Optimize Your Drive: Enable or Disable Reserved Storage in Windows 11/10

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Windows updates are essential for maintaining system security and performance. However, major feature updates often require a significant amount of free disk space, which can be a challenge for users with limited storage capacity. To mitigate this issue and ensure smoother updates, Microsoft introduced a feature called Reserved Storage in Windows 10 version 1903 and later, which is also present in Windows 11. This feature sets aside a portion of your disk space specifically for updates, temporary files, and system caches, aiming to prevent update failures caused by insufficient space.

While Reserved Storage provides a buffer for system operations, it does consume valuable disk space, typically around 7 gigabytes, although this size can vary based on device usage and installed features. For users who are critically low on storage, or who manage their disk space meticulously, the idea of disabling Reserved Storage might seem appealing. This guide explores how you can check the status of Reserved Storage and the methods available to enable or disable it using either the Windows Registry or the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) command-line tool. Understanding these methods and their implications is crucial before making changes to this system feature.

Understanding Reserved Storage¶

Reserved Storage is a mechanism designed by Microsoft to improve the reliability of Windows updates and system operations. On devices that come with Windows pre-installed or where a clean installation of Windows 10 version 1903 or later (including Windows 11) is performed, Reserved Storage is automatically enabled. The primary goal is to provide a dedicated space that system components, apps, and updates can rely on, ensuring that critical functions are not hampered by a lack of free disk space.

This reserved space accommodates several types of files. It includes space for Windows Update files, temporary files created by applications and the system, and system caches. By having this dedicated buffer, Windows can download and prepare updates in the background without impacting the user’s perceived free space until the update is ready to be installed. The size of Reserved Storage is dynamic; it starts at roughly 7GB but can grow or shrink depending on factors like installed optional features, languages, and how the device is used over time. For instance, installing additional language packs or optional features will increase the amount of space required by Reserved Storage.

You can easily check if Reserved Storage is enabled on your system and see how much space it is currently using through the Windows Settings app. To do this, open Settings, navigate to System, and then select Storage. On the Storage usage page, click on Show more categories to see a detailed breakdown of how your storage is being used. Look for an item labeled System & reserved. Clicking on this item will expand the view, and if Reserved Storage is active on your system, you will see an entry specifically for “Reserved storage” along with the amount of space it is occupying. If this option is not listed, it likely means Reserved Storage is not enabled on your device, perhaps due to limited disk space, or because Windows was upgraded from an older version rather than being clean installed.

The decision to enable or disable Reserved Storage should be made with careful consideration. While disabling it frees up immediate disk space, it removes the buffer that Windows relies on for reliable updates and temporary file management. This could potentially lead to issues such as failed updates or system instability if the system runs out of space during critical operations.

Managing Reserved Storage¶

Managing Reserved Storage involves either enabling or disabling this feature based on your needs and system configuration. There are two primary methods available to achieve this: using the Windows Registry Editor or utilizing the DISM command-line tool. It’s important to understand that while both methods can interact with the Reserved Storage setting, the DISM tool is generally considered the more reliable and supported method, especially for enabling or disabling the feature on demand after the initial OS installation. Manipulating system settings via the Registry should always be done with caution.

Before making any changes to system settings like Reserved Storage, it is highly recommended to create a system restore point. This allows you to revert your system to a previous state if something goes wrong or if the changes have unintended negative consequences. System restore points capture the state of system files, installed applications, Windows Registry, and system settings, providing a safety net for troubleshooting. To create a restore point, search for “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar, open the System Properties window, and click the “Create…” button under the System Protection tab. Give the restore point a descriptive name and click “Create”.

The two methods discussed below offer different approaches to managing Reserved Storage. The Registry method targets a specific setting that influences whether reserved storage is provisioned, while the DISM method provides a direct command to change the state of the feature on an online Windows image. Users should choose the method they are most comfortable with, keeping in mind the potential risks and requirements of each.

Method 1: Using Windows Registry¶

The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores low-level settings for the Microsoft Windows operating system and for applications that opt to use the Registry. Modifying the Registry can be a powerful way to customize system behavior, but incorrect changes can cause serious problems, including system instability or failure to boot. Therefore, proceeding with extreme caution and having a backup or restore point is paramount.

