If your windows computer has reached its capacity, you may find yourself slowing down, booting longer, and unable to install software anymore. One of the best and simple methods to clear diskspace is by using an utility software called Disk Cleanup. Here in this blog post, you will see what Disk Cleanup is, how to use it, and advanced techniques to free up even more space.
What Is Disk Cleanup?
Disk Cleanup is an unpaid tool in Microsoft
Windows that deletes unnecessary files and frees up disk space. Examples
include:
●
Temporary Internet files
●
System error memory dump files
●
Old Windows updates
●
Recycle Bin contents
●
Thumbnails and cached files
It's free, easy to use, and comes preinstalled on
all Windows versions from Windows 98 onward including Windows 10 and Windows
11.
When Should You Use Disk Cleanup?
1. When
You're Running Low on Disk Space
If you see a "Low Disk Space" flashing
on the task bar or File Explorer, it's time to do some work. When your hard
drive, and particularly the system drive (in most cases, C:), is next to full,
Windows can’t function 100%. Low space
delays the ability to install updates, run programs, and cache necessary data.
Why it matters:
Insufficient disk space does not merely prevent you from
saving files; it can lead to program crashes, system crashes, and overall slow
performance.
2. When
Your PC Is Slow or Slowing Down Over Time
Over time, your PC fills up with clutter log files, old drivers, residual update files, and cached thumbnails. These files can build up silently in the background and drag down performance, particularly on systems with constrained RAM or storage.
Why it
matters:
A drive can slow down boot times, hinder file
searching, and waste resources that could be used to execute your programs.
Executing Disk Cleanup can assist in cleaning up system processes and
eliminating digital "trash" that's bogging down your system.
3. Prior
to Installing Large Software or Major Windows Updates
Installing major Windows updates (like feature
upgrades or service packs), large applications (such as Adobe Creative Suite,
games, or virtualization software), or driver packages requires significant
free space. If your system lacks room, installations may fail or cause
instability.
Why it
matters:
Disk Cleanup empties space to allow for successful
installation and prevents failed updates or damaged installations.
Additionally, getting rid of the old Windows update files and delivery
optimization caches creates space for new versions without contention.
4. As a
Part of Regular PC Maintenance
Just like your home or automobile, your PC needs
regular maintenance. Even if your system seems to be in good health, operating
Disk Cleanup on a monthly or quarterly basis avoids problems before they
happen.
Why it
matters:
System and temporary files accumulate over the
long term and occupy gigabytes of space. Keeping Disk Cleanup on your list of
maintenance tasks keeps your system faster and cleaner and prevents
eleventh-hour scrambles for room when you need it the most.
5. Post
Uninstalling Large Programs or Games
Software uninstallation does not always delete all
the associated files. Game saves data, cached files, logs, and leftover folders
have a tendency to remain after uninstalls.
Why it
matters:
Disk Cleanup helps you remove the leftovers
behind, reclaiming space that would otherwise be missed. This is especially
useful after the removal of huge games or productivity packages.
How to Access Disk Cleanup in Windows
There are several ways to launch Disk Cleanup.
Below are the most common methods:
Method 1: Using Search
1.
Click the Start menu.
2.
Look for the “Disk Cleanup” in
the search bar.
3.
Go for the Disk Cleanup app from
the search results.
Method 2: Using Run
Command
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2.
Type cleanmgr and hit Enter.
Method 3: Via File
Explorer
1.
Open File Explorer.
2.
Right-click the C: drive (or
another drive).
3. Select Properties.
4.
Click Disk Cleanup under the
General tab.
Step-by-Step: How to Use Disk Cleanup
Once you open the Disk Cleanup tool, follow these
steps:
Step 1: Select the Drive
●
Choose the drive you want to
clean (typically C:) and click OK.
● Disk Cleanup has the function to drive to calculate how much space can be freed.
Step 2:
Select the files you want to Delete
Once the scan is done, you’ll see a list of file
categories with selectable list format. These may include:
|
File Type |
What It Is |
Safe to Delete? |
|
Downloaded Program Files |
ActiveX controls and
Java applets |
Yes |
|
Temporary Internet Files |
Cached website data |
Yes |
|
Delivery Optimization
Files |
Windows update data
shared across PCs |
Yes |
|
Recycle Bin |
Deleted files waiting to
be permanently removed |
Yes (if emptied) |
|
System Error Memory Dump
Files |
Files from system
crashes |
Yes |
|
Temporary Files |
Files used temporarily
by apps |
Yes |
|
Thumbnails |
Previews of pictures,
videos, and documents |
Yes |
Tip: Hover over each option to read a description
in the dialog box before deleting.
