Storage management has always been a big challenge for Xbox gamers, especially those who use Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X. Looking at the size of games today, many titles go above 100GB, and if you have an Xbox Series S (512GB variant), the storage starts getting full after installing just 3-4 games. In such a situation, Microsoft has introduced a very useful feature in the May 2025 Xbox Update—”Smart Storage Management”, which helps to automatically optimize your console’s storage. So if you dealing with low storage issue, here’s what you can do now.
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How does this new feature work?
Accessing this feature is very easy. Go to the Xbox dashboard and go to “My games and apps”, then select the “Free up space” option in the “Manage” section. Here, your console will automatically scan and find three types of unnecessary files and make suggestions and based on these recommendations you can clean up the storage. These 3 type of files are:
1. Duplicate game copies – Sometimes two versions of the same game (such as Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S) get installed due to Smart Delivery or backward compatibility. For example, if both versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are available, this feature will suggest keeping only the optimized Series X|S version.
2. Unused add-ons – Many times we install DLC or expansion packs, but later delete the main game. In such a case, this feature recommends removing those useless add-ons. For example, if you installed an expansion of Destiny 2, but are not playing the game anymore, it will ask you to delete it.
3. Games that can no longer be accessed – This feature identifies games that have been removed from Xbox Game Pass, expired trials, or games that cannot be played due to the end of the subscription. For example, Remnant 2 is removed from Game Pass by the end of May 2025, so if it is installed on your console, it will suggest removing it.
These are very useful storage management tips and by implementing them you can clean your Xbox game storage and use that space to install new games.
Why is it important for users?
1. Overcoming storage shortage – This feature is proving to be a boon for Xbox Series S users. The 512GB model has only 360GB of usable space left after system files, which is insufficient for today’s big games (like Avowed or DOOM: The Dark Ages) having size around 100GB per game.
2. Saving time through automation – Earlier users had to manually check storage and find duplicate files, which was very time-consuming. Now this feature automates everything and suggest you do delete these file.
3. Integration with cloud gaming – If a game is removed from Game Pass, this feature allows you to stream it via cloud gaming (for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers), saving storage.
User feedback and some precautions
This feature has received a lot of positive response in the Xbox community, especially from Series S users. However, some people have asked for a little more customization in it, such as the option to sort by file size. At the same time, some precautions should also be taken and these are:
Do not accidentally delete important files – Before deleting DLC or games, check once that you are not deleting any important content.
Compatibility with external storage – Currently this feature works best on most internal SSDs. If you use an external hard drive or Seagate storage expansion card, then some manual management may have to be done.
What other upgrades can come in the future?
Microsoft is working on making this feature even smarter. In the future, it might automatically delete unused DLC or integrate better with cloud saves. For now, this update brings a big relief to Xbox users, allowing them to manage their storage without any hassle. So if you are also struggling with space on your Xbox, then definitely try this new Smart Storage feature!
Source: support.xbox.com, news.xbox.com