Accessing the Registry Editor requires administrative privileges. You can open it by pressing Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, typing regedit, and pressing Enter or clicking OK. When prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to allow the app to make changes to your device. Once the Registry Editor window is open, you will see a tree structure in the left pane representing the various keys and subkeys.

To potentially influence the state of Reserved Storage through the Registry, you need to navigate to a specific location. Expand the keys in the following order: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then SOFTWARE, then Microsoft, then Windows, and finally CurrentVersion. Within the CurrentVersion key, look for a subkey named ReserveManager. If this key does not exist, this registry method may not be applicable or effective on your system, and you should consider using the DISM method instead.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager

Once you have navigated to the ReserveManager key, look in the right-hand pane for a DWORD (32-bit Value) named ShippedWithReserves. The presence and value of this DWORD can potentially indicate or control whether Reserved Storage was provisioned or should be active. According to some documentation and the method described in the source material, modifying this value can affect the feature’s availability. The source suggests that to disable Reserved Storage using this method, you should double-click on the ShippedWithReserves DWORD and set its value data to 1. After setting the value, you must restart your computer for the change to take effect. Upon rebooting, the system is expected to no longer utilize Reserved Storage.

- Open **Registry Editor** (regedit.exe) as administrator.
- Navigate to `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager`.
- Double-click the `ShippedWithReserves` DWORD value.
- To disable Reserved Storage, set the **Value data** to `1`.
- Click **OK**.
- **Restart** your computer.

It is important to note the potential ambiguity or limitations of this specific Registry setting and method. The official and more reliable way to manage Reserved Storage state on a live Windows installation is using the DISM command-line tool, as described in the next section. If you choose to use the Registry method and wish to attempt to reverse the change, you would typically go back to the same location in the Registry Editor and set the ShippedWithReserves DWORD value data back to 0, or potentially delete the ReserveManager key or the ShippedWithReserves value entirely (after exporting it as a backup). However, as cautioned earlier and by the source, re-enabling Reserved Storage after disabling it, especially via the Registry method, may not always be successful.

Method 2: Using DISM Commands¶

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool is a powerful command-line utility used to service and prepare Windows images, including those used for Windows PE, Windows Recovery Environment, and Windows Setup. It can also be used to service a running Windows operating system. Microsoft has integrated specific parameters into DISM to manage Reserved Storage, providing a more direct and supported way to control this feature compared to registry manipulation.

Using DISM commands requires running the Command Prompt or PowerShell with administrative privileges. To do this, search for “Command Prompt” or “PowerShell” in the Windows search bar, right-click on the result, and select “Run as administrator”. Confirm the action if prompted by User Account Control.

The DISM tool includes the Set-ReservedStorageState parameter specifically for managing the state of Reserved Storage. This parameter works with the /Online argument, which tells DISM to target the currently running operating system installation.

To enable Reserved Storage using DISM, execute the following command:

DISM.exe /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Enabled

This command instructs DISM to set the state of Reserved Storage on the online image (your current Windows installation) to Enabled.

To disable Reserved Storage using DISM, execute the following command:

DISM.exe /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Disabled

This command instructs DISM to set the state of Reserved Storage to Disabled.

After executing either the enable or disable command, you can verify the current state of Reserved Storage using the Get-ReservedStorageState parameter:

DISM.exe /Online /Get-ReservedStorageState

This command will query the system and report whether Reserved Storage is currently enabled or disabled. The output will typically indicate the state, such as “Reserved storage state: Enabled” or “Reserved storage state: Disabled”.

Feature	Registry Method	DISM Method
Ease of Use	Requires navigating a tree structure	Requires typing commands
Reliability	Less reliable, potential for error	More reliable, official tool
Flexibility	Primarily influences provisioning	Directly sets the feature’s state on demand
Re-enabling	May be difficult or impossible	Designed for toggling state
Prerequisites	Admin privileges, careful navigation	Admin privileges, specific Windows version
Risk	High risk if done incorrectly	Lower risk if commands are typed correctly
Requirement	Key/Value must exist	Specific DISM parameters available (v2004+)

In most cases, the changes made via the DISM commands take effect immediately. However, performing a restart after changing the Reserved Storage state is often recommended to ensure all system components recognize the change and adjust accordingly.

