This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
So I was told that I can use the storage on an external hard drive to update Windows 10, which would make sense. I even saw on other Windows Community Forums that it is possible, however there aren't any tutorials or anything online that I could find. I've tried but the update page tells me I need more space, I really hope I didn't waste money on an external hard drive, it would have taken 3 weeks for an internal. So if it is possible to use the space on the hard drive to update Windows please guide me through.
Thank you.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hi Adam,
There will be an option to use an external drive to temporarily extend the storage space of your computer while the update is being installed if your device doesn't have enough space for the update. We recommend that you check this article as a guide on how to use an external storage device to install updates for your Windows 10.
Let us know whenever you need further assistance.
I also get the same error but the the update downloads with the External Hard drive successfully, but when it is busy on the Install it gets to 41% and then the Windows needs more space message pops up, and the device has a tick and when you click on refresh button nothing happens:
So the steps work and it starts updating but midway through it cancels and tells me to free up more space. I already have the external hard drive conected
Its hilarious this is still an issue. Microsoft peddles pure trash now days.
I wonder how many Macbooks this has helped to sell. I know of at least 3.
You can literally ignore any links or advise MS moderators give you as they all are beyond outdated methods that either don't or never worked, or don't even exist.
I have 4 empty ext HDDs, all over 500g, all recognized by windows when used for any other application. to this day I have yet to have been able to get my machine to recognize any of them for the update. the "update assistant" doesn't even respond when I click "free up space".
this update was flawed trash that literally only worked for maybe half the windows users at best and MS knew it. It was released with pure lazy and malicious intent forcing users to pay more to upgrade and buy a quickly becoming obsolete product before MS is reduced purely to xbox users. At this point buying a laptop or an even less desirable desktop is dwindling down to very specific users like gamers or maybe video editors (although Ive always heard Mac was way better for editing).
The fact is if you cant/haven't updated by now, your machine probably cant and it is just a matter of time before it is officially a brick.
I suggest when you make your forced upgrade NOT purchasing another MS driven product. There are plenty of alternatives out there, just be sure to do your research first.
Hi Adam,
There will be an option to use an external drive to temporarily extend the storage space of your computer while the update is being installed if your device doesn't have enough space for the update. We recommend that you check this article as a guide on how to use an external storage device to install updates for your Windows 10.
Let us know whenever you need further assistance.
I've tried that solution before to help out people who didn't know better than to buy machines with 30gb HDDs. It's pretty buggy and unreliable, but it *can* work.
