Over time, your Windows PC accumulates unnecessary files that take up valuable storage space, including system files, temporary files, and cached data. If your computer’s storage is getting full and slowing down, Disk Cleanup is a useful tool that can help you free up space and improve your system’s performance. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of using Disk Cleanup to remove these unnecessary files in Windows.
What is Disk Cleanup?
Disk Cleanup is a built-in utility in Windows designed to help you reclaim hard drive space by deleting temporary files, system files, and other items that are no longer needed. This tool can help improve your computer’s speed, especially if your hard drive is running low on space.
While Windows automatically manages some temporary files, you can manually clean up more files using Disk Cleanup for a more thorough cleanup.
How to Access and Use Disk Cleanup
Step 1: Open Disk Cleanup Tool
There are a couple of ways to open Disk Cleanup on your Windows PC:
Option 1: Via the Start Menu
- Click on the Start button or press the Windows key.
- Type Disk Cleanup into the search bar.
- Select the Disk Cleanup app from the search results.
Option 2: Via the Run Dialog
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type cleanmgr and press Enter. This will launch the Disk Cleanup tool.
Step 2: Select the Drive to Clean
Once the Disk Cleanup tool opens, you’ll be prompted to choose which drive you want to clean. Typically, you’ll want to clean your C: drive, which is where your system files are stored.
- In the Drive Selection window, select the C: drive (or the drive you want to clean).
- Click OK. Disk Cleanup will take a few moments to calculate how much space you can free up by cleaning the selected drive.
Step 3: Select Files to Delete
After the tool has finished scanning, you’ll see a list of file categories that can be deleted. Some of the most common categories include:
- Temporary files: Files that are used by applications and the operating system that no longer serve any purpose.
- System error memory dump files: Created when Windows crashes. These files can be quite large and are usually unnecessary after you’ve resolved the issue.
- Downloaded Program Files: Files downloaded automatically by Internet Explorer (or Edge) for ActiveX controls, which are usually no longer needed.
- Recycle Bin: Files that are deleted from your computer but are still in the Recycle Bin and can be permanently removed.
- Temporary Internet Files: Cached files from websites you’ve visited. Clearing these can free up significant space.
- Windows Update Cleanup: Old Windows Update files that can be deleted after an update has been successfully installed. These can take up several gigabytes of space.
- System Files: Files related to system restore points or previous installations.
To delete files from these categories, check the boxes next to the items you want to remove. For most users, it’s safe to delete the following:
- Temporary files
- Recycle Bin
- Temporary Internet Files
- Windows Update Cleanup
Note: If you see the option for System Files or Previous Windows Installations, be cautious about deleting these if you may need to restore your system or revert to a previous version of Windows.
Step 4: Clean Up System Files (Optional)
To get a more thorough cleanup, you can clean up system files:
- Click on the Clean up system files button at the bottom of the Disk Cleanup window.
- You may be prompted to select the drive again (choose C: drive).
- After a short wait, you’ll be presented with additional file categories, such as:
- System Restore and Shadow Copies: You can delete old restore points and shadow copies that are no longer needed.
- Windows Upgrade Log Files: If you’ve recently upgraded to a new version of Windows, these files may be taking up space.
Check the boxes for the files you want to delete, but be mindful of System Restore and Previous Windows Installations — these can be helpful if you need to troubleshoot or restore your system later.
Step 5: Confirm and Start Cleanup
Once you’ve selected the files you want to delete, click OK to proceed. Disk Cleanup will prompt you with a warning that these files will be permanently deleted. Confirm by clicking Delete Files.
The cleanup process may take several minutes, depending on the size of the files being deleted and the speed of your hard drive. Once the cleanup is complete, you’ll have more free space on your PC.
How to Automate Disk Cleanup (Optional)
If you’d like to automate Disk Cleanup to run periodically, you can use Task Scheduler to set up regular cleanups.
Step 1: Open Task Scheduler
- Type Task Scheduler into the Windows search bar and open the app.
Step 2: Create a New Task
- In Task Scheduler, click on Create Basic Task from the right pane.
- Name your task (e.g., Disk Cleanup) and click Next.
Step 3: Set the Schedule
- Choose a schedule (daily, weekly, monthly) and set the time for when the cleanup should occur.
Step 4: Set the Action
- Select Start a Program and click Next.
- In the Program/script box, type cleanmgr.
- Click Next and then Finish.
Your PC will now run Disk Cleanup automatically according to the schedule you’ve set.
Additional Tips for Freeing Up Space
- Uninstall Unnecessary Programs: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and remove programs you no longer use.
- Delete Large Files: Use File Explorer to search for large files that you may not need. You can do this by typing size:>1GB in the search bar to locate files over 1 GB.
- Use Storage Sense (Windows 10/11): In the Settings > System > Storage section, you can enable Storage Sense, which automatically deletes temporary files and content from the Recycle Bin.
Conclusion
Disk Cleanup is a simple yet powerful tool to help you reclaim valuable storage space on your Windows PC. By regularly removing unnecessary files, you can keep your system running efficiently and avoid slowdowns caused by a full hard drive. Whether you’re freeing up space manually or scheduling automatic cleanups, Disk Cleanup is an essential tool in maintaining your PC’s performance.