helps you transfer data from one drive to another with a few simple clicks.

This software offers not only Disk Clone to copy entire hard drive to a new one, including the operating system, settings, configurations, and other data, but also System Clone to migrate only OS to new SSD and Partition Clone to copy a partition to new SSD.

AOMEI Cloner works across all Windows versions, including Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2008. Download it and follow the steps below to upgrade your disk without data loss.

Step 1. Get a new larger disk that is compatible with your computer and connect it to your computer:

• If your PC has an extra hard drive bay, install the new disk internally.
• If not, use an adapter or enclosure for external connection instead.

Step 2. Launch AOMEI Cloner, click on Clone, then select Disk Clone if you wish to copy the entire old disk or System Clone to move only the OS.

Step 3. Pick your current system drive for cloning. For System Clone, this software is designed to select the boot-related partitions as the cloning source automatically.

Step 4. Select your new SSD or HDD as the target location. It will confirm to you that all data on it will be erased, make sure it's empty or backed up.

Step 5. Tick SSD Alignment if you are cloning to an SSD, and hit Start Clone to begin the data migration process.

Note: The Edit Partitions feature helps you to adjust the partition size on the larger destination disk by assigning unallocated space, and convert disk types, if needed.

Once finished, turn off your PC, replace the old drive with the new one, and reboot. You should boot right into Windows, with plenty of disk space.

FAQs on Windows 11 Install Not Enough Disk Space

What is the minimum disk space to install Windows 11?

Windows 11 requires at least 64GB of available storage to install. However, Microsoft recommends having more, like 100GB, to allow room for system files, updates, and recovery partitions. Smaller SSDs often run into trouble during installation due to temporary file requirements and partition alignment.

Why does it say insufficient disk space when I have enough?

There are a few possible reasons:

• Hidden files or restore points are eating up space.
• Windows Update temporary files haven’t cleared properly.
• File system corruption is misreporting actual free space.
• Pagefile, hibernation files, and other system data are taking up space.

Why is Windows 11 installation failing?

Except for space issues, some other common reasons for Windows installation failed include:

• Unsupported hardware (no TPM 2.0, for example)
• Corrupted installation media
• Outdated BIOS
• Driver conflicts

To Sum it up

Facing the Windows 11 install not enough disk space message doesn't mean you're out of options. You can try freeing up space or checking for disk errors. For long-term reliability and performance, you could also choose to upgrade to a larger SSD. With AOMEI Cloner, you can upgrade your hardware, preserve your system, and install Windows 11 smoothly without data loss or boot issues.