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I was compressing a folder of 24gb, I was going by 8% when I closed the window, when I checked my free space, I had 20gb less, how can I get back those gb?
Try restarting your PC. When compressing, the Windows API creates the compressed version as a new copy, and schedules removal of the uncompressed data for later. Restarting should force this to happen.
If that doesn't work, open the folder in Explorer, open Windows Terminal in that folder and type compact /exe /u /s /f to force uncompression on the folder. Then restart again.
Yeah, I intentionally interrumped the procces, I have done all you said, i dont know where the fuck are those gb. I tried cmd commands, windirstat, restart etc
Any luck after some time? Windows handles the actual compression and storage of file data so it's not something I can fix. I know some other people have had luck using an AlternateDataStream viewer to find and delete the hidden compressed data, maybe try that?
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Iridium-IO commentedon Oct 18, 2026
Does that mean you interrupted the process?
compact /exe /u /s /fto force uncompression on the folder. Then restart again.Calabrettos commentedon Oct 19, 2026
Yeah, I intentionally interrumped the procces, I have done all you said, i dont know where the fuck are those gb. I tried cmd commands, windirstat, restart etc
Iridium-IO commentedon Oct 24, 2026
Any luck after some time? Windows handles the actual compression and storage of file data so it's not something I can fix. I know some other people have had luck using an AlternateDataStream viewer to find and delete the hidden compressed data, maybe try that?