Running a disk cleanup on Windows 10 is a pretty straightforward way to give your PC a little boost—especially if it’s feeling sluggish or cramped. The built-in Disk Cleanup tool is your friend here; it hunts down and deletes those pesky temporary files, system caches, and old restore points that just sit around taking up space. Sometimes, Windows just piles up junk that isn’t really needed anymore, and doing this cleanup makes the whole thing run more smoothly. Not sure why it works, but on some machines, it’s like hitting reset, and you see a noticeable speed bump. If that didn’t help, here’s what might. Sometimes, Windows’ default cleanup misses a few things, especially if you want to clear out a lot of leftovers or get rid of even hidden system files. It’s worth trying the “Clean up system files” option, which you can access once Disk Cleanup opens. That way, you can remove older Windows updates, cached files, and other deep-seated clutter. Just make sure to double-check what you’re deleting because, of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary to actually see what’s gone. Still, on one setup it worked the first time, on another… not so much. Weird, but it’s worth a shot. Here’s how to get it rolling.
How to Run Disk Cleanup on Windows 10
Open the Start Menu and locate Disk Cleanup
Click the Start button (bottom-left corner).Type in Disk Cleanup in the search bar. When it pops up, click on the Disk Cleanup app. It’s a built-in utility, so it should show right at the top—click it, and you’re halfway there.
If you can’t find it, check under Settings > System > Storage > Temporary Files. Windows 10 has a few different spots now, but the classic way to launch it is still via the search.
Select the drive you want to clean
The usual go-to is the C: drive, where Windows lives. In the Disk Cleanup window, pick your drive and hit OK. If you’re running out of space elsewhere, you can select other drives, but C: is where most cleanup magic happens.
Choose what files to delete (and why)
Once it calculates, you’ll see a list of file types—temporary files, thumbnails, recycle bin contents. Here’s the thing: check what you want gone, uncheck what you want to keep. On some setups, the ‘System error memory dump files’ or ‘Old Windows installations’ can be huge, but only delete those if you’re sure you don’t need them. For example, if you’re running out of disk space and haven’t done a major upgrade recently, removing old system files can free tons of space.
Clear system files for a deeper clean
If you’re comfortable, click on the Clean up system files button. This re-runs the scan with admin privileges and shows more options, like removing Windows Update cache and old restore points. This helped a lot when I freed several gigabytes after an upgrade, but sometimes it takes a while to re-scan. On some older machines, it can be a bit slow or even hang—so patience is key here.
Finalize the cleanup and wait for it to finish
Hit the OK button, then confirm with Delete Files. Disk Cleanup will do its thing—on fast machines, it’s done pretty quickly, but on others, it can take a few minutes. Usually, you’ll see some improvement afterwards, especially if you haven’t run this in ages.
Tips for running Disk Cleanup smoothly
- Run this every month or two—it’s a quick habit that keeps your system snappy.
- Make use of “Clean up system files” if you notice massive leftover files after big updates or reinstalls.
- Double-check what files you select—deleted system files can’t be recovered, so be cautious.
- When space is tight, check out the More Options tab for removing old restore points and shadow copies.
- Combine it with other tools like CCleaner if you want a more thorough clean, but always be careful with third-party tools.
FAQs
Will Disk Cleanup delete anything important?
Usually not. It’s designed to clear stuff like caches, temp files, and old restore points—files your system doesn’t need anymore. Still, it’s good to review what you’re deleting before confirming.
How often should this be done?
Probably once a month, especially if you’re installing/uninstalling stuff often or notice your PC slowing down. For most casual users, every 8-12 weeks works fine.
Is Disk Cleanup the same as defragmenting?
Nope. Cleanup removes unnecessary files, defrag reorganizes data for faster access. Both help system performance but in different ways.
Will it make my PC faster?
Generally, yes. Clearing out junk frees space and reduces clutter, which can help with overall speed and responsiveness.
Can I undo it if I delete something by mistake?
Not really. Once deleted, those files are gone. So, review what’s checked before hitting “Delete Files.”
Summary
- Open Start Menu and search for Disk Cleanup.
- Pick the drive (usually C:) and run the scan.
- Select files you want to delete—think temp files, cache, etc.
- Click “OK” and confirm to free up space.
Wrap-up
Honestly, running a disk cleanup is one of those small chores that can make a noticeable difference. It’s quick, relatively painless, and helps keep the system from grinding to a halt. Just keep an eye on what you delete, especially if you’re using the “Clean up system files” option—sometimes it’s easy to remove more than intended. Once done, your PC should feel a bit lighter and more responsive. This trick works well on most machines—hope it gets your system back to snappy mode!