There is Not Enough Free Disk Space to Complete the System BIOS and Device Firmware Update Operation

Seeing the error message “There is not enough free disk space to complete the System BIOS and Device Firmware update operation” on your Windows PC usually appears when you are trying to install an important firmware or BIOS update. This issue commonly appears on laptops and desktops from manufacturers like Dell Technologies, HP Inc., Lenovo, and ASUS during BIOS or firmware installation.

In this guide, I will explain several methods to fix the issue step by step on Windows 11 and Windows 10 computers.

Table of Contents

Why does this error appear on Windows?

When your computer installs a BIOS or firmware update, Windows temporarily stores update packages, extracted files, logs, and installation data on the system drive. Most of these files are saved inside the C: drive and system reserved partitions.

If your storage is almost full, Windows cannot complete the preparation process required for the update. As a result, you may see messages like:

“Not enough disk space”

“There is not enough free disk space to complete the System BIOS and Device Firmware update operation.”

“Firmware update failed due to insufficient storage.”

This issue can happen because of several reasons, including:

Low storage space on the C: drive
Large temporary update files
Full EFI System Partition
Too many unnecessary applications
Corrupted Windows Update cache
Large files are stored in the Downloads or Desktop folders

Before you begin the fixes below, it is recommended to create a backup of important files because BIOS-related operations are critical system tasks.

There is not enough free disk space to complete the System BIOS and Device Firmware update operation [Fix]

To fix the “There is not enough free disk space to complete the System BIOS and Device Firmware update operation” error in Windows 11 or Windows 10, free up storage space on the system drive, delete temporary files, empty the Recycle Bin, run Disk Cleanup, and make sure the EFI System Partition has enough available space. You can also uninstall unnecessary apps, move large files to another drive, or expand the EFI partition using Disk Management or Command Prompt tools. After clearing sufficient space, restart the computer and try the BIOS or firmware update again.

Step 1: Check Available Disk Space on Your PC

The first thing you should do is check how much free storage space is available on your computer. BIOS and firmware updates often require several gigabytes of free storage for temporary installation files.

On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.

On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.

Under the main storage section, you will see the amount of free space available on the Local Disk (C:) drive. If your system drive has less than 10 GB of free space, you should free up additional storage immediately.

You should also review the categories listed under storage usage. Windows normally show sections such as:

Apps and features
Temporary files
Documents
Pictures
Videos
Other

This helps you identify what is consuming the most space on your computer.

If you notice extremely low storage space, continue with the methods below to clear unnecessary files and make room for the BIOS update process.

Step 2: Run Disk Cleanup to Remove Unnecessary Files

The built-in Disk Cleanup utility can quickly remove temporary files, cached data, and unnecessary system files from Windows.

To open Disk Cleanup, go to Start > Search > Disk Cleanup and open the app.

When prompted, select the C: drive and click OK.

Windows will calculate how much space can be freed. After the scan finishes, check the following options carefully:

Temporary Internet Files
Downloaded Program Files
Delivery Optimization Files
Temporary Files
Thumbnails
Recycle Bin
DirectX Shader Cache
Windows Error Reports

Next, click Clean up system files. This option performs a deeper cleanup and can remove old update files that consume several gigabytes of storage.

After the second scan finishes, select additional categories such as:

Windows Update Cleanup
Previous Windows Installations
Device Driver Packages
Temporary Windows Installation Files

Click OK, then select Delete Files.

The cleanup process may take several minutes, depending on the amount of stored data. Once finished, restart your computer and check the available disk space again.

Many users can fix the BIOS update storage error simply by running Disk Cleanup.

Step 3: Delete Temporary Files Manually

Temporary files stored by Windows and applications can slowly fill your storage over time. Removing them manually can free additional disk space.

Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Type the following command and press Enter:

temp

This opens the temporary files folder.

Press Ctrl + A to select all files, then press Delete. Skip any files that are currently in use.

Next, open the Run dialog box again and type:

%temp%

Press Enter.

Delete the files inside this folder as well.

Now repeat the process once more and type:

prefetch

Press Enter and remove the contents of the folder if allowed.

These folders contain cached temporary files created by apps, installers, browsers, and Windows services. Removing them can free several gigabytes of space.

After deleting the files, restart the computer before attempting the BIOS or firmware update again.

Step 4: Empty the Recycle Bin

Many users forget that deleted files continue to occupy storage space until the Recycle Bin is emptied.

Go to your desktop and double-click the Recycle Bin icon.

Review the files if needed, then click Empty Recycle Bin from the top toolbar.

Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Large deleted files, such as videos, ISO files, installers, and backup folders, can consume significant storage space inside the Recycle Bin.

Once the bin is emptied, Windows immediately recovers the available disk space.

Step 5: Uninstall Programs You No Longer Use

Unused applications, games, editing software, and development tools can occupy large amounts of storage space.

