Folder Size in Windows Explorer

[Duckling]

"Windows Explorer, by default, doesn’t show the size of the folder when you opt for the ‘Details’ view. This is one of the little things that users will find lacking in Windows Explorer."

I tried some 3rd party programs for this but, they didn't work with 7.

Anyone figure out how to display this information.

 

[Brink]

Hello Duckling,

Yeah, this has been removed since Vista. It has to do with how long it would take to calculate all of the folder sizes and displaying them in Windows Explorer. To see an example of this, right click on the C:\Windows folder and click on Properties. Take note on how long it takes to calculate just this one folder and all of it's subfolders in the boxed in red area of the screenshot below. Now, imagine that multiplied by how many folders that may be in a Windows Explorer window. It could give you a minute delay after before you would be able to anything in that Windows Explorer window.

​

This tutorial will show you a workaround for this using the pop-up description.

Folder Size - Vista Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Antman]

Alt + Enter is one option.

 

[Lordbob75]

7 Windows Explorer Addons for Power Users

Here is a link to a site that has some programs you could try.

~Lordbob

 

[Antman]

7 Windows Explorer Addons for Power Users

Here is a link to a site that has some programs you could try.

~Lordbob

Folder Size for Windows 2.4
Known issues

• Doesn't work in 64-bit Windows, XP or Vista. I guess it needs to be built as a 64-bit DLL. But I don't have a 64-bit CPU yet. Anyone wanna donate me a 64-bit machine?
• Doesn't work on a substituted drive (for example, subst m: c:\stuff).
• Doesn't work with XDrive or WebDAV. Folder Size only works with files that can be accessed with a path name.
• Doesn't work on a substituted drive (for example, subst m: c:\stuff).
• Doesn't work with Vista.
• Someone reported some kind of conflict with 3D Studio Max.
• Someone reported that Explorer crashed after installing Folder Size.
• The service can use a lot of memory. The path names are stored inefficiently in memory. This is on the list for the next version.
• I think the automatic updating works for Windows shares, but not Linux Samba servers. There's no way to get it to manually update, so the cache becomes out-of-date. Need to do some debugging.
• All local users will see the full sizes of all local folders, even if they are denied permission to view their contents. The folder size service does the caching, and it runs with SYSTEM permissions, which can typically view every folder. You can deny SYSTEM permission to a folder to stop Folder Size from scanning it. Ideally, it would display different numbers for different users, depending on their permissions. Note that this is not a problem for network folders – the server computer lets you know what folders you have permission to see.
• It crashes when I log in with Remote Desktop and share folders.

 

[Lordbob75]

7 Windows Explorer Addons for Power Users

Here is a link to a site that has some programs you could try.

~Lordbob

Folder Size for Windows 2.4
Known issues

• Doesn't work in 64-bit Windows, XP or Vista. I guess it needs to be built as a 64-bit DLL. But I don't have a 64-bit CPU yet. Anyone wanna donate me a 64-bit machine?
• Doesn't work on a substituted drive (for example, subst m: c:\stuff).
• Doesn't work with XDrive or WebDAV. Folder Size only works with files that can be accessed with a path name.
• Doesn't work on a substituted drive (for example, subst m: c:\stuff).
• Doesn't work with Vista.
• Someone reported some kind of conflict with 3D Studio Max.
• Someone reported that Explorer crashed after installing Folder Size.
• The service can use a lot of memory. The path names are stored inefficiently in memory. This is on the list for the next version.
• I think the automatic updating works for Windows shares, but not Linux Samba servers. There's no way to get it to manually update, so the cache becomes out-of-date. Need to do some debugging.
• All local users will see the full sizes of all local folders, even if they are denied permission to view their contents. The folder size service does the caching, and it runs with SYSTEM permissions, which can typically view every folder. You can deny SYSTEM permission to a folder to stop Folder Size from scanning it. Ideally, it would display different numbers for different users, depending on their permissions. Note that this is not a problem for network folders – the server computer lets you know what folders you have permission to see.
• It crashes when I log in with Remote Desktop and share folders.

Ah well. I did not look at the site very carefully.

