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I'm after a list of the largest files on a windows box, i.e. Not just in one folder, but anywhere on the disk. Is there any easy way of getting this?

9 Answers 9

3

Do a windows search on you windows drive with "*" joker that mean all file, and specify a minimum size let's say of 40mb, than you'll have every file on you system drive that are larger than 40mb.

Hope this help.

21

Check out this app: WinDirStat

This will show you graphically as well as a hierarchy/tree map. This software is free and open source (GPL) and works really well.

4
  • +10! windirstat is awesome
    – hasen
    May 13, 2009 at 13:18
  • I have always used Sequoia View, but just installed WinDirStat to take a look at it. Very nice. I think Sequoia View lays out the Tree Map a little better and is more responsive. I do like WinDirStat's ability to select a file type and see it highlighted across the entire drive. May 13, 2009 at 14:50
  • @Keith Sirmons - Do you know if Sequoia is a branch of WinDirStat? They look very similar and since WinDirStat is open source this is very possible.
    – Andy May
    May 13, 2009 at 15:21
  • Sequoia View's V1.1 original publish date is 11/9/2000. It was about 5 years ahead of WinDirStat's V1.1.2 release on 7/16/2005. May 13, 2009 at 15:40
13

Install PowerShell. Then run this:

dir c:\ -recurse -erroraction silentlycontinue | sort length -descending | select -first 20

That'll give you back the top 20 largest files on C:.

3
  • 1
    incredibly useful
    – Malky.Kid
    Jul 27, 2017 at 1:54
  • This eats up all the memory and throws an OutOfMemoryException.
    – pkr
    Sep 10, 2018 at 14:40
  • Great out-of-the-box solution, thanks for posting.
    – fusion27
    Jul 11, 2019 at 14:03
3

If you are doing this regularly, you might look at tools like TreeSize Pro or SizeExplorer (although the latter seems to nob be as recent).

2
  • @Marc-AndreR., Do you mean TreeSize or do you mean SizeExplorer?
    – Pacerier
    Mar 17, 2015 at 19:59
  • @Pacerier : TreeSize is definitely more recent and maintain than SizeExplorer or WinDirStat. That said, both does the job but I do have a preference for TreeSize. Hope this help. Mar 18, 2015 at 10:52
2

Install Sequoia View

It will visually show you your large files and large directories. It makes finding where all your space disappeared very easy.

Free and < 1 Mb in size.

enter image description here

1

PowerShell (extending answer 7768) across multiple drives:

 "c","e","f" | dir -path {"$($_):\"} -rec -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | sort -desc Length | select -first 20 | ft FullName
3
  • Are you certain that this currently works?
    – Nae
    Sep 17, 2018 at 7:29
  • 1
    @Nae Over nine years ago: I can't recall. But the new version definitely does
    – Richard
    Sep 17, 2018 at 9:15
  • Yes it does seem to be working now. Thanks for the update!
    – Nae
    Sep 17, 2018 at 9:29
1

A very simple way to do this is to type the following into the search box in Windows Explorer:

* size:gigantic or if you are after slightly smaller files go for * size:huge.

0

My favorite is Disk Scanner by Steffen Gerlach:

http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/

Standalone freeware, 157K. Takes a little time to build the report, but the circular graphic is very intuitive and informative.

0

Yes and it is free: Folder Size
There is a small tutorial here: How to List Largest Files & Largest Folders

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