How to Fix Windows Error 0x80070070 (Disk Space)
Quick Fix Summary
TL;DRFree up at least 20GB on your system drive using Disk Cleanup or by deleting large temporary files.
Error 0x80070070 indicates insufficient free disk space on the system drive (typically C:). This prevents critical operations like Windows Updates, software installations, or system file modifications.
Diagnosis & Causes
Recovery Steps
Step 1: Run Disk Cleanup as Administrator
Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool with elevated privileges to remove system files, including the Windows Update cache.
cleanmgr /sageset:65535
cleanmgr /sagerun:65535Step 2: Manually Delete the SoftwareDistribution Folder
Stop Windows Update services and delete the download cache. This folder often contains failed update packages.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserverStep 3: Clear Temporary Files via Command Line
Force-delete temporary files from all user and system locations.
del /q /f /s %TEMP%\*.*
rd /s /q %TEMP%
del /q /f /s C:\Windows\Temp\*.*
rd /s /q C:\Windows\TempStep 4: Reduce System Restore Point Allocation
Limit the maximum disk space used by System Protection to free up capacity.
wmic shadowcopy delete
vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /all
vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=c: /on=c: /maxsize=5GBStep 5: Identify and Move Large Files (PowerShell)
Use PowerShell to find the largest files and folders on the C: drive for targeted cleanup.
Get-ChildItem -Path C:\ -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Sort-Object Length -Descending | Select-Object -First 20 FullName, Length, LastWriteTime | Format-Table -AutoSizeStep 6: Disable Hibernation (If Not Needed)
The hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) can be several GBs. Disabling it frees space immediately.
powercfg.exe /hibernate offArchitect's Pro Tip
"Windows Update requires up to 25GB of *contiguous* free space, not just total free space. Use `defrag C: /L` to consolidate free space if cleanup doesn't resolve the error."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much free space do I need to fix error 0x80070070?
Aim for a minimum of 20-25GB of free space on your system drive (C:). Major feature updates may require up to 40GB of temporary space during installation.
Can I move the Windows Update cache to another drive?
Yes, but it's an advanced registry hack. It's safer to use symbolic links (`mklink /J`) after clearing the cache, though a clean local drive is the Microsoft-supported method.
Will this error cause data loss?
The error itself does not cause data loss. However, the corrective actions (deleting temp files, old updates) only remove non-essential system data. Always ensure you have backups before major drive operations.