Disk cleanup in Windows - Microsoft Support (2024)

FAQs

Does Windows have a Disk Cleanup tool? ›

In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, and select Disk Cleanup from the list of results. Select the drive you want to clean up, and then select OK. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of. To get a description of the file type, select it.

Is it safe to delete all the files suggested by Disk Cleanup? In general, it is safe to delete the files suggested by Disk Cleanup. The utility is designed to identify and remove unnecessary files that are safe to delete without causing any harm to your system.

The Disk Cleanup tool clears unnecessary files in a Windows Server environment.

How often should I run Disk Cleanup to keep my computer running smoothly? Running Disk Cleanup once every few months or when you notice your computer slowing down due to storage issues.

Disk Cleanup's purpose is to free up storage space by deleting unnecessary files. On the other hand, Disk Defragmentation is a process that ensures your files are stored contiguously in order to optimize system performance.

In the April 2018 Windows Update, Microsoft deprecated the Disk Cleanup utility and replaced it with the Storage Sense tool, which searches a computer hard drive for files the operating system doesn't need. Here's how to use it. Select Start > Settings or press Win+I to open Windows settings.

As a best practice, the IT team at CAL Business Solutions recommends that our Dynamics GP, Acumatica and Cavallo SalesPad partners perform a disk cleanup at least once a month. This will delete temporary files, empty the Recycle Bin and remove a variety of files and other items that are no longer needed.

You may think that deleting these files will release a lot of free space on your disk. It's not a good idea to delete Windows ESD Installation Files. The Windows ESD installation files are related to the "Reset this PC" feature. They enable you to restore your computer to factory settings.

Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows utility that deletes temporary files on Windows by scanning your whole drive. It'll locate your Windows 11 or 10 temp folder, and other temp file storage locations, then clear them out alongside other junk taking up valuable space.

Yes, you can automate Disk Cleanup to run on a regular schedule.

Does Disk Cleanup delete all files? ›

If you want to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your hard disk to free up disk space and help your computer run faster, use Disk Cleanup. It removes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of system files and other items that you no longer need.

You can start the Disk Cleanup tool by running cleanmgr.exe, or by selecting Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.

Step 1: Run built-in Windows disk cleanup tools. From time immemorial, Windows has included a utility for cleaning up disk space — namely, Disk Cleanup, also known as cleanmgr.exe.

No, defragmentation does not delete files. The process only reorganizes existing data on your hard drive. However, it's always a good idea to back up important files before performing any major system maintenance, including defragmentation.

According to a survey, the issue often occurs if there are not enough permissions to access Disk Cleanup. In addition, corrupted or missing system files, faulty user accounts, and improper user account control settings are also responsible for the Disk Cleanup option missing.

Modern versions of Windows often handle defragmentation automatically, so you might not need to do it manually as frequently. However, checking the optimization schedule and running a manual defrag if necessary can help ensure your computer runs efficiently.

Disable startup programs: Open Task Manager and go to the Startup tab. Disable any unnecessary programs that are set to start automatically when you log in. Clean up your hard drive: Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files, system files, and other unnecessary data from your hard drive.

Free up space with Disk Cleanup

If your system doesn't have Storage Sense, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete temporary files and system files from your device. In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, then select it from the results. Select the drive you want to clean up files for, then select OK.