WinDirStat

ApplicationWinDirStat team

Also called win dir stat, windirstat treemap

WinDirStat teamSystem

A classic treemap disk-usage tool. The process is windirstat.exe. It is slower than WizTree on NTFS. It is not WizTree.

What you need to know

WinDirStat is the classic folder walk. WizTree is the faster NTFS MFT map.

WinDirStat draws a treemap by walking directories. Get it from windirstat.net. On NTFS, WizTree is usually quicker because it reads the MFT. TreeSize is JAM's paid family.

What is it?: A classic disk-usage treemap
Same as WizTree?: No. WizTree reads the NTFS MFT
Why is it slower?: It walks folders instead of the MFT

Feex says

If you want the classic treemap and you are not in a hurry, WinDirStat is fine. If the volume is NTFS and you want the map now, I would open WizTree instead.

What is WinDirStat?

WinDirStat walks the directory tree and draws a treemap. windirstat.exe is the window. WizTree64.exe reads the MFT first. TreeSize.exe is JAM Software.

If you have never used it

If you want a colored treemap of disk use, WinDirStat is the classic free scanner. Download it from windirstat.net. It walks folders, so it feels slower than WizTree on NTFS. It is not WizTree, not TreeSize, and not Storage Sense.

What is it used for?

See a treemap of the drive

Colored blocks are folders and files. WizTree also draws a treemap after a faster NTFS read.

Clean from the list after you look

Delete with care. TreeSize paid adds reports. WinDirStat is the classic free walk.

Scan a folder, not only a whole drive

Pick a path. That walk is why a huge tree takes time. WizTree's MFT shortcut is the other method.

Who is it for?

People who learned "WinDirStat" as the disk-map name
Users who do not want a JAM license
Anyone comparing speed with WizTree on NTFS

Current status

WinDirStat (2003) is a current disk space analyzer from WinDirStat team. The vendor still points Windows users at https://windirstat.net/.

How old is it?

WinDirStat started in 2003. WizTree (2016) is the faster NTFS MFT reader. TreeSize (1996) is JAM's product. Current WinDirStat still ships from windirstat.net and GitHub.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Windows install

GitHub current builds

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows 10 or Windows 11, per current windirstat.net / GitHub Windows builds
RAM	Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand: Rises while walking the tree
Disk demand: Lots of metadata reads

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
windirstat.exe	Treemap window

Startup components

WinDirStat should not start with Windows.

File locations

Common WinDirStat locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files\WinDirStat\

File formats

It reads the file system. Exports vary by version

Common problems

Scan feels stuck on a huge drive

It is walking every folder. WizTree's MFT read is the faster NTFS alternative, not a WinDirStat crash.

Old third-party installer

windirstat.net and the GitHub org are official. A "WinDirStat Pro" ad is not the team.

Getting unstuck

Download from windirstat.net

WizTree is at diskanalyzer.com if you wanted the MFT tool. TreeSize is at jam-software.com.

Run as administrator if Program Files looks tiny

Access denied hides size. That is permissions, not a missing WizTree install.

Let the walk finish before you quote a number

Partial maps lie. WizTree finishes the first NTFS pass sooner.

Alternatives

WizTree for fast NTFS. TreeSize for JAM reports. Storage Sense does not draw this treemap.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	windirstat.net/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	github.com/windirstat/windirstat Vendor support
Official site	windirstat.net/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

The walk reads metadata from the drive you pick. An HDD makes the walk feel slower.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

WinDirStat official site · Vendor product page
WinDirStat help · Vendor support
WinDirStat GitHub · Current source and releases
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.