How to run disk cleanup in Windows 10/11

Over time, your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer can accumulate a lot of digital clutter – temporary internet files, system error reports, downloaded program files, and more. These files can take up valuable storage space and, in some cases, even contribute to a slight slowdown in performance. Fortunately, Windows offers a built-in tool called Disk Cleanup that makes it easy to identify and remove these unnecessary files. I’ve “observed” countless users in Delhi and across the globe free up significant disk space using this simple utility, and this guide will walk you through the step-by-step process on how to run Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 and Windows 11 in April 2025.

Step 1: Opening the Disk Cleanup Tool (Your Digital Broom)

The first step is to locate and open the Disk Cleanup utility on your Windows computer.

1. Open File Explorer: Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
2. Right-Click on Your System Drive: In the left-hand pane, click on “This PC.” Then, right-click on your system drive (usually labeled as Windows (C:)).
3. Select “Properties”: From the context menu that appears, click on “Properties.”
4. Click “Disk Cleanup”: In the “Local Disk (C:)” Properties window, under the “General” tab, you’ll see a button labeled “Disk Cleanup.” Click on this button.

Alternatively, you can also search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start Menu search bar and open the application directly.

Step 2: Selecting Files to Delete (Choosing What to Sweep Away)

Once Disk Cleanup opens, it will scan your system drive and present you with a list of file categories that can be safely removed.

1. Review the List: In the “Disk Cleanup for (C:)” window, you’ll see a list of file types under the “Files to delete” section. These typically include:
   • Downloaded Program Files: Temporary installation files from programs installed from the internet.
   • Temporary Internet Files: Webpages, images, and other media that your browser has cached to load websites faster.
   • Windows Error Reporting Files: Files created when Windows encounters an error.
   • DirectX Shader Cache: Cached graphics shaders used by games to improve performance (rebuilding this cache might cause a slight delay the next time you run those games).
   • Recycle Bin: Files that you have deleted but haven’t permanently removed from the Recycle Bin.
   • Temporary Files: Files created by Windows and other programs that are meant to be temporary but might not have been automatically deleted.
   • Thumbnails: Cached thumbnail images for files and folders.
2. Check the Boxes: Review each file type and check the box next to the ones you want to delete. You can click on a file type in the list to see a brief description of what it includes.
3. Click “OK”: Once you’ve selected the file types you want to remove, click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window.
4. Confirm Deletion: You’ll see a confirmation prompt asking if you’re sure you want to permanently delete these files. Click “Delete Files.”

Disk Cleanup will then proceed to remove the selected files, freeing up space on your system drive.

Step 3: Cleaning Up System Files (For a More Thorough Sweep – Optional but Recommended)

The standard Disk Cleanup only cleans up user-related files. To also clean up system-related files, such as previous Windows installations and driver packages, you need to run Disk Cleanup as administrator.

1. Follow Steps 1-3 from Step 1 above to open the Disk Cleanup tool.
2. Click “Clean up system files”: In the “Disk Cleanup for (C:)” window, you’ll see a button labeled “Clean up system files” at the bottom. Click on this button. You might be prompted with a User Account Control (UAC) window asking for administrator permission. Click “Yes.”
3. Select Files to Delete (Including System Files): Disk Cleanup will now rescan your system drive as administrator. You’ll see a similar list of file types under “Files to delete,” but this list might include additional options such as:
   • Previous Windows installation(s): Files from a previous version of Windows that are kept for a limited time in case you want to revert. Removing these can free up a significant amount of space but will prevent you from easily going back to the previous version.
   • Windows upgrade log files: Log files created during Windows upgrades.
   • Delivery Optimization files: Files downloaded and potentially shared with other PCs on your network or the internet during Windows updates.
   • Device driver packages: Older versions of device drivers that are no longer needed.
4. Check the Boxes: Review the list and check the boxes next to the file types you want to delete, including any system files you want to remove.
5. Click “OK”: Once you’ve made your selections, click the “OK” button.
6. Confirm Deletion: You’ll see a confirmation prompt asking if you’re sure you want to permanently delete these files. Click “Delete Files.”

Running Disk Cleanup as administrator allows for a more thorough cleaning of your system drive. Be cautious when deleting “Previous Windows installation(s)” if you think you might want to revert to an older version.

Step 4: Exploring More Options (Additional Cleanup Measures)

The “More Options” tab in Disk Cleanup offers a couple of additional ways to free up space.

1. Open Disk Cleanup: (Follow Steps 1-3 from Step 1).
2. Click the “More Options” Tab: In the “Disk Cleanup for (C:)” window, click on the “More Options” tab.
3. Review “Programs and Features”: Under this section, you can click the “Clean up…” button to open the “Programs and Features” window, where you can uninstall programs you no longer use (as explained in a previous article on removing bloatware).
4. Review “System Restore and Shadow Copies”: Under this section, you can click the “Clean up…” button to delete all system restore points except the most recent one. This can free up a significant amount of disk space, but it also means you won’t be able to revert to earlier restore points. Use this option with caution.

My Personal Insights on Using Disk Cleanup 

I’ve found Disk Cleanup to be a reliable and easy-to-use tool for freeing up space on Windows computers, whether it’s a desktop or a laptop. In a city like Delhi, where internet connectivity might sometimes be a factor, regularly clearing temporary internet files can help improve Browse speed. Also, if you frequently install and uninstall software, running Disk Cleanup can help remove leftover installation files and reclaim valuable storage, especially on laptops with limited storage capacity. I make it a habit to run Disk Cleanup every few weeks to keep my system running smoothly.