How to Remove Crash Dump Files on Windows

What Causes This?

Crash dump files are created when Windows or an app crashes and saves memory data for troubleshooting. These files can build up over time, especially on PCs that have had blue screens, driver problems, failed updates, or repeated app crashes. Windows does not always remove old dump files automatically, so they can sit in system folders and take up several gigabytes of storage.

Common Symptoms

• Your C: drive keeps losing free space for no obvious reason
• Disk Cleanup shows large amounts of space used by “System error memory dump files”
• You find files like MEMORY.DMP or .dmp files in Windows folders
• Windows warns that storage is running low
• The PC has a history of blue screen crashes or system instability

How to Fix It Manually

1. Delete crash dump files with Disk Cleanup

   • Press Windows + S, type Disk Cleanup, then open it.
   • Select your C: drive and click OK.
   • Click Clean up system files.
   • Select C: again if prompted.
   • In the list, check:
     • System error memory dump files
     • System error minidump files
     • Temporary files if you want to free more space
   • Click OK, then click Delete Files.

2. Check for a large MEMORY.DMP file

   • Open File Explorer with Windows + E.
   • Go to C:\Windows.
   • Look for a file named MEMORY.DMP.
   • If it is present and you no longer need it for troubleshooting, right-click it and choose Delete.
   • If Windows asks for admin permission, click Continue.

3. Remove minidump files manually

   • In File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\Minidump.
   • If you see .dmp files there, select the old ones or press Ctrl + A to select all.
   • Press Delete.
   • Empty the Recycle Bin afterward to fully reclaim the space.

4. Use Storage settings to clean system files

   • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
   • Go to System > Storage.
   • Click Temporary files.
   • Check entries related to error reporting, dump files, or temporary system files if listed.
   • Click Remove files.

5. Make sure your PC is stable before deleting recent dumps

   • If your computer recently had a blue screen or repeated crashes, it may be worth keeping the newest dump file until the problem is fixed.
   • Dump files can help identify bad drivers, failing hardware, or software conflicts.
   • Once the issue is resolved, you can safely remove the old files.

6. Optional: Reduce future dump file size

   • Press Windows + S, type Advanced system settings, and open View advanced system settings.
   • Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings.
   • In Write debugging information, choose Small memory dump (256 KB) instead of a larger option if you want Windows to save smaller crash logs.
   • Click OK to save the change.

Fix It Automatically with Kudu

Kudu can scan your system for crash dump files, temporary system junk, and other storage-wasting leftovers that Windows often misses. Instead of checking multiple folders and cleanup tools by hand, you can let Kudu find safe-to-remove files and clear them in a few clicks.

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