Windows: how much space does a Windows 11 installation occupy, for practical purposes?

Self-tutoring about Windows: the tutor weighs in on a question he’s long wondered.

I mentioned in my post from September 4 that I recently reset Windows on this computer. I continue to be very happy with the result. I backed up everything, of course, which turned out to be important – that’s another story.

Since the reset, I’ve added back about 9.5 GB of files from backup – some of the backups I made needed to be replaced, while others didn’t.

Presently, the hard drive of this computer claims 87.5 GB are used. I looked into the Programs and Features list, and find I’ve re-installed about 2 GB of apps, a key one being the anti-malware suite.

So, for practical purposes, it seems that a day-to-day functioning Windows 11 (home) installation might occupy at least 76 GB. I wouldn’t count on it being less. For perspective, the Windows folder on the hard drive seems to admit to occupying 28 GB.

Before the reset, I think the hard drive totalled 217 GB of used space.

Interesting, eh?