How to Check Storage and Uninstall Games on Xbox Series X|S
To check storage on Xbox Series X|S, press the Xbox button and go to Profile & system > Settings > System > Storage devices. Each drive shows how much space is used and free. To uninstall a game, open My games & apps, highlight the game, press the Menu button, and choose Uninstall.
Uninstalling does not delete the game from your account. Microsoft says your license and your saved progress stay in the cloud, so you can reinstall later and pick up where you left off.
Check how much space you have
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select Profile & system > Settings > System > Storage devices.
- Look at the graphic for each drive. It shows the percent used and the free space.
A quicker view: open My games & apps > See all and look for the All storage meter in the bottom left corner.
Do not expect to see the full 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB free, even on a new console. Microsoft keeps some space for the system and saves.
Uninstall a game
- On the Storage devices screen, select a drive, then View contents. This shows how much space each game uses.
- Highlight the game you want to remove.
- Press the Menu button and select Uninstall.
To remove only part of a game, like an add-on, choose Manage game and add-ons, uncheck the items you don’t want, and select Save changes.
Let Xbox suggest what to remove
The Free up space screen lists games you can remove in one go:
- Go to My games & apps > See all.
- Select Manage > Free up space.
- Pick games and select Remove selected.
Xbox may suggest add-ons for games you no longer have installed, games installed twice on different drives, or games that left Game Pass. You can turn suggestions off and sort by install size or last time used instead.
Other ways to make room
| Option | Where | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Clear local saved games | Settings > System > Storage | Removes saves from the console; they stay in the cloud |
| Move to USB drive | Manage game and add-ons > Move or copy | Frees internal space without a re-download later |
| Storage Expansion Card | Slot on the back of the console | Adds 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB that can play Series X|S games |
Before clearing local saves, make sure you have been online recently. Microsoft says playing offline can leave your cloud saves out of sync.
Get ready for a big download
Check free space a few days before a big release, not on launch night. Compare it with the size in our GTA 6 file size guide, then follow the preload guide once preloading opens.
FAQ
Will I lose my saves if I uninstall a game?
No. Microsoft says saved data syncs online and comes back when you reinstall, as long as you have been connected to Xbox network.
Do I need to buy the game again after uninstalling?
No. Your license stays with your account in the cloud.
Why is my free space less than the console size?
Some of the drive is reserved for saved games, console software, and system functions.
Do add-ons listed in a game take up space?
Not all. Microsoft says items listed under Add-ons that do not need to be downloaded do not use console storage.
Sources: Xbox Support: Manage storage, Xbox Support: Storage Expansion Card