Disk Cleanup is a built-in tool in Windows that helps free up space on your hard drive by removing unnecessary and temporary files. Over time, these files can accumulate and take up significant storage space. Running Disk Cleanup regularly can help improve your PC’s performance by getting rid of files you no longer need.
Should I run Disk Cleanup?
Yes, running Disk Cleanup periodically is recommended to free up storage space and keep your PC running efficiently. Here are some key reasons to use Disk Cleanup:
- Frees up storage space: Disk Cleanup removes unused and temporary files that build up over time and can quickly consume gigabytes of storage.
- Improves performance: By deleting unnecessary files, Disk Cleanup helps optimize storage usage which improves speed and responsiveness.
- Easy to use: Disk Cleanup is a simple, built-in tool that’s easy to access and requires just a few clicks to run.
- Safe to use: Disk Cleanup only deletes non-essential files that are safe to remove. Your personal files and folders will not be affected.
- Better security: Removing unused files eliminates potential vulnerabilities by giving malware and viruses fewer places to hide.
How to run Disk Cleanup
Running Disk Cleanup is simple. Here are the steps:
- Open the Start menu and search for “Disk Cleanup.”
- Select Disk Cleanup from the search results.
- Choose the drive you want to clean up and click “OK.” This will scan your drive for files to remove.
- Review the list of file categories that can be deleted.
- Check the boxes next to the categories you want to delete.
- Click “OK” and then “Delete Files” to permanently remove the selected files.
The entire process only takes a few minutes. You should run Disk Cleanup at least once a month to optimize your PC’s performance.
What files does Disk Cleanup remove?
Disk Cleanup specifically targets temporary files, system files, and other items that are safe to delete. Here are some of the main file categories it removes:
Temporary files
Temporary files are created by various programs for short-term storage. They are safe to delete and include:
- Internet Explorer cache and history
- Temporary Windows installation files
- Windows error reports and logs
- Temporary help files
Recycle Bin
Disk Cleanup empties your Recycle Bin. Any files you’ve deleted through the Recycle Bin will be permanently removed.
System files
Certain system files become outdated or redundant over time. Disk Cleanup specifically targets these system files for removal:
- Obsolete Windows updates
- Previous Windows installation files
- Temporary Windows setup files
- Various system log files
Thumbnail cache
The thumbnail cache stores miniature previews of your images and videos. It’s safe to delete these cached previews via Disk Cleanup.
User file searches
Disk Cleanup removes the record of searches you’ve performed for files and folders on your system.
What files does Disk Cleanup NOT remove?
Disk Cleanup only deletes temporary, redundant, and unnecessary system files. Here are some examples of files it does NOT delete:
- Personal documents, photos, music, videos, etc.
- Installed programs and applications
- Operating system files
- Drivers
- Web browser bookmarks and favorites
- Emails
- Game save files
Disk Cleanup will never delete your personal data or any files essential to your system functioning properly. It is completely safe to use.
Should I delete system restore points?
Disk Cleanup gives you the option to delete all but the most recent system restore point. System restore points allow you to revert your PC back to an earlier state if something goes wrong. Here are some guidelines on deleting old restore points:
- Keep the newest 1-2 restore points – These provide important backup in case of problems.
- Delete older restore points – Older points take up space and are unlikely to be needed.
- Delete all but most recent if space needed – Can safely remove all but newest point if storage space desperately needed.
- Create new restore point after deleting – Make a new restore point right after deleting old ones.
In general, it’s safe to delete older system restore points through Disk Cleanup. But make sure to leave the most recent point and create a new one after deleting.
Should I clean up system files?
Yes, you should use Disk Cleanup to remove unnecessary system files. This includes:
- Temporary Windows installation files from past updates
- Obsolete Windows update files
- Various Windows log files
- Error reporting files
Cleaning up these redundant system files can recover several gigabytes of disk space in some cases. It has the added benefit of removing files that may contain sensitive information on your system activities. Deleting temporary system files is one of the best uses for Disk Cleanup.
How much space can Disk Cleanup free up?
The amount of space Disk Cleanup frees up varies considerably depending on your system and usage. Here are some typical examples:
- A lightly used PC – 1-3 GB recovered
- Moderate usage – 5-10 GB
- Heavy usage – 10-20+ GB
In general, the more you use your PC over time, the more space Disk Cleanup will be able to free up by removing accumulated temporary files and system data.
Power users tip
For power users with very large drives, enabling the “Clean up system files” option can potentially recover over 50 GB of additional space from very old system files.
Does Disk Cleanup actually speed up my PC?
Yes, running Disk Cleanup can provide a couple performance benefits:
- Faster boot times – Removing unnecessary files means less loading off the drive.
- Freed up RAM – Less disk caching required with more available space.
- Quicker access – Helps prevent excessive drive fragmentation over time.
The performance boost from Disk Cleanup will be most noticeable on older systems with less RAM and processors. But even newer PCs can benefit from the regular housekeeping.
Should I use Disk Cleanup or CCleaner?
Disk Cleanup and CCleaner perform similar functions in freeing up disk space by removing temporary files and system data. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Disk Cleanup | CCleaner | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Very quick | Slower, deep scan |
| Safety | Very safe, only deletes temporary files | Risk of deleting wanted files |
| Use case | Quick cleanups anytime | Deep clean for advanced users |
In summary, Disk Cleanup provides a faster and safer option for routine cleanups. CCleaner offers more advanced options but requires more caution. Using both together provides a good balance for power users.
How to improve Disk Cleanup performance
Disk Cleanup is generally fast and efficient out of the box. But here some tweaks to help it run even better:
- Close other programs – Shut down other applications before launching Disk Cleanup.
- Run during idle time – Schedule cleanups when you aren’t actively using your PC.
- Disable thumbnails – Uncheck thumbnail cache unless you need them.
- Delete restore points – Removing old restore points speeds up the process.
- Check your hard drives – Defragmenting first helps Disk Cleanup efficiency.
Following these best practices helps Disk Cleanup scan quicker and ensures the cleanup process itself has minimal impact on your system performance.
What are the risks of Disk Cleanup?
Disk Cleanup is designed by Microsoft specifically to be very safe to use. There are minimal risks:
- Long scan times – Scanning overlarge and overloaded drives can take a very long time.
- Hanging during cleanup – Extremely full drives may hang or freeze during the actual cleanup.
- Accidental file deletion – If you manually select the wrong files, data loss is possible.
The workaround for the first two issues is to run Disk Cleanup more regularly so caches do not build up. And always pay close attention to the files selected before clicking “OK.”
How to fix if Disk Cleanup freezes or crashes
In some cases, Disk Cleanup may freeze or crash during operation. Here are some troubleshooting steps:
- Close and re-launch Disk Cleanup – Rebooting often fixes temporary issues.
- Run error checking on your hard drives – Use Check Disk to identify and repair drive errors.
- Disable selected options – Uncheck problem areas like thumbnails or file searches.
- Update Windows and Drivers – Install latest updates which may include Disk Cleanup fixes.
- Adjust visual effects – Reduce visual effects to limit resource strain during cleanup.
- Turn off third party antivirus – Temporarily disabling antivirus can resolve conflicts.
Retry Disk Cleanup after trying these steps. If issues persist, your system may require diagnosis for underlying problems causing the crashes.
Conclusion
Disk Cleanup is an invaluable, built-in Windows tool that serves an important purpose. Running it regularly keeps your system optimized by removing useless files that accumulate over time. Just be sure to use caution, review selected files, and maintain good drive health for maximum benefit and performance.