Scanner for Windows

Quick summary: what this utility does

Scanner is a free, lightweight disk-usage utility created by Steffen Gerlach. It scans your drives and presents how space is distributed across folders using a colored sunburst (concentric-circle) chart. The program is portable — unzip and run the executable — and is designed to use minimal system resources while showing which files and directories occupy the most space.

Why Windows’ default tools can be limiting

Windows offers several simple ways to view storage information: right-click Properties on a folder, check sizes in File Explorer under This PC, or review program sizes via Control Panel → Uninstall a Program. These methods work for basic checks, but they don’t provide a clear, detailed visual breakdown of how space is allocated among nested folders. The built-in pie graphic for a drive only separates “Used” and “Free” space, so it won’t reveal the relative sizes of individual folders or files. For that kind of visual analysis, a dedicated disk analyzer like Scanner is useful.

Main capabilities

• Portable and lightweight: runs without installation after extracting its ZIP archive.
• Visual sunburst chart: shows directory structure as colored concentric rings for quick visual comparison.
• Hover details: move the pointer over a segment to see folder path, total size and file count.
• Drive-specific scanning: schedule or run automatic scans on selected local drives.
• Quick access to system uninstall: one-click link to the Add/Remove Programs control panel.
• Interactive zooming: magnify chart segments to inspect deep folder levels.
• Basic file-management actions: open file locations and uninstall applications directly from the interface.

Drawbacks and missing advanced tools

• No comprehensive exportable reports: the app doesn’t produce full statistical reports you can print or share.
• Limited advanced features: Scanner deliberately avoids resource-heavy operations, so it won’t replace full-featured disk-management suites.
• Focused scope: it’s intended strictly for disk-space visualization and light management, not broader system diagnostics.

Final impression

Scanner is an efficient, no-fuss option if your goal is to visualize how disk space is being used and quickly find large folders or files. It shines for its portability and minimal system overhead, and it includes handy conveniences like uninstall shortcuts and quick path opening. If you need printable reports or more in-depth analysis tools, however, you’ll want a more feature-rich alternative.

Learn more

For additional details or to try the tool, look up Scanner by Steffen Gerlach to download the portable package and review its documentation.