Cleaning out unnecessary files with Disk Cleanup — here’s how to do it
Honestly, if your Windows laptop is running slower than it used to or just feels cluttered, the first thing many people try is the built-in Disk Cleanup tool. It’s pretty simple to use but sometimes hidden in plain sight. This utility scans your drive for junk files—like temporary files, system caches, leftover Windows update files, and other bits that accumulate over time—and helps you tidy them up all at once.
I’ll admit, I’ve known about it for ages, but I’d often leave it alone until my PC slowed right down. Turned out, it’s a good idea to run Disk Cleanup every few months if you want your system to stay smooth—especially if you install and uninstall lots of programs or do a lot of Windows updates.
Getting into it isn’t too tricky. Press Windows key + S (to open Search), or right-click the Windows icon (Start menu) and click Search. Type Disk Cleanup and select the app when it appears. When you open it, it’ll usually ask you to pick a drive—most likely C:. The interface is a bit old-school, but it does the job: it shows a list of file categories like “Temporary files,” “Recycle Bin,” “System error memory dump files,” etc. I usually check most of these, but it’s a good idea to review what you’re deleting—better safe than sorry. Sometimes, it offers an option to clean up system files, which lets you clear more space. You’ll want to select that if you see it, as there’s often more to remove behind the scenes.
If you want to see exactly what will be deleted before hitting OK, click on View Files. After that, it may suggest clicking on Clean up system files. Doing this opens up a more detailed list—like old Windows update files stored in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\—stuff that’s usually safe to delete but can take up a lot of space. On older laptops, I had to find this under Advanced > Properties, but on newer systems, it’s right there on the main screen. Just a heads-up: if you see “Previous Windows installation(s),” deleting that means you won’t be able to revert to an older version, so only do it if you’re confident your system is stable and you don’t need the rollback option.
Once you’ve selected what to delete, click OK. A confirmation will appear—confirm you want to proceed, and Windows will get to work. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, especially if there’s lots of clutter or your PC is busy. On a fairly full drive, it might take a bit longer. You might also see your PC restart or get a notification that cleanup has finished—sometimes background processes complete after the window closes, so don’t worry if it seems to finish unexpectedly.
Digging a bit deeper with Command Prompt
If you’re comfortable with a bit of command-line work, this is where I’ve gone a bit further. Using Command Prompt can help you do a cleaner, more precise cleanup with less hassle and give you the option to automate regular maintenance tasks. It’s surprisingly handy for removing temporary files and other leftovers, especially if you want to set up a script to run automatically.
To get started, search for cmd in the Start menu, then right-click and choose Run as administrator. This is essential—skipping admin mode means you might not have access to some system folders, and the cleanup won’t be thorough. Once the black command window opens, you can run commands like cleanmgr /sageset:1, which opens a UI for selecting what types of files you want to clean. After configuring your preferences, running cleanmgr /sagerun:1 executes that cleaning profile. Think of it as setting up a customised cleanup routine. Alternatively, if you want to delete specific folders directly, commands like del /F /Q %temp%\* will wipe out all temp files in your user Temp folder. Be cautious—if you’re unsure what a command does, you might delete something important. Always double-check before pressing Enter.
This method isn’t as simple as clicking buttons, but it’s a good way to automate regular cleanups or target specific temp directories like %SystemRoot%\Temp or C:\Windows\Temp. It’s often quicker than waiting for the GUI, especially on a cluttered system. Just remember: if you’re not familiar with these commands, you could cause more harm than good. Always review what each one does, particularly with del or rd.
Tips for keeping your system tidy
If all this sounds a bit fiddly or you’re worried about deleting the wrong stuff, here’s what I’ve learned through trial and error: make it a habit to run these cleanups regularly. After major updates—like upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 or installing big driver updates—give it a go. It helps prevent unnecessary clutter from building up and slowing things down.
Besides Disk Cleanup, keep an eye on your Downloads folder, your browser cache, and Temp folders—like C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\Temp. These are the usual culprits when it comes to eating up space and dragging your system down. Sometimes I’d notice my free disk space shrinking without any clear reason, which usually meant temp files or old restore points lurking in the background.
If you want a more foolproof option, there are third-party tools like CCleaner or BleachBit that offer a bit more polish and extra features. Just stick to reputable ones—they can be handy but beware of dodgy apps. For most users, though, Windows’ built-in tools do the job safely and effectively.
All up, this process isn’t perfect—files can hide in odd spots, and sometimes cleanup doesn’t clear every bit you want gone. But for everyday use, starting with Disk Cleanup and a bit of command-line know-how will make a noticeable difference. Just double-check what you’re deleting before confirming. Once you get the hang of it, your PC will run a bit faster, be less cluttered, and generally feel a lot better.
Hope this helps—took me ages to figure out these steps properly. Hopefully it saves someone else a weekend of trial and error!