Getting Started

Getting Started

This page covers the normal first-use flow: install WinDirStat, choose a target, scan it, and read the main window.

Install

Use an official source whenever possible:

• Microsoft Store
• winget install -e --id WinDirStat.WinDirStat
• choco install windirstat
• scoop install extras/windirstat (run scoop bucket add extras first if needed)
• Download an installer or portable archive from the GitHub releases page.

If you are not sure which release asset to choose, use the 64-bit MSI installer on a modern Intel or AMD Windows PC. Use ARM64 for Windows on ARM devices, or x86 for 32-bit Windows. Extract portable ZIP/7z archives before running the executable for your CPU architecture.

The MSI supports localized installer text and an optional Add WinDirStat To System Path setting for command-line use. Portable users can enable Options > Settings > General > Run in portable mode to save preferences in WinDirStat.ini beside the executable.

Avoid unofficial download sites that copy the WinDirStat name or logo. They may host outdated, modified, or unsafe downloads.

Update

If you installed with a package manager, update with the same tool:

winget upgrade -e --id WinDirStat.WinDirStat
choco upgrade windirstat
scoop update windirstat

If you installed from the Microsoft Store, update WinDirStat through the Store. If you installed manually, download the current installer or portable archive from the official GitHub releases page.

First Scan

1. Start WinDirStat.
2. In Select Drives, choose a scan mode:
   • All Local Drives scans local non-network drives.
   • Individual Drives scans selected drives or connected MTP portable devices from the list.
   • Individual Folders scans one or more folders or UNC paths. Use the add-folder button to combine folders.
3. Leave Use accelerated scanning enabled when it is available. It is fastest on elevated scans of local NTFS drives.
4. Enable Scan for duplicate files only when you need duplicate detection. It can make scans slower because WinDirStat must hash file contents.
5. Use the filter button only when you intentionally want to include or exclude paths, file names, sizes, or file ages.
6. Select OK and wait for the scan to finish.

During a scan, the toolbar can suspend, resume, or stop the scan. The status bar shows progress and current memory use. See Scanning for network paths, accelerated scanning, and portable-device limitations.

Main Window

WinDirStat links several views together. Selecting an item in one view updates the others.

View	What it shows
All Files	A sortable tree of scanned drives, folders, and files.
Largest Files	The largest files found during the scan.
Duplicate Files	Groups of same-size files with matching hashes, shown only when duplicate scanning is enabled.
Search Results	Matching files and folders, with name, size, item-type, and owner filters.
File Watcher	File system changes under the scanned target, shown after you start it from Tools.
Permissions	File and folder permission entries with accounts and access rights, after Tools > Scan Permissions.
Storage Analytics	Size and age distributions with storage cost estimates, opened from Tools > Storage Analytics.
File Types	File types by extension, size, file count, description, and visualization color.
Visualization	Treemap, sunburst, or flame graph; choose the graph from View and arrange panes with the toolbar's Window Layout chooser.

Common Actions

• Sort a list by selecting a column header; right-click a header to choose visible columns.
• Expand or collapse folders in All Files to investigate large branches.
• Select a file or folder, then right-click for common cleanup and Explorer actions.
• Use Edit > Search or Ctrl+F to find files by name.
• Use File > Refresh Selected after deleting or moving a subset of results.
• Use File > Save Results To CSV/JSON to export or reopen the scan later. Duplicate and permissions reports have separate save commands; see Command Line and Export.
• Use Tools > Recover Deleted Files when running elevated to search a local drive for deleted files. See Recovering Deleted Files for supported filesystems and recovery limits.

Before Cleaning Up

WinDirStat can make destructive changes when you use cleanup commands. Review the selected path, file type, size, and location before deleting or changing anything. Be especially careful with Windows folders, application folders, profile folders, and files whose purpose you do not recognize.