If you’re getting ready to download or update Genshin Impact on your Windows PC in 2026, the first question you’re probably asking is how many gb is genshin impact on pc to make sure you have enough space left on your drive. After years of new regions, character banners, event content, and graphical overhauls, HoYoverse’s open-world RPG has grown a lot since its initial 2020 launch, and the 2026 version includes far more content than most casual players expect. I’ve reinstalled the game four times across three different PCs in the last year alone, so I’ve got the latest, most accurate numbers for both base installs and extra content you might need to account for. We’ll also cover common reasons your install might be bigger than the official listed size, and easy fixes to cut down on used space without losing your save data.
How Many GB is Genshin Impact on PC in 2026? Official Base File Size
HoYoverse lists the official minimum storage requirement for the 2026 global PC version at 98 GB for the standard global version, but that number only applies to a fresh install with only one voice pack and standard texture settings enabled. If you opt for the 4K ultra HD texture pack for high-end RTX 40 and 50 series GPUs, that adds an extra 8 GB to the base install, bringing the total to 106 GB right off the bat. Regional versions do have small differences too: the Chinese mainland version has slightly different content restrictions and pre-loaded local event files, so it’s usually 2-3 GB larger than the global version.
It’s also important to note that the installation process requires temporary space to unpack files, so even if the final install is 98 GB, you can’t start the download if you only have 98 GB free. You will need at least 115 GB of free space to install and run the 2026 version of Genshin Impact smoothly, even if the base file size is listed at 98 GB. If you have less than that, you’ll get an error mid-install, and you’ll have to free up space before you can try again, which is a huge pain if you’ve already waited hours for the download to finish. If you use multiple voice packs, you’ll need even more space, as each additional voice pack adds between 3 and 4 GB to your total install size.
Common Reasons Your Genshin Impact Install Is Larger Than Expected
If you’re seeing a file size way higher than the answer to how many gb is genshin impact on pc that we listed above, one of these factors is almost always the cause. I ran into this exact issue last month when my Genshin install hit 132 GB, way larger than the official size, and these were the main culprits I found when I dug into my game folder:
When I cleaned up my install, I found 11 GB of old patch files and 7 GB of cached cutscenes from 2025 events I’d already played, so clearing those cut my file size down by nearly 20 GB in 10 minutes. You don’t have to do a deep dive of your files every month, but checking for these extra files every few months will save you a lot of storage space long-term.
Tips to Reduce Genshin Impact PC Storage Usage in 2026
You don’t have to delete other games or buy a new drive just to make room for Genshin updates, there are plenty of easy fixes to cut down your install size without affecting your gameplay experience. The first and most effective tip is to do a clean reinstall once a year. All your save data is stored on HoYoverse’s servers, so you won’t lose any progress, and a clean install will automatically delete all outdated patch files, cached content, and duplicate texture packs that have built up over time. It takes a couple of hours to redownload the game, but it’s the easiest way to get your install size back down to the official 98 GB base size.
Another quick fix is to delete unused voice packs. Most players only use one or two voice packs, but the game will automatically download all four by default if you don’t adjust your settings. You can delete unused voice packs directly in the game’s language settings menu, and each one you remove will free up 3-4 GB of space. If you only play with English voice acting, removing the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese voice packs will free up 10 GB almost instantly, with zero impact on your gameplay.
You won’t notice any visual difference between the standard texture pack and 4K pack if you’re playing on a 1080p or 1440p monitor, so disabling it is an easy way to save space with no downside. The 4K texture pack is only useful if you’re playing on a 4K or 8K display, so if you’re using a standard 1080p gaming monitor, turning it off will save you 8 GB of space with no drop in visual quality. You can also clear cached cutscenes every 3 months in the game’s storage settings menu, which lets you delete old event cutscenes you’ve already watched without touching main story cutscenes that are part of the core game files.
Future Storage Requirements for Genshin Impact PC (Late 2026 to 2027)
HoYoverse has already announced that the remaining parts of the Teyvat storyline will roll out through late 2027, with each major version update adding 3-5 GB of new content. That means by the end of 2026, when the 5.8 version drops with the final area of Snezhnaya, the base install size will likely hit 110 GB, with recommended free space of 130 GB. The studio has also teased a new open-world co-op endgame mode scheduled for late 2026, which is expected to add another 5-7 GB of content to the base install.
Plan for an extra 10-15 GB of storage space per year for Genshin Impact updates if you intend to keep playing through the end of the Teyvat storyline. If you’re tight on space right now, it’s a good idea to pick up a cheap 2TB SATA SSD, which costs less than $70 in 2026 and will give you more than enough space for Genshin and all your other games for the next few years. You don’t need to install Genshin on a high-end NVMe drive either, as the game runs perfectly fine on a standard SATA SSD, so you can save your faster, more expensive NVMe space for more demanding games that benefit from faster load times.
At the end of the day, knowing how many gb is genshin impact on pc in 2026 makes it easy to plan your storage space and avoid annoying last-minute download errors when a new update drops. The official 98 GB base size is manageable for most modern PCs, and with the simple storage-saving tips we covered, you can easily cut that down by 10-20 GB if you’re tight on space. I’ve used these exact steps to keep my install under 90 GB for the last six months, even with all the new 2026 content, so you don’t have to delete your favorite games just to make room for the next Genshin update. If you have any other questions about PC performance or storage for Genshin, drop a comment below and I’ll help you out.