Windows 11 keeps compressing files in the C: drive? How do I stop Windows from automatically compressing files? This problem usually happens when your PC is running out of disk space. In this tutorial we’ll show you 4 methods to disable file compression in Windows 11 / 10.
Method 1: Disable File Compression Using Group Policy
Open Local Group Policy Editor and browse to: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Filesystem\NTFS
. On the right pane, double-click the policy “Do not allow compression on all NTFS volumes“.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/do-not-allow-ntfs-compression.png)
Select the Enabled option. Click Apply and then OK.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/disable-compression-on-ntfs-volume.png)
Reboot your computer to make the changes take effect. The next time you try to enable file compression, you’ll get the error message “Compression is disabled for this volume“.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/compression-is-disable-for-this-volume.png)
Method 2: Disable File Compression Using Registry Editor
Open Registry Editor and navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies
. In the right pane, right-click the blank area and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/new-dword-2.png)
Name the newly-created DWORD NtfsDisableCompression, and then change its value data to 1 for turning off automatic file compression.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ntfs-disable-compression.png)
Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the changes.
Method 3: Disable File Compression Using Command Prompt
Open the Command Prompt as administrator and then run this command to disable file compression:
fsutil behavior set disablecompression 1
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/disable-file-compression-cmd.png)
A reboot is required for this change to take effect. Whenever you need to enable file compression again, execute the following command:
fsutil behavior set disablecompression 0
Method 4: Uncompress Your Files in File Explorer
Right-click a compressed folder or file in File Explorer, and then select Properties from the context menu.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/properties-menu.png)
Under the General tab, click the Advanced button.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/advanced.png)
In the Advanced Attributes dialog, uncheck the box which says “Compress content to save disk space“. Click OK.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/compress-or-encrypt-attributes.png)
When you’re back to the Properties dialog, click Apply. A pop-up will appear, and you can choose “Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files” and click OK.
![](https://www.top-password.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/uncompress-files.png)
After uncompressing, two blue arrows will no longer show up in the icons of your folders or files.