How to Reduce a Large System Volume Information Folder in Windows

Who This Affects and What It Fixes

If you are a Windows user who has noticed your hard drive filling up unexpectedly, the culprit may be a very large System Volume Information folder. This folder can grow to hundreds of gigabytes when Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) snapshots, system restore points, or backup data accumulate over time. The steps below will help you safely reduce its size and reclaim disk space.

Why the System Volume Information Folder Gets So Large

Windows uses the System Volume Information folder to store VSS snapshots, system restore points, and certain backup data. When these are never trimmed or limited, the folder can quietly consume a significant portion of your drive without any obvious warning.

How to Reduce the System Volume Information Folder

Option 1: Delete System Restore Points (Highest Impact)

1. Open the Start Menu and search for Create a restore point, then open it.
2. In the System Properties window, click Configure.
3. Click Delete to remove all existing restore points.

Option 2: Use Disk Cleanup

1. Press the Windows key, type cleanmgr.exe, and press Enter.
2. Select your system drive and click OK.
3. Click Clean up system files to include old restore points and shadow copies in the cleanup.
4. Check the relevant items and click OK to delete them.

Option 3: Delete Shadow Copies Using Command Prompt

1. Click the Start Menu, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type vssadmin list shadows and press Enter to see all existing snapshots.
3. If you want to remove them all, type vssadmin delete shadows /all and press Enter, then confirm when prompted.

Option 4: Limit How Much Space Shadow Copies Can Use

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator (see Option 3, steps 1–2).
2. Type the following command and press Enter to cap VSS storage at 10% of your drive:
   vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=C: /on=C: /maxsize=10%

Option 5: Check Your Backup Settings

1. Review your File History or backup software settings.
2. Make sure backups are not incorrectly targeting the same drive they are backing up, as this can cause the System Volume Information folder to grow unnecessarily.
3. Adjust the backup destination or schedule as needed to prevent further bloat.

Still Need Help?

If the folder remains unusually large after trying these steps, or if you are unsure which option is safe for your setup, the team at Advanced Computer Solutions can help. Contact ACS here.

Common questions

Is it safe to delete all VSS shadow copies?

Deleting all shadow copies means you will no longer be able to restore files from those snapshots. It is generally safe for freeing up space, but make sure you have an up-to-date backup stored elsewhere before removing them.

Will limiting VSS storage space prevent Windows from creating new restore points?

Setting a maximum size for VSS storage does not disable it entirely. Windows will continue creating snapshots and restore points but will automatically overwrite the oldest ones once the limit is reached, keeping the folder within the size you specify.

How do I stop the System Volume Information folder from growing large again?

The most effective long-term measures are capping VSS storage with the vssadmin resize command, running Disk Cleanup periodically, and confirming that your backup software is not directing backups to the same drive it is protecting.