~Lordbob

 

[Duckling]

Shoot

 

[logicearth]

Maybe I'm missing it, but what version of Windows calculated folder sizes in details view? I haven't used details view much until Vista, XP is not giving sizes for folders. Also...I'm too lazy to install any VMs (98, 2000) at the moment...

Anyways its better to be left ondemand (properties) and not constant (details view), otherwise performance would take a hit.

 

[BleepingCrazy]

Redux alert! But is there a way to view the folder sizes (details view) in win7 64-bit? (not using the folder properties popup as that's singular and not practical when looking at 50+ folders, etc)

I've installed the latest folder size, service is running but doesn't seem to work.

 

[EphesiansSIx]

Here are some free standalone workarounds. They'll work for occasional checking / maintenance and require a scan before working each time, but of course a built-in WE column would be best. Come on MS...

The four free programs:
Folder Size by MindGems
Treesize Classic Disk Analyzer
Free Disk Analyzer by Extensoft
Glary Utilities Disk Analysis

Found at:
Windows7Themes (Article 1)
Windows7Themes (Article 2)

 

[DeaconFrost]

Another option would be to use the portable, or installed, version of WinDirStat. It will give you an overview of all folders on a drive, and the space the consume. You can even alter the view to show by file type.

 

[BleepingCrazy]

Nice one Deacon! It's the most similar to foldersize me thinks! (loving the fact that you can click the graph and jump to the next largest file, etc)

The best one I found was the great and free "Scanner 2" (works great on win7 x32/x64)
Windows Freeware by Steffen Gerlach

It's very light and fast and you can see graphically what's taking up the most space and where...options to open/delete, etc.

 

[grifter]

foldersize was always a must install for me
i've been using overdisk Elias Fotinis OverDisk :: Visualize Folder Size Allocation since vista

 

[nicklarse]

ExplorerXP

I use it mainly for renaming batches of files linked to framemaker documents but it also displays folder sizes and allows for tabbed folder windows. It's working fine for me under win 7 pro 64bit.

...and the price is right =)

ExplorerXP - Freeware file manager for Win2K/XP

[FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica]ExplorerXP is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non - commercial use) file manager for Windows 2000/XP. Unlike the regular Windows Explorer, it displays the total size of each folder and allows you to browse multiple folders from a tabbed interface.[/FONT]

 

[logicearth]

i dont mean to bump but..

hear our pleas oh great microsoft .. add a folder size option

There already is one. Hover over the folder for the tooltip or go to properties.

 

[lehnerus2000]

FreeCommander

FreeCommander file manager can show folder sizes.

Click on thumbnail to see animation.


Note:
Window shown in horizontal split mode.
Vertical split mode can also be used.

 

[issicus]

have ether of you ever use a mac? well i want it to be like that. not some third party app or checking each folder...

 

[lehnerus2000]

Windows 8 Beta

Anyways its better to be left ondemand (properties) and not constant (details view), otherwise performance would take a hit.

A possible option would be to put an entry in "Desktop.ini", when you open the folder or save a file to a folder.
It could easily update that info whilst it's indexing.

have ether of you ever use a mac? well i want it to be like that. not some third party app or checking each folder...

Not since the original B/W Macintosh.

You'll have to complain about it (or suggest it) to MS during the Windows 8 Beta tests.

IMO, Window Explorer has always only been "adequate" for file management.

I only use FreeCommander when I want to do something "tricky", like mass file renaming.

 

[BleepingCrazy]

When I need to check folder sizes, usually I'm thinking about what's using the most space. So a great utility I've been using for a long time now is "OverDisk" (it has a context menu option).

Great tool, and only when I need it.

 

[logicearth]

Shouldn't a modern OS be able to update in realtime the "index" of folder sizes and to resize icons in file manager accordingly?

If it did, then you would then be complaining how performance sucks. The file system only keeps track of information it needs. Folders are not files in Windows, merely entries in the MFT. Updating an entire tree of folders with "file size" every time it changes is COSTLY. Not to mention inaccurate.

See: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2004/12/28/336219.aspx
See: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2007/10/29/5750353.aspx
See: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2009/02/17/9426787.aspx