How to Clean System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points)
Location & Quick Verdict
C:\System Volume Information
Stores Windows System Restore points and Volume Shadow Copy snapshots on your C: drive.
How Windows Manages System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) on NTFS & NVMe Drives
Windows 10 and Windows 11 maintain hidden system directories and root-level allocation files at C:\System Volume Information to handle shell thumbnail databases, prefetcher launch traces, hibernation power states, and user-profile scratch storage. Because many of these paths are marked with +H (Hidden) or +S (System) attributes or guarded by SYSTEM ACL permissions, standard folder size scans often miss them entirely.
Over time, orphaned temporary files, stale Explorer DataCache_* buckets, and uncompacted virtual storage allocations inside C:\System Volume Information lock up 5.0 GB – 40.0 GB of primary C: drive space. Cleaning System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) using the proper administrative method restores drive headroom safely.
# Inspect current disk footprint of System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) (Read-Only)
$target = "C:\System Volume Information"
Get-ChildItem -Path $target -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Measure-Object -Property Length -Sum |
Select-Object Count, @{Name="SizeGB";Expression={[math]::Round($_.Sum / 1GB, 2)}}
Manual Cleaning Instructions
- 1 Press Windows Key + R, type sysdm.cpl and press Enter.
- 2 Open the 'System Protection' tab, select Local Disk (C:), and click 'Configure'.
- 3 Adjust the Max Usage slider (e.g., to 5%) or click 'Delete' to clear outdated restore points.
Note: If Windows alerts that a file is in use or locked by a background process, close the associated task in Task Manager before deleting, or use SWEEPR Cleaner to release locked handles safely.
Sub-Folders & Cache Locations Breakdown for System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points)
Modern Windows applications and system services split their disk footprint across multiple sub-directories (`Cache_Data`, `Service Worker\CacheStorage`, `Code Cache`, `GPUCache`, and `Crashpad\reports`). Review which sub-folders inside System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) are safe to purge and which files remain protected:
| Sub-Folder / Cache Location | Storage Role | Typical Footprint | Deletion Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| C:\System Volume Information | Primary System Scratch, Thumbnail/Icon DB or Virtual Allocation | 5.0 GB – 40.0 GB | ⚠️ System Managed |
| %LocalAppData%\Temp & C:\Windows\Temp | Orphaned Installer Extraction & Session Scratch Files | 1.5 GB – 18.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer (thumbcache_*.db) | Cached File Explorer Image & Video Thumbnail Databases | 250 MB – 3.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe (Rebuilds Automatically) |
| User Documents, Desktop & Registry Hives | Personal Files, Boot Configuration & System Certificates | Protected | 🔒 Protected — Never Touched |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points)?
Exercise caution: Do not modify permissions or delete files inside System Volume Information manually. Use Windows System Protection or vssadmin to prune old restore points.
How much storage space will cleaning System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) free up?
Users typically reclaim 5.0 GB – 40.0 GB on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems depending on update frequency and active cache retention in C:\System Volume Information.
Why does Windows say some files in System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) are "In Use" when I try to delete them?
Active background processes (such as explorer.exe, svchost.exe, or running desktop apps) hold open file handles to current session scratch files. Skipping locked files—or letting SWEEPR Cleaner clean unlocked items automatically—is normal and completely safe.
Where is System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) located on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
It is stored at C:\System Volume Information. You can paste that path directly into the Windows Run dialog (Win + R) or File Explorer address bar to inspect it.
Manual File Explorer vs. 1-Click SWEEPR Cleanup
| Feature | Manual Deletion | SWEEPR Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Locked File Handling | Fails on locked processes | Safe background release |
| Accidental Deletion Risk | Moderate (easy to delete wrong folder) | Zero (strict rules & hashes) |
| Safety Undo Rollback | None (Shift+Del is permanent) | 7-Day Automatic Rollback |
| Time Required | 10–20 minutes per app | < 60 seconds across 40+ areas |
Related Windows Cleanup Guides & Hidden Space Hogs
Clean System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) Automatically
SWEEPR Cleaner safely clears System Volume Information (VSS Shadow Copies & Restore Points) along with 40+ other hidden app folders and leftover files in one click—covering up to 5 devices (Windows, Mac, Android & iOS) with a 7-day undo safety net.