How to Fix System Volume Information High Disk Usage on Windows 10
When you notice that your Windows 10 computer is running slowly, you might investigate to find that the culprit is a process called ‘System Volume Information.’ This process can cause high disk usage and slow down your computer. In this article, we’ll explain what System Volume Information is, why it can cause high disk usage, and how you can fix it.
What is System Volume Information?
System Volume Information is a hidden folder that exists on all NTFS drives in Windows, including USB drives, external hard drives, and internal hard drives. It contains data that’s related to the System Restore feature in Windows. This feature allows you to restore your computer to a previous point in time if something goes wrong. System Volume Information stores restore points and information about the current state of your computer. It also stores data related to drive indexing and search.
Why Can System Volume Information Cause High Disk Usage?
System Volume Information can cause high disk usage when it becomes large or contains corrupt data. Because the folder is hidden, you might not know that it’s taking up a significant amount of space on your hard drive. Additionally, the System Restore feature might be creating restore points more frequently than necessary, leading to a bloated System Volume Information folder.
How to Fix System Volume Information High Disk Usage on Windows 10
1. Adjust System Restore Settings: You can reduce the amount of space that System Volume Information takes up on your hard drive by adjusting System Restore settings. Follow these steps:
– Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
– In the Run dialog box, type ‘systempropertiesprotection’ and hit Enter.
– In the System Properties window, click on the ‘Configure’ button.
– Underneath ‘Disk Space Usage,’ you can move the slider to decrease or increase the maximum space allocated for system protection.
– After adjusting the slider, click on ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’.
2. Use Disk Cleanup: Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows utility that helps you free up disk space by removing unnecessary files. You can use it to clean up the System Volume Information folder. Follow these steps:
– Click on the Start menu and search for ‘Disk Cleanup.’
– Click on ‘Disk Cleanup’ to open the utility.
– Select the drive you want to clean up (usually the C drive).
– Click on ‘Clean up system files.’
– Check the box labeled ‘Previous Windows installations’ and any other boxes where you can see the ‘System’ part of the name.
– Click on ‘OK.’
Disk Cleanup will remove unnecessary files, including those in the System Volume Information folder.
3. Disable System Restore: If you don’t use System Restore, you can disable it altogether. This will delete all restore points and free up hard drive space. Follow these steps:
– Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
– In the Run dialog box, type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and hit Enter.
– In the System Properties window, click on the ‘System Protection’ tab.
– Click on the drive you want to disable System Restore for.
– Click on the ‘Configure’ button.
– Select the ‘Disable system protection’ option.
– Click on ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK.’
4. Use a Third-Party Tool: You can also use a third-party tool like CCleaner to clean up the System Volume Information folder. CCleaner can remove temporary files, browser cache, and other unnecessary data, including those in the System Volume Information folder.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explained what System Volume Information is, why it can cause high disk usage, and how you can fix it. You can adjust System Restore settings, use Disk Cleanup, disable System Restore altogether, or use a third-party tool to free up disk space and eliminate slow performance. By following these steps, you can keep your Windows 10 computer running smoothly and efficiently.
