Find Storage Used by a Particular File Extension

Short answer: An extension filter helps locate a type of file, but does not verify its contents.

By DiskAnalyzer editorial resource · Published 2026-10-05 · Documentation reviewed 2026-10-05

When this guide is useful

For recorded footage, separate originals, proxies and final exports by directory. They can share an extension while having different retention requirements and different replacement costs.

Recommended workflow

Choose the folder or drive scope.
Filter for the extension you need.
Review full paths.
Check a sample in its normal application.

Limits and precautions

Files can have misleading extensions; do not trust the suffix alone.

Keep a useful record

Record the drive or folder, scan time, application version and the measurement you used. Keep observations separate from proposed changes. If a result leads to a cleanup, record the file owner, backup status and actual free-space change. This makes the result easier to review and helps explain differences in a later scan.

Quick review checklist

Question	What to record
What did you inspect?	The exact volume or folder, not just the PC name.
What action is justified?	Check a sample in its normal application.
What could go wrong?	Files can have misleading extensions; do not trust the suffix alone.

Next steps

If the result is unclear, preserve the current report and narrow the investigation to one folder or application. Make one approved change at a time, then repeat the relevant measurement. Avoid presenting a predicted saving as a measured outcome.

Sources and verification

Prepared from public documentation and practical storage-audit reasoning. No hands-on Windows test or independent binary inspection was performed for this publication. Menu names and package requirements can change; check the developer documentation for your installed version.