Step 3:
Click “OK” and Confirm
●
Look for the files you wish to
delete, click OK.
●
Click Delete Files to complete
the action.
Disk Cleanup will delete the selected files. This
can take time based on size and number of files.
Advanced Cleanup: Clean Up System Files:
Like to try something more, you can look for the "Clean up system files" option in Disk Cleanup.
Steps to do it:
1.
After opening Disk Cleanup, click
“Clean up system files”.
2.
Choose your drive again (usually
C:).
3.
Wait for the tool to rescan the
drive.
4.
You'll now see additional options
like:
○
Previous Windows installations
○
Windows Update Cleanup
○
System restores and shadow copies
|
Advanced Option |
What It Does |
Safe to Delete? |
|
Windows Update Cleanup |
Removes old versions of updates |
Yes |
|
Previous Windows Installations |
Deletes backup files from prior Windows versions |
Yes, if you don't plan to roll back |
|
Device Driver Packages |
Removes old versions of hardware drivers |
Yes |
|
System Restore and Shadow Copies |
Deletes all but the most recent restore point |
Yes, but you’ll lose rollback options |
Caution: Only delete “Previous
Windows Installations” if you’re certain you won’t need to roll back to a prior
version.
Automating Disk Cleanup with Task Scheduler:
Want to schedule regular cleanups? You can
automate Disk Cleanup using Task Scheduler.
Steps:
1.
Open Task Scheduler (Search >
Task Scheduler).
2.
Click Create Basic Task.
3.
Name your task (e.g., “Monthly
Disk Cleanup”).
4.
Set a trigger (e.g., monthly).
5.
Choose Start a program as the
action.
6.
In the “Program/script” box,
enter: cleanmgr
7.
Click Finish to schedule.
This keeps your system clean without manual
effort.
Additional
Tips to Free Up Space:
1. Remove
Unused Programs
Search Settings - Apps - Installed Apps, sort apps by size, and remove programs you do not use.
2. Utilize Storage Sense
Windows 10/11 comes with the feature of Storage
Sense that on its own deletes temporary files.
Go to Settings - System - Storage - Storage Sense
to set it up.
3. Clear Downloads Folder
Most of the large files are stored here and left untouched. Manually verify and remove unwanted files.
4.
Utilize External Storage
Transfer big files such as (photos, videos, music)
to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
5. Clear
Browser Cache
Chrome, Edge, and Firefox cache data. Clear this
in each browser's Privacy - Clear browsing data option.
When Disk Cleanup Isn’t Enough
If Disk Cleanup doesn’t recover enough space:
●
Use tools like CCleaner to find large files.
●
Change the storage drive or
upgrade to an SSD for optimum performance.
●
Transfer personal files to cloud
storage services like OneDrive or Google Drive.
FAQ
●
Is
it okay to use Disk Cleanup's "Clean up system files" feature?
Answer: Yes, it is safe. This thing deletes old
system files such as earlier Windows installations or Windows Update caches.
But if you just downloaded a new version or might need to check to an earlier
version, you may want to hold off before deleting these files.
●
What
is Disk Cleanup and why should I use it?
Answer: Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility that
helps you in deleting trash files on your computer, such as temporary files,
system cache, and Recycle Bin items. Running it from time to time can make your
system run better and save storage space.
●
How
frequently should I run Disk Cleanup?
Answer: For next level performance, a monthly run
of Disk Cleanup is a good thing to do. If you do lots of installation and
uninstallation of programs or download big files, you should do it frequently.
Final Thoughts:
Using Disk Cleanup regularly is a simple yet
powerful way to maintain your PC’s performance and free up valuable disk space.
Combined with a few other best practices, this tool can keep your system
running efficiently without the need for third-party utilities. Whether you're
a casual user or a power user, making Disk Cleanup part of your routine can
help you avoid storage headaches and system slowdowns.
If you have any doubt related this post, let me know