Operation Not Supported with Reserved Storage Enabled

The error typically arises when attempting to disable Reserved Storage or executing an operation that interferes with the Windows Reserved Storage feature.

The full error message states:

This operation is not supported when reserved storage is in use. Please wait for any servicing operations to complete and then try again later.

Reserved Storage is a Windows feature that allocates disk space for updates, applications, temporary files, and system caches. This reservation ensures that your PC has sufficient storage to execute updates and other crucial operations, preventing potential storage-related issues that may lead to failed updates or reduced system performance.

This operation is not supported when reserved storage is in use

The error message ‘This operation is not supported when reserved storage is in use‘ is generally not a serious issue. It serves as an informational message indicating that a specific operation cannot be carried out at this time due to Windows utilizing Reserved Storage.

However, if the error persists and hinders essential tasks, it needs to be promptly addressed. Consider the following solutions:

1. Wait for the update or system operation to conclude
2. Pause Windows Updates
3. Attempt to disable reserved storage in Safe Mode
4. Run Disk Cleanup

Let us explore these solutions in detail.

1] Wait for the update or system operation to complete

When Windows is using Reserved Storage for an update or other system-related tasks, it may create a temporary obstruction.

To check for ongoing updates, access the Windows Update section by pressing Win + I and selecting Windows Updates. If updates are in progress, you’ll see a status message indicating the ongoing activity (e.g., ‘Downloading updates’, ‘Installing updates’, etc.).

For system operations, open Task Manager, go to the Processes tab, and look for processes consuming high CPU, memory, or disk resources. Switch to the Services tab to examine the status of system services (sort by ‘Status’ to identify running services).

The process of completing Windows updates might vary from a few minutes to an hour, depending on update size and system performance. Other operations, such as disk cleanup or background maintenance, generally complete in a few minutes.

It’s advisable to simply wait until Windows finishes the update or system task. Once completed, the block will be lifted, allowing you to proceed with your intended operation without any hindrances.

2] Pause Windows Updates

You can temporarily halt pending Windows updates by pausing them in Windows Settings. This prevents Windows from utilizing reserved storage or additional disk space for update files during the pause. If an update is currently installing, it is best to allow it to complete to avoid potential issues, including system corruption.

To pause updates, navigate to Settings > Windows Update, and click on Pause for 1 week next to Pause updates.

After pausing updates, retry the operation you were trying to perform and check if the error persists. You can resume updates by clicking the Resume updates button on the Settings page.

3] Attempt to disable Reserved storage in Safe Mode

If the error appears while trying to disable Reserved Storage, it implies that reserved storage is actively engaged in essential system operations. The system prevents changes to reserved storage to avoid interfering with tasks relying on it, which could lead to instability or other significant issues.

To resolve this, try disabling reserved storage in Safe Mode.

Press Win + R, type msconfig in the Run dialogue, and press Enter. In the System Configuration window, navigate to the Boot tab, check Safe boot, and select Minimal. Click Apply > OK and restart your computer to boot into Safe Mode.

Then, attempt to disable Reserved Storage using the DISM command.

Booting into Safe Mode reduces the chances of reserved storage being actively in use, enhancing your ability to disable it effectively.

4] Run Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility designed to remove unnecessary files. Running Disk Cleanup can free up considerable disk space, enabling Windows to manage operations like updates and file storage more effectively, potentially preventing or resolving errors associated with reserved storage.

To run Disk Cleanup, press the Windows key, type Disk Cleanup, and select the app. Choose the drive (typically the C: drive), select the files to delete, and then click OK.

I hope these solutions help.

How do I disable Reserved storage in DISM?

To disable Reserved Storage in Windows using the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM), open Command Prompt as an administrator and execute the following command: DISM.exe /Online /Set-ReservedStorageState /State:Disabled. After executing the command, restart your computer to apply the changes. You can confirm that Reserved Storage is disabled by running the DISM.exe /Online /Get-ReservedStorageState command.

Should you disable Reserved storage?

You may choose to disable reserved storage in Windows 11/10 if you are critically low on disk space and need immediate space or if you need to carry out a specific task and can re-enable it later. However, it’s generally advisable to keep reserved storage enabled to ensure that critical updates and system maintenance tasks always have sufficient resources.

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