Disk Usage Analyzer

Even though disk space is becoming less of a concern, it doesn’t mean your PC can’t easily get filled with files and folders which summed up eat a lot of space. Simple analysis can be easily performed through Windows features, but if you want more details, Disk Usage Analyzer is the kind of app to use.

The application stores all of its features in a classic window frame, which is initially empty until you choose the directory to scan. Unfortunately, this needs to be done through the application browse dialog, because drag and drop is not supported, nor does it integrate itself into the context menu for instant analysis.

You’re free to select either a custom, suspiciously large folder, or an entire drive to have a thorough analysis made. Surprisingly enough, it roughly takes several seconds for the application to gather the info it needs.

One of the two panes is used to show the list of directories found in the source, with the possibility to extend them for exploring more roots. Size is shown next to the folder name, so you get an idea how much they take up. The value is displayed with approximation, with no decimals and no option to configure them.

Selecting a directory from the list shows all containing files in the other panel. However, the list of details is rather poor, showing only name and size. What’s more, the size value can get difficult to read, because thousand delimiters aren’t implemented. Management is reduced to deleting files, and this can only be done one file at a time.

All things considered, we come to the conclusion that Disk Usage Analyzer comes with good intentions, but doesn’t quite manage to deliver the depth of info you’re expecting to find. Speed at which analysis is done poses as one of its few advantages, but the general layout and poor display of details can make you look for alternatives.