Games are frequently the single largest category of installed software on a home PC, with many modern titles taking up 40 to 100GB or more each. It's extremely common to find two or three games installed that haven't been opened in over a year, quietly taking up more space than everything else on the drive combined.
Key takeaway: Sorting your installed apps by size, rather than alphabetically, is the fastest way to spot the biggest space-wasting programs and games you no longer use.
Sorting apps by size
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Click the "Sort by" dropdown and select Size.
- Review the list from largest to smallest, and note anything you haven't used recently.
Checking game launchers separately
Games installed through Steam, Epic Games Store, Battle.net, or similar platforms don't always appear clearly sized in Windows' own Apps list, so it's worth checking inside each launcher directly.
- Open Steam, click Library, then click the small gear or settings icon to sort your library by size, or check Steam > Settings > Storage.
- Open Epic Games Launcher, go to your Library, and check each game's install size shown under its options.
- Identify games you haven't played in the last six months or more.
- Right-click the unwanted app or game and choose Uninstall.
- Confirm any additional prompts from the launcher or Windows uninstaller.
- Repeat for each item you've decided to remove.
- Once finished, check Settings > System > Storage to confirm the space has been freed.
Before you start: If a game has cloud save support through its launcher, confirm your save data has synced before uninstalling, so you don't lose progress if you reinstall it later.
Tip: Rather than fully uninstalling a game you might return to, some launchers let you move it to an external drive instead — check for a "Move" or "Change install location" option before deleting entirely.
Don't forget non-game software too
While games are usually the biggest single space users, it's worth applying the same "sort by size, then judge by recency" approach to your wider app collection, not just your game library. Creative software such as video editors, 3D modelling tools, and photo editing suites often install large asset libraries, sample projects, and additional language packs that can be trimmed down or removed entirely if you only use a fraction of what was installed by default. Old versions of software that update by installing a fresh copy alongside the old one, rather than replacing it, are another common source of duplicated space — check whether an older version number is still listed separately in your Installed apps list before assuming only one copy exists.
A quick sweep through your full apps list once every six months or so, sorted by size, is a reasonable habit that keeps this kind of gradual build-up from ever becoming a serious problem in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
- Will uninstalling a game delete my save files?
- It depends on the game. Many modern titles store saves in the cloud via Steam or the publisher's own account system, but older or offline games may store saves locally, so it's worth checking first.
- How much space can removing unused games actually free up?
- It varies widely, but modern AAA games commonly take between 40GB and over 100GB each, so removing even two or three unused titles can free a substantial chunk of your drive.
- Should I uninstall apps I might use again someday?
- If it's been over a year and you can't recall the last time you opened it, it's usually safe to remove — most software can be reinstalled quickly if you need it again.