Quick answers
If Disk Cleanup is not working, some common issues are:
- You don’t have administrator privileges to run Disk Cleanup
- The drive you are trying to clean up is almost full
- System files are locked or in use
- The disk contains errors or bad sectors
- Temporary files are constantly being recreated
If Disk Cleanup is repeatedly not freeing up disk space as expected, potential solutions include:
- Running Disk Cleanup as an admin
- Cleaning up other disks besides C:
- Emptying the Recycle Bin first
- Stopping active programs and services
- Uninstalling unneeded programs
- Deleting cached and temporary files manually
- Using the Disk Cleanup tool in Safe Mode
- Running chkdsk to check for disk errors
- Disabling or closing background apps and processes
- Deleting System Restore points and shadow copies
- Removing Windows updates
If Disk Cleanup still doesn’t work, more advanced fixes like using the command line, reinstalling Windows, or formatting the drive may be required.
What is Disk Cleanup?
Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows tool that frees up disk space by deleting unnecessary and redundant files. It removes temporary internet files, downloads, Recycle Bin contents, temporary Windows files, old System Restore points, and various system cache and log files. Disk Cleanup aims to get rid of files that are not essential for the system to run properly.
Disk Cleanup can be accessed a few different ways:
- Searching for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start Menu
- Right-clicking the C: drive and selecting “Properties” then the “Disk Cleanup” button
- Going to Storage Settings and clicking “Storage Sense” then “Free up space now”
Running Disk Cleanup regularly helps keep your system running smoothly by clearing out clutter and ensuring adequate free disk space.
Why might Disk Cleanup not work properly?
There are a number of reasons why Disk Cleanup may fail to free up disk space as expected:
Lack of admin privileges
Disk Cleanup requires administrator rights to delete protected system files. If you run it as a standard user, you may get access denied errors and have limited ability to clean up your drive.
Drive is nearly full
If your disk is almost completely full, Disk Cleanup may not be able to adequately clear space. It requires a minimum amount of free space to move files around and perform the cleanup.
Locked system files
Some OS and program files may be in use or locked while the system is running, preventing Disk Cleanup from removing them.
Constantly recreated temp files
Apps like web browsers often generate temporary internet files that get remade soon after Delete Temporary Files is run.
Errors or bad sectors
Disk errors or physical bad sectors can prevent Disk Cleanup from fully accessing or writing to the drive to remove files.
Cleaning wrong disk
If you accidentally run Disk Cleanup on a data drive instead of the C: system disk, it will have limited ability to find and remove files.
Third-party apps
Some third party system utilities may interfere with built-in Windows tools like Disk Cleanup.
System Restore
If System Restore is set to use a high amount of disk space for restore points, Disk Cleanup will have limited space to work with.
How to make Disk Cleanup work
If Disk Cleanup is not freeing up space as expected, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue:
Run as administrator
Be sure to open Disk Cleanup by right-clicking and selecting “Run as administrator.” This grants full access to delete protected system files.
Clean different disks
Try running Disk Cleanup on other partitions besides just C:, like D: or E:, which may have more removable files.
Empty the Recycle Bin first
Manually delete all files from the Recycle Bin before running Disk Cleanup.
Close open programs and services
Shut down any active apps using system resources that may have locked files preventing removal.
| Application | How to Close |
|---|---|
| Web browser | Close all tabs and windows |
| Microsoft Office | Click File > Close for any open documents |
| Windows Media Player | Click Player > Exit |
| Windows Defender | Pauase protection |
Uninstall unused programs
Completely uninstall any apps you no longer use to clear their files.
Delete temporary files manually
Browse to locations containing temp files such as C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Temp to manually delete them.
Run Disk Cleanup in Safe Mode
Restart your PC and boot into Safe Mode, then run Disk Cleanup to access locked files.
Run chkdsk
Use the chkdsk command to scan for and repair disk errors that could be impacting Disk Cleanup.
Disable background processes
Stop any background apps and services that are constantly accessing your drive using the Task Manager.
Delete System Restore points
Manually delete older System Restore snapshots to clear space used by restore points.
Remove Windows updates
Uninstall recent Windows updates to clear space used by the update install files.
Advanced fixes for Disk Cleanup
If the above steps still do not resolve Disk Cleanup failures, you may need to take more advanced measures:
Command line cleanup
Use the command line tool Cleanmgr with various switches to target specific file types like old updates or system logs.
Reinstall Windows
A Windows reinstallation can reset your entire system and registry, resolving any ingrained issues affecting Disk Cleanup.
Format the hard disk
Completely reformatting the disk erases everything and provides a fresh slate for Disk Cleanup to work.
Replace the hard disk
If there are physical errors on your disk that chkdsk cannot repair, replacing the faulty drive can allow Disk Cleanup to work properly.
Preventing Disk Cleanup failures
You can take proactive measures to help avoid Disk Cleanup failures in the future:
- Regularly delete temporary files and downloads you no longer need
- Uninstall unused apps and delete leftover folders
- Move files like photos, videos, and music to another drive
- Run Disk Cleanup on a regular monthly schedule
- Monitor disk health with chkdsk and replace faulty drives
- Set a restore point limit to restrict space used
- Manually delete old System Restore points
Keeping your system tidy in between running Disk Cleanup will help maximize the tool’s effectiveness.
When to use other disk cleaning tools
If the built-in Disk Cleanup is repeatedly failing or not fully cleaning your disk, it may be time to try using third party cleaning tools instead:
CCleaner
CCleaner is a popular disk cleaning utility that deletes cached internet files, browsing history, cookies, and a wide range of junk files.
Wise Disk Cleaner
Wise Disk Cleaner offers advanced junk file scanning and allows you to wipe free disk space to destroy deleted file traces.
BleachBit
BleachBit shreds unnecessary files to maintain privacy and securely erase sensitive system logs and records.
IObit Advanced SystemCare
IObit ASC combines disk cleanup with system optimization tools for maximum performance and storage space.
PrivaZer
PrivaZer focuses on complete privacy cleaning by overwriting free space and fully deleting private files.
Conclusion
Disk Cleanup failing to adequately free up disk space can be caused by a variety of issues like system file locks, disk errors, constantly regenerating temporary files, and using the tool improperly. Try troubleshooting steps like running as admin, deleting files manually, using Safe Mode, running chkdsk, uninstalling apps, and disabling background processes. If Disk Cleanup still does not work, stronger measures like reinstalling Windows may be needed. Be proactive with regular system maintenance to avoid future Disk Cleanup problems. Switch to advanced cleaning utilities like CCleaner or Wise Disk Cleaner if the built-in tool continues to fail.