How to Disable Storage Sense in Windows 11

Storage Sense is a native feature of Windows 11/10 that can help you gain disk space by removing temporary files, deleting files stored in Recycle Bin, etc. You can easily configure and use Storage Sense to free up space on your Windows PC. For those who don’t use this feature and want to disable Storage Sense in Windows 11/10, this post can be helpful. You can also enable Storage Sense whenever you want.

Disable Storage Sense in Windows 11/10

There are two built-in features to prevent access to Storage Sense in Windows 11/10. Using any of these features, the option to turn on and configure Storage Sense options will be greyed out. These are:

1. Using Registry Editor
2. Using Group Policy Editor.

Let’s check these two options.

1] Using Registry Editor

It is recommended to take Registry backup before trying this option. After that, use these steps:

1. Open Registry Editor
2. Access the Windows Registry key
3. Create a StorageSense Registry key
4. Create an AllowStorageSenseGlobal DWORD value
5. Close Registry Editor.

In the first step, Open Registry Editor. You can do this using the Search box. Simply type regedit and hit the Enter key to open it.

In the Registry Editor window, access the Windows name Registry key. You can access it using this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Now right-click on the Windows key, access the New menu, and click on the Key option. When a new Registry key is generated, rename it to StorageSense Registry key.

On the right-hand section of the StorageSense key, right-click on an empty space, use the New menu, and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value. After creating that value, set its name to AllowStorageSenseGlobal.

That’s it. Storage Sense is disabled. You can close the Registry Editor window.

To enable the Storage Sense feature again, simply follow the above steps, and delete the StorageSense key.

Windows 11 user? This post will show you how to use Storage Sense in Windows 11 to free up disk space.

2] Using Group Policy Editor

This option is not present for Home users of Windows 11/10 but in Pro and Enterprise editions. Those using the Home edition, need to add Group Policy to the Home edition first to use this option. After that, follow these steps:

1. Open Group Policy Editor
2. Access Storage Sense folder
3. Open Allow Storage Sense setting
4. Use Disabled option
5. Close Group Policy Editor.

At first, click on the Search box, type gpedit, and use Enter key to open Group Policy Editor.

In the Group Policy Editor window, access the Storage Sense folder. The path is:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Storage Sense

On the right-hand section, access and open Allow Storage Sense setting by double-clicking on it.

When the Storage Sense setting window is opened, click on the Disabled option, and press OK.

This will disable Storage Sense immediately. To re-gain access to Storage Sense, simply follow the above-mentioned steps, and use the Not Configured option available in the Storage Sense setting. Press OK to save the changes.

When you do this, users who visit the Storage Sense Settings may see a message:

Some of these settings are hidden or managed by your organization.

Hope this will help.