For a visual step-by-step guide, kindly refer to the video above, or you can watch the video on YouTube by clicking here: How to Use Windows Disk Cleanup Step-by-Step Guide, we show you how to do this.
What’s the ultimate frustration? It’s a slow computer. Nobody wants to deal with their PC being sluggish, regardless of if it’s a gamer, creative professional, or someone who needs to get things done. On Michael’s Digital World, I always want technology to serve its purpose, and today, we are going to talk about the main issue that makes your PC so slow – clutter.
In my previous video titled “How to Use Windows Disk Cleanup Step-by-Step Guide“, you can watch in detail how to use Windows Disk Cleanup to help make some room in your PC and make your Windows 10/11 system more efficient.
Why Your PC is Slowing Down
It seems that as time passes by, Windows ends up accumulating a lot of unnecessary files. These include the temporary files of the operating system itself, and others like files created during the installation of updates. Of course, on their own, they do not seem like much, but soon enough they end up occupying too much space on your hard drive. As a result, booting up becomes slow and tedious.
If you want to Use Windows Disk Cleanup, here are the steps to follow:
The Step-by-Step Guide to Use Windows Disk Cleanup
For those who would prefer to watch the video and visualise everything that will be said in this article, please see the video guide. Otherwise, I am more than happy to continue my explanation below.
1. Getting Started with Disk Cleanup
An easy way to begin the process is to press Windows Key + S to bring up the search bar and type in “Disk Cleanup.“
2. The Pro Tip: Run it as an Admin
Once the Disk Cleanup application comes up as one of the results, do not go ahead and open the program. Instead, right-click on it and click “Run as administrator.” While this might seem unnecessary, it actually makes a huge difference. By doing so, you give the application permission to search through all the system files – including the ones from Windows updates – that it could not access before.
3. Getting a Handle on Your Files
As soon as the tool finishes the analysis, you will see the list of file types that take up space on your PC, such as Temporary Files, Windows Update Cleanup, Downloaded Program Files, Recycle Bin.
In general, the tool gives you a very clear picture of how much space you can really release. Tens of gigabytes of free space for some people, which is a lot.
4. That One Important Thing to Consider
However, there is one but important thing to remember before you start to delete the files. Namely, if you select the deletion of Windows Update files, you will not be able to return to the previous version of Windows. If you had no problems with the new updates, then you can go ahead and delete these files.
5. The Final Step: Cleaning House
Firstly, make sure to uncheck the file types you don’t want to delete. If you still browse the Recycle Bin, it’s better to leave it as it is now. Then press OK and delete the files.
The Result
Once it is all finished, your computer will seem like it is brand new – lively and ready to go. It’s an easy form of computer care that makes a big difference.
FAQ
Can I delete all files in Disk Cleanup?
Yes, almost all of it! Windows will show all of the files which can be safely deleted using this utility. That said, I always advise verifying the options for “Recycle Bin” and “Downloads.”
How often should I run Disk Cleanup?
Once a month is a perfect time interval between using Disk Cleanup for the majority of users. If you regularly download large files or install new programs, twice a month is a better choice.
Does Disk Cleanup remove any of my private pictures or documents?
Not at all. This utility will clean only the system-related files, the files saved during internet browsing, and cache files. It will never clean your folders such as “Documents,” “Pictures,” or “Music.”
What are the distinctions between “Disk Cleanup” and “Storage Sense?
Disk Cleanup is the traditional and manual way that we talked about in the video, while Storage Sense is an additional feature in Windows 10 and 11 that can perform this task automatically. But as for me, I’d recommend using the manual tool!
Why is my computer still slow after running the cleanup?
Even though Disk Cleanup is a powerful way of speeding up your computer, it is also possible that the reason for the slowdown is related to having too many programs open in the startup mode or outdated drivers of the PC, as well as hardware issues such as failure of your hard drive. So, if this guide didn’t work out, just stay subscribed to this channel for other tutorials!
Pro tip: If there is still a lot of “junk” occupying your PC, then you’ve probably forgotten the “Run as Administrator” part that I talked about in my video: How to Use Windows Disk Cleanup Step-by-Step Guide
