How to manage Storage sense settings using Group Policy on Windows 10 May 2022 Update

On Windows 10, Storage sense is a built-in tool designed to free up space automatically. When it's enabled, the feature monitors your device, and when it's running low on space, it deletes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, cleans up the Downloads folder, removes previous installation files, and more to make space to install new updates or shop more than important data.

Although yous can control most aspects of the experience using the Settings app, starting with the Windows x May 2022 Update (version 1903), you tin can also manage the same settings with more flexibility using the Group Policy Editor on Windows ten Pro, Enterprise, or Education, which will come in handy in many scenarios. For case, when sharing your device with other people, y'all want to restrict users access to the feature, or when managing multiple devices in a network environment.

In this Windows 10 guide, nosotros'll walk you lot through the steps to manage Storage sense settings using Grouping Policy with the new policies available with the May 2022 Update and afterward.

How to enable or disable Storage sense settings
How to disable temporary files deletion using Storage sense
How to set OneDrive folder content retention using Storage sense
How to ready Downloads folder content memory using Storage sense
How to set Recycle Bin content retention using Storage sense

How to enable or disable Storage sense settings

Starting with the May 2022 Update, you can employ policies to enable, disable, and restrict users access to manage the Storage sense feature using the Settings app.

Enabling or disabling Storage sense

To enable or disable Storage sense using Grouping Policy, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search forgpedit.msc and clickOK to open up the Local Group Policy Editor.
Scan the following path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Storage sense
On the right side, double-click the Allow Storage Sense policy.
Select the Enabled or Disabled option.

Quick annotation: Using the Enabled or Disabled selection volition prevent users from changing the country of the feature using the Settings app.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, if y'all enabled the choice, and so Storage sense will run automatically. In the case that you selected the Disabled option, then Storage sense will no longer run automatically, and users will non be able to enable the feature, but they'll exist able to admission the settings page to costless up infinite manually.

Likewise, if yous're disabling this policy, so all the remaining Storage sense policies bachelor through Group Policy won't have any upshot. In the case that y'all're planning to configure each policy individually, then use the same instructions outlined higher up, but on step No. 5, make sure to select the Not Configured selection.

Scheduling automated cleanup

If you lot want to configure when Storage sense should run automatically while preventing users from changing the settings, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search forgpedit.msc and clickOK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Browse the following path:

Figurer Configuration > Authoritative Templates > System > Storage sense
On the right side, double-click the Configure Storage Sense cadence policy.
Select the Enabled option.
Under the Options section, use the drop-down menu to specify when to run Storage sense automatically. Options available, include:
- Every mean solar day.
- Every week.
- Every month.
- During low free disk infinite.
Click the Use push.
Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the feature will free upward space during the cadance you specified.

How to disable temporary files deletion using Storage sense

If you want to prevent Storage sense from deleting temporary files automatically on Windows ten, utilise these steps:

Open Get-go.
Search forgpedit.msc and clickOK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Browse the post-obit path:

Calculator Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Storage sense
On the right side, double-click the Let Storage Sense Temporary Files cleanup policy.
Select the Disabled option.

Quick note: If you're looking to lock the feature to prevent users from modifying this option in the Settings app, and then you should select the Enabled option.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.

In one case you complete the steps, Storage sense will no longer delete temporary files automatically. However, users volition yet exist able to remove junk files manually to free up space on the device.

You tin can always revert the changes using the aforementioned instructions, but on step No. 5, make certain to select the Not Configured selection.

How to set up OneDrive folder content retentivity using Storage sense

Storage sense can free up space past making fully downloaded files online-only content, and starting with the May 2022 Update, using Group Policy, y'all tin now disable the choice or set a number of days before dehydrating files (remove the local copy) for upwardly to one year with these steps:

Open up First.
Search forgpedit.msc and clickOK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Browse the following path:

Reckoner Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Storage sense
On the right side, double-click the Configure Storage Sense Cloud Content dehydration threshold policy.
Select the Enabled option.

Quick note: Selecting the Disabled option will finish Storage sense from making unused OneDrive files available only in the cloud to costless up infinite automatically, only users will go along to be able to use this feature manually.
Under the Options section, select the number of days (up to 365 days, instead of 60 using the Settings app) since a OneDrive file has been opened before making information technology available but in the cloud.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK push.

After you consummate the steps, the feature will only dehydrate files that haven't been open according to your configuration. Still, if you used the Disabled option, then Storage sense volition no longer dehydrate unused files to free up space.

If you want to disengage the changes, use the same instructions, but on step No. five, make sure to select the Not Configured selection.

How to ready Downloads folder content retentivity using Storage sense

The cleanup tool tin can also delete older files from the Downloads folder, but you can disable this option or set the historic period of the files before deletion up to one year with these steps:

Open Starting time.
Search forgpedit.msc and clickOK to open up the Local Grouping Policy Editor.
Scan the post-obit path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Storage sense
On the right side, double-click the Configure Storage Sense Downloads cleanup threshold policy.
Select the Enabled pick.
Under the Options section, select the number of days (up to 365 days, instead of 60 using the Settings app) for the age of the file before deletion.

Quick notation: You can select the Disabled option to plough off the feature, but users will still manage it manually using the Settings app.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK push.

Once you complete the steps, older files inside the Downloads binder volition exist removed co-ordinate to your configuration. If y'all disabled the feature, and so Storage sense will cease deleting files from the folder.

If you alter your mind, you lot can remove the changes using the same instructions, just on step No. five, make sure to select the Not Configured option.

How to set Recycle Bin content retention using Storage sense

Every bit part of the options to optimize the space usage on your device, Storage sense can also empty the Recycle Bin files. If you prefer to keep the deleted files a little longer, using Grouping Policy, yous tin disable the feature or set the number of days (upward to one yr) before deleting these files automatically using these steps:

Open Start.
Search forgpedit.msc and clickOK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Browse the post-obit path:

Figurer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Storage sense
On the right side, double-click the Configure Storage Sense Recycle Bin cleanup threshold policy.
Select the Enabled selection.
Under the Options department, select the number of days (up to 365 days, instead of 60 using the Settings app) earlier Storage sense empties the Recycle Bin automatically.

Quick note: You can select the Disabled selection to foreclose Storage sense from removing deleted files, only users volition still be able to manage it manually using the Settings app.
Click Utilize.
Click OK.

After you consummate the steps, deleted files will go along in the Recycle Bin until you manually delete them. Or if you specified the Enabled selection, and so deleted files volition be removed co-ordinate to your new settings.

The Grouping Policy Editor is only available for devices running Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education, which ways that these set of instructions won't apply to Windows 10 Home. All the same, you tin always upgrade to unlock the Group Policy Editor and other features by getting a new production license from the Microsoft Shop.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to mutual questions about Windows x, visit the following resource:

Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

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