While memory dump files are useful for troubleshooting, they can take up a significant amount of disk space over time, especially on systems that experience multiple crashes. If the system is running normally and the dump files are no longer needed, deleting them can help free up storage space. This article explains several ways to delete memory dump files in Windows.
Is It Safe to Delete System Error Memory Dump Files
These files are only created after an error occurs and are not used by Windows during normal operation. Deleting them will not affect system performance, stability, or the ability to boot your computer.
The only downside? You’ll lose the historical crash records. If your computer has been blue-screening frequently and you plan to have a technician diagnose the issue, you might want to keep the most recent dump file for analysis. Otherwise, feel free to delete them—Windows will simply generate a new dump file the next time a serious error occurs.
Method 1. Delete Dump Files Using Disk Cleanup
Windows includes a built-in cleanup tool that can remove unnecessary system files, including memory dump files.
Step 1. Open Disk Cleanup
Press Win + S, type Disk Cleanup, and select it from the search results.
Step 2. Clean Up System Files
Choose the system drive (usually C:), then click OK. After Disk Cleanup finishes scanning, click Clean up system files and select the C Drive again.
Step 3. Check and Clean Memory Dump Files
In the list of files, check the box next to System error memory dump files (and optionally System error minidump files), then click OK.
Method 2: Delete Dump Files Using Command Prompt
If you're comfortable with the command line, this method is very quick and direct.
Step 1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Press Windows + S, search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
Step 2. Delete the Memory Dump File
Type the following command and press Enter to delete main Memory Dump files:
del /f /s /q %systemroot%\memory.dmp
Type the following command and press Enter to delete Small Memory Dump Files:
del /f /s /q %systemroot%\minidump\*.dmp
Method 3: Delete Memory Dump Files Using Wise Care 365
Wise Care 365 provides an easy way to find and remove unnecessary memory dump files through its System Cleaner feature. It can help recover disk space by cleaning system junk files while allowing users to choose which items to remove.
Step 1. Download and Install Wise Care 365
Download and install Wise Wise Care 365 from the official website.
Step 2. Open System Cleaner
Launch Wise Care 365 and click the System Cleaner tab from the top menu.
Step 3. Select Memory Dump Files
- In System Cleaner, select Common Cleaner from the left panel. Under Files in Computer, expand the Windows System category.
- Find and check the Memory Dump Files option. You can also select other unnecessary system files if needed, such as temp files or cache files.
Step 4. Scan for Memory Dump Files
Click the Scan button in the upper-right corner. Wise Care 365 will analyze the selected categories and display the amount of space that can be cleaned.
Step 5. Clean Memory Dump Files
After the scan is complete, review the results and click Clean to remove the selected memory dump files. Once the cleanup finishes, the deleted dump files will no longer occupy disk space.
Conclusion
Memory dump files are valuable for diagnosing Windows crashes, but they can consume several gigabytes of storage over time. Regularly reviewing and deleting unnecessary memory dump files can help maintain available disk space while keeping your Windows system running efficiently.
