Maximizing Disk Space: A Comprehensive Guide to Disk Cleanup

What is Disk Cleanup Used For?

Disk Cleanup is a computer maintenance utility included with Microsoft Windows systems that allow users to free up disk space on their computers by deleting unnecessary files. It performs several important tasks, such as removing temporary Internet files, emptying the Recycle Bin, and clearing out various system log and error report files.

Running Disk Cleanup regularly helps keep your computer running faster by freeing up valuable disk space. It also keeps your system secure, eliminating any potentially sensitive data stored in these folders.

To ensure that the Disk Cleanup process is as easy and secure as possible, it is important to read through the descriptions of each item before removing them from your computer. This will help ensure you don’t accidentally delete important data or system components.

• See Also: How to Easily Clear Temporary Cache Files in Windows 10

How to Perform Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is performed for various reasons. It could be a corrupted file or folder or lack of storage space, i.e., junk of system files, unnecessary files, etc., creating a burden on the hard disk. It could be settled by performing a disk cleanup window, which would clean up system files and other file types. Here is how you can run disk cleanup.

Step 1: Launch file explorer from the windows main menu. Type file explorer in the taskbar’s search box and double-click the option to launch the menu. In file explorer, navigate to drive C. Right-click the drive to select properties from the context menu.

Step 2: Move to the general tab in the properties window and click the disk cleanup button. Click ok to continue.

Step 3: From the following pop-up window, select all targeted files to be deleted under the section of files to delete and click ok to continue.

Step 4: In the UAC, click delete files to confirm the action. Click ok to continue. This will safely delete all old files other than system files.

Step 5: For deleting system files, repeat steps 1 and 2. In the general tab, click disk cleanup and select clean up system files in the following pop-up window.

Step 6: Select all targeted system files and click ok to continue. In the UAC, click delete files to confirm the action. Click ok to finish disk cleanup. It will complete the disk cleanup action.

Disk Cleanup via Drive Properties

Now disk cleanup action, a dire necessity to maintain the health of your hard drive, can be performed from various sources. For deleting unwanted files/essential files, one can always prefer to use the option of drive properties. Here is how you can use drive properties to run Windows disk cleanup.

Step 1: Launch file manager from windows key+ E shortcut keys via keyboard. It will launch the file manager menu. In the menu, navigate to the option of this PC in the left pane.

Step 2: In This PC window, navigate to drive C. Right-click the drive to select properties from the context menu.

Step 2: Move to the general tab in the properties window and click the disk cleanup button. Click ok to continue.

Step 3: From the following pop-up window, select all targeted files to be deleted under the section of files to delete and click ok to continue.

Step 4: In the user account control pop-up, click delete files to confirm the action. Click ok to continue. It will safely delete all selected files.

Disk Cleanup using Run Utility

Like the drive properties option, one can perform the disk cleanup for deleting program files to free up disk space via the command line, i.e., run utility. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch the Run utility via the keyboard’s windows key+ R shortcut keys.

Step 2: In the run command box, type cleanmgr/VERYLOWDISK and click ok to continue. Once the command runs successfully, you will get a message of free space in a user account control pop-up.

Disk Cleanup by Enabling Storage Sense

Windows 10 provides an automated feature for managing the storage on the hard drive. It acts as a disk cleanup tool that can be scheduled. Storage sense is a disk cleanup utility that automatically helps delete large files. Here is how you can activate the option of storage sense on your device.

Step 1: Launch windows settings from the main menu. Type settings in the taskbar’s search box and double-click the option to launch the menu.

Step 2: In the settings menu, click the option of the system. In the system menu, select storage from the left pane.

Step 3: In the store window, move to the option of storage sense. Toggle the storage sense on and click configure.

Step 4: In the next window, select the mode under the option of run storage sense, i.e., during low disk space, followed by selecting the duration under the option of delete files in my recycle bin if they have been there for over and check the box for option delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using.

Disk Cleanup by Removing Temporary Files

Temporary files burden the hard drive, depleting the space for other essential functions. In this context, disk cleanup should be performed to remove temporary files. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch windows settings from the main menu.Right-click the windows icon and double-click the gear icon for launching the settings menu.

Step 2: In the settings menu, click the option of the system followed by selecting storage from the left pane.

Step 3: In the next window, select the files under the section of temporary files and click remove files to complete the action.

Frequently Asked Questions About Disk Cleanup