It is important to be aware of potential issues you might encounter when using the DISM commands. One common error, Error 87, might indicate that the parameter used is unknown. This typically happens if your Windows version is older than Windows 10 version 2004, as the Set-ReservedStorageState and Get-ReservedStorageState parameters were introduced in that version. The command will not work on older releases. Another reason for Error 87 or other issues could be file corruption within the Windows image. In such cases, you might need to run DISM commands to repair the image, such as DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, before attempting to manage Reserved Storage again. Additionally, if there is an ongoing Windows Update download or servicing operation, the DISM command might return an error stating, “This operation is not supported when reserved storage is in use. Please wait for any servicing operations to complete and then try again later.” In this scenario, you must wait for the current operations to finish before attempting to change the Reserved Storage state.

Reducing Reserved Storage Size¶

While completely disabling Reserved Storage might free up the most space instantly, it is often not the recommended course of action due to the potential impact on system stability and update reliability. A better approach for users seeking to reclaim some space while keeping the feature enabled is to reduce the size that Reserved Storage requires. As mentioned earlier, the size of Reserved Storage is influenced by installed optional features and language packs. By removing unnecessary components, you can effectively decrease the space allocated for Reserved Storage.

There are two primary ways to reduce the size of Reserved Storage:

1. Uninstall Optional Features: Windows includes various optional features that you can add or remove based on your needs. These range from graphical tools like Paint 3D and WordPad to more technical components like Windows Sandbox, specific drivers, or development tools. Reserved Storage allocates space based on the potential needs of these features during updates or servicing. Removing optional features you don’t use can reduce the footprint required by Reserved Storage. To manage optional features, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and click on Optional features (or in older versions, navigate to Settings > System > Optional features). Here, you can see a list of installed optional features and uninstall those you no longer need.
2. Uninstall Unused Language Packs: Windows allows you to install multiple language packs to change the display language or enable features like text-to-speech or handwriting recognition in different languages. Each installed language pack and its associated components require space, and this contributes to the size of Reserved Storage. If you have installed language packs for languages you do not actively use, uninstalling them can help reduce the amount of reserved space. To manage language packs, go to Settings > Time & Language > Language & region (or in older versions, Settings > Time & Language > Language). Select the language pack you wish to remove, click the “…” or arrow button next to it, and choose “Remove”. Ensure you do not remove your primary display language.

Reserved Storage also plays a role in managing temporary files created by apps and system processes. Windows is designed to automatically clean up unneeded temporary files within the reserved space when it starts to fill up. This built-in management helps prevent the reserved space from becoming excessively large solely due to transient data. By regularly running Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense, you can further manage temporary files across your entire drive, potentially also reducing the immediate need for Reserved Storage to accommodate them.

Should You Disable Reserved Storage?¶

The decision to enable or disable Reserved Storage ultimately depends on your system’s configuration, available disk space, and your tolerance for potential complications during Windows updates. Microsoft introduced this feature with the specific aim of improving the update experience and system reliability, particularly on new devices and clean installations. The 7GB (or more) it consumes serves as a critical buffer against storage-related update failures.

For most users, especially those who do not have critically low disk space (e.g., less than 20GB free), keeping Reserved Storage enabled is the recommended approach. The convenience and reliability it adds to the update process often outweigh the storage space it consumes. It significantly reduces the likelihood of encountering errors where updates fail because the system lacks the temporary space needed to download, extract, and install the new files.

However, if your system is severely constrained by disk space, perhaps on an older device with a small SSD, and freeing up every possible gigabyte is essential for your workflow, then disabling Reserved Storage might be a necessary step. Before doing so, ensure you understand the risks, particularly the increased potential for update issues. If you choose to disable it, be prepared to actively manage your disk space, ensuring ample free room is available whenever Windows updates are scheduled.

Alternatively, if disabling completely feels too risky, explore the option of reducing its size by uninstalling optional features and language packs you don’t need. This allows you to reclaim some space while retaining the core functionality of the reserved buffer. Regularly using built-in tools like Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense and considering external storage for non-essential files are also good practices for managing disk space effectively without needing to disable core system features like Reserved Storage.

In summary, Reserved Storage is a beneficial feature designed for system stability. While you have the tools to manage its state, disabling it should be a last resort for users facing critical storage limitations, and the DISM method is generally the preferred and more reliable way to perform this action compared to modifying the Registry.

What are your thoughts on Reserved Storage? Have you encountered issues with low space during updates, or have you successfully disabled Reserved Storage without problems? Share your experiences in the comments below!