To remove unnecessary programs in Windows 11, go to:

Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps

In Windows 10, go to:

Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features

Sort the installed applications by size to identify the largest programs.

Click the unnecessary app and choose Uninstall.

You should especially remove:

Unused games
Old antivirus software
Large video editing programs
Duplicate applications
Unused virtual machines
Outdated backup tools

After uninstalling programs, restart your computer to complete the cleanup process.

This method is especially helpful if your system drive has become overloaded over time.

Step 6: Move Large Files to Another Drive or External Storage

Personal files like videos, photos, downloads, and backups often consume most of the storage on the C: drive.

Open File Explorer and check folders such as:

Downloads
Desktop
Documents
Videos
Pictures

If you find large files that are not immediately needed, move them to:

An external hard drive
A USB flash drive
Another internal drive
Cloud storage

To move files, right-click the item and choose Cut, then paste it into another storage location.

You can also use cloud services from companies like Microsoft or Google to store files online temporarily.

Freeing even a few gigabytes can help Windows complete the firmware update successfully.

Step 7: Clear the Windows Update Cache

Corrupted or oversized Windows Update files can sometimes trigger firmware installation problems.

To clear the Windows Update cache, first stop the update services.

Go to Start > Search > Command Prompt > Run as administrator.

Type the following commands one at a time and press Enter after each command:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

Next, open File Explorer and go to:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Delete all files and folders inside the SoftwareDistribution folder.

After that, return to the Command Prompt and restart the services using these commands:

net start wuauserv
net start bits

Restart your PC after completing the process.

This clears old update cache files and forces Windows to create fresh update data.

Step 8: Extend the EFI System Partition

Some BIOS or firmware updates require additional space inside the EFI System Partition. If the partition is too small, the update may fail even if the main C: drive has free space available.

This method is more advanced, so follow the steps carefully.

Press Windows + X and select Disk Management.

Look for the partition labeled EFI System Partition. It is usually between 100 MB and 300 MB in size.

If the partition is almost full or unusually small, you may need to extend it using partition management software.

You can use tools from companies like AOMEI Technology or MiniTool Software Ltd. to safely resize partitions.

Before modifying partitions:

Back up important files
Do not interrupt the resizing process
Keep your laptop connected to power

After expanding the EFI partition, restart your computer and retry the BIOS update.

Step 9: Use Storage Sense for Automatic Cleanup

Windows includes a feature called Storage Sense that automatically removes unnecessary files.

To enable it in Windows 11, go to:

Start > Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense

In Windows 10, go to:

Start > Settings > System > Storage > Configure Storage Sense or run it now

Turn on Storage Sense.

You can configure Windows to automatically remove:

Temporary files
Recycle Bin files
Downloads folder files
Cloud synced unused files

Click Run Storage Sense now to perform an immediate cleanup.

This helps maintain healthy storage space and prevents future firmware update errors.

Step 10: Retry the BIOS or Firmware Update

After freeing enough storage space, you can retry the BIOS or firmware update process.

Before starting the update:

Close all running applications
Connect your laptop charger
Disable unnecessary background software
Ensure your internet connection is stable

If the update was downloaded from your manufacturer’s support tool, reopen the utility and restart the installation process.

Some popular firmware update tools include software from Dell Technologies, Lenovo, HP Inc., and ASUSTeK Computer Inc..

The update should now install normally without displaying the low disk space error.

Additional Tips to Prevent BIOS Update Storage Errors

Keeping your system optimized can help avoid firmware installation problems in the future.

Regularly remove unnecessary files from the Downloads folder.
Keep at least 15 GB to 20 GB of free storage available on the system drive.
Avoid storing large video files directly on the desktop.
Run Disk Cleanup once every few weeks.
Enable Storage Sense for automatic maintenance.
Remove unused applications and games periodically.
Use external storage for large backups and media files.

These small habits can significantly improve Windows performance and update reliability.

FAQs

How much free disk space is required for a BIOS update?

The required space varies depending on the manufacturer and firmware package size. In most cases, having at least 10 GB to 20 GB of free storage on the C: drive is recommended.

Can low disk space stop a BIOS update?

Yes. BIOS and firmware updates require temporary working space during extraction and installation. Insufficient storage can interrupt or completely block the update process.

Is it safe to delete temporary files in Windows?

Yes. Temporary files are generally safe to remove because they are created for short-term use by Windows and applications.

What happens if a BIOS update fails?

A failed BIOS update can cause boot problems or system instability. That is why you should ensure sufficient storage space, stable power, and proper update procedures before starting the installation.

Can I use an external drive instead of freeing space on C:?

In some cases, moving large personal files to an external drive can help free enough space on the C: drive for the update to complete successfully.

Why does the error still appear after freeing storage?

The issue may be related to the EFI System Partition rather than the main storage drive. Expanding the EFI partition or clearing Windows Update cache files may resolve the problem.