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How to Use Disk Cleanup on Windows

Tap a step to see it in order.

  1. Search "Disk Cleanup" from the Start menu

    Open the Start menu and search for Disk Cleanup, then launch the app.

  2. Choose the drive to clean

    Select the drive Windows is installed on β€” usually C: β€” and click OK.

  3. Check the file types you want to delete

    Tick boxes like Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and Downloaded program files β€” anything safe to remove.

  4. Click OK to run the cleanup

    Click OK and the files you selected are deleted, freeing up disk space right away.

  5. Why it's worth doing

    An older PC accumulates temporary files and cache you no longer need, and they quietly eat into your storage. Disk Cleanup clears them out in one pass and can even help overall performance.

Getting a "Low on Storage" Warning?

Over time, unnecessary temp files and cached data pile up on a well-used computer and eat away at free space. Disk Cleanup rounds up that clutter so you can clear it in a single pass.

Want to Free Up Even More Space?

Clicking Clean up system files adds larger system-related items β€” like leftover files from previous Windows updates β€” to the list, often freeing up several extra gigabytes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a way to free up even more space?

Yes β€” clicking the Clean up system files button adds bigger system items, such as previous Windows update files, to the cleanup list.

Can I recover files deleted by Disk Cleanup?

Files removed through Disk Cleanup skip the Recycle Bin and are deleted right away, so recovery is difficult. It's worth reviewing the checked list carefully before clicking OK.