What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

Disk Clean-up

What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?
What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

Screenshot of Disk Clean-up in Windows 10

Developer(s)Microsoft
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeDisk maintenance application
Websitewww.microsoft.com 
What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

Disk Clean-up (cleanmgr.exe) is a computer maintenance utility included in Microsoft Windows designed to free up disk space on a computer's hard drive. It has now been deprecated and replaced with a modern version in the Settings app, although it still exists as a legacy tool in Windows.

About[edit]

The utility searches files that are no longer of any use, and then removes the selected unnecessary files. There are a number of different file categories that Disk Clean-up targets when performing the initial disk analysis:

  • Compression of old files
  • Temporary Internet files
  • Temporary Windows files
  • Downloaded program files
  • Recycle Bin
  • Removal of unused applications or optional Windows components
  • Setup log files
  • Offline web pages (cached)
  • WinSxS (Windows component store)

The above list, however, is not exhaustive. For instance, 'Temporary Remote Desktop files' and 'Temporary Sync Files' may appear only under certain computer configurations, differences such as Windows Operating System and use of additional programs such as Remote Desktop. The option of removing hibernation data may not be ideal for some users as this may remove the hibernate option.

In Windows 10 and 11 you can also choose an option “Clean up system files”. You will have more files to delete. One of new categories is “Windows Update Cleanup”. It allows to free up a few gigabytes of space. But notice, that if you clean this category it would be impossible to uninstall current Windows update version.[1]

Aside from removing unnecessary files, users also have the option of compressing files that have not been accessed over a set period of time. This option provides a systematic compression scheme. Infrequently accessed files are compressed to free up disk space while leaving the frequently used files uncompressed for faster read/write access times. If after file compression, a user wishes to access a compressed file, the access times may be increased and vary from system to system.

In addition to the categories that appear on the Disk Clean-up tab, the More Options tab offers additional options for freeing up hard drive space through removal of optional Windows components, installed programs, and all but the most recent System Restore point or Shadow Copy data in some versions of Microsoft Windows.

Deprecation[edit]

Starting with Windows 10 version 1803 (RS4), the capabilities of Disk Clean-up are incorporated into Windows 10's Settings app.[2] The standalone Disk Cleanup tool is still included, but deprecated in favor of the new interface.

See also[edit]

  • Desktop Cleanup Wizard
  • Disk Space Analyzers

References[edit]

  1. ^ "How to clean C drive space fast?". August 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Windows 10 Redstone 4 (version 1803): All the new features and changes".

  • Microsoft Help and Support - Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
  • Creating a Disk Cleanup Handler

Summary

It is recommended to perform basic hard disk maintenance on your device at least once a month, perhaps more if your device is experiencing excessive slowness or is more than a few years old. When you use a computer, tablet, or phone the hard disk is filled little by little with every use. These are some tips for basic recommended maintenance, including more advanced disk usage statistics software to be used only by Desktop Support:

Nội dung chính Show

  • Windows Cleanup Utilities
  • Mac Cleanup Utilities
  • Android Cleanup Utilities
  • iOS Cleanup Utilities
  • Why Should You Clean Your Junk Files in Windows 10?
  • The Different Types of Junk Files in a Windows Computer
  • Create a Restore Point Before You Clean Up Junk Files
  • 1. Empty the Recycle Bin to Free Up Space
  • 2. Clean Up Temporary Files to Remove Junk
  • 4. How to Remove Junk Files Using the Command Prompt
  • Clean Up Temporary Files Using the Command Prompt
  • 5. Clean Up Restore Points
  • Remove Junk Files To Improve Windows 10 Performance
  • Which of the following Windows 10 Servicing Options receives updates immediately after Microsoft makes them publicly available?
  • Which program is always updated on Patch Tuesday?
  • Which of the following is the tool that installed hotfixes and service packs for Windows machines?
  • Which of the following is the Windows recovery environment based on?

  • Delete unneeded applications and programs by using your control panel or applications folder.
  • Regularly run virus and malware scans to get rid of unwanted programs.
  • Delete duplicate files such as photos, videos, and text documents.

Windows Cleanup Utilities

Built-In Disk Cleanup

Windows offers a built-in tool used for deleting temporary files and unimportant data that is taking up space on your hard drive. You can locate the tool by searching for Disk Cleanup from your Start menu. The tool will allow you to select which temporary file locations you would like to delete.

Mac Cleanup Utilities

Uninstall Programs

To uninstall from the Applications folder:

  • Ensure the programs to delete are completely closed if they were open
  • Locate the program in the Applications list, and drag it to the trash icon in the dock
  • Empty the trash
  • Restart the computer

Some programs may require more steps in order to uninstall:

  • Uninstall Parallels desktop
  • Remove virtual machine in Parallels

Android Cleanup Utilities

Built-In Android Cleanup

Android operating systems have the ability to manually check your system data and clear the cache and App data. You can look at what Apps are taking the most data.

  1. Open Settings
  2. Tap on System, and then Storage
  3. It will calculate what apps are using the most space so you can delete the app data, or remove the apps that are taking up the most space

CCleaner for Android

CCleaner offers a free version of their software available in the Google Play Store. When you use the app, it allows you to select which temporary file locations and caches you can clear.

Google Photos Backup

Having an account with the University allows you to use Google's backup systems. This allows you to backup files such as photos and videos to the Google cloud so they do not take up space on your phone. More information about Google photos backup is available through Google Support.

iOS Cleanup Utilities

iCloud Backup

Every device that uses iOS is offered 5GB of free storage space through iCloud. Backing up your media files stored on your mobile devices can free up a large amount of space, but are still accessible through the Cloud. More information about iCloud is available through Apple Support.

Clear Safari Cache

Over time, the data stored in your mobile device's web browser can take up a lot of space.

  1. Open up the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Safari.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Advanced.
  4. Tap on Website Data. This will allow you to see the total amount of space used by your website data.
  5. Scroll to the bottom and tap Remove Website Data.
    Note: This will remove all the saved passwords in your device. Ensure that you have your internet passwords memorized before you delete your web data.

Unorganized and uncleaned spaces tend to accumulate clutter. This is no different when it comes to your PC. The more you use your computer, the more junk it builds up.

On slower drives such as traditional hard disks, junk files can slow operating to a crawl. So, cleaning them frequently can help improve performance. Windows 10 features built-in tools to remove most junk files, and if something remains, you can clean up manually. We'll show you how.

Why Should You Clean Your Junk Files in Windows 10?

Junk files, like junk food, don’t have any benefits. Instead, it can make your system difficult to manage. On computers with puny SSD drives, you may run into insufficient storage and performance issues.

Removing trash can help you keep your files and folder organized, save a ton of precious storage space, and improve system performance as your computer no longer has to churn through files that do nothing for you.

The Different Types of Junk Files in a Windows Computer

All kinds of sources can create a junk file on your PC, from the leftover of uninstalled programs to that cute wallpaper you downloaded ages ago but ultimately got bored with. Here are a few common types of junk files.

  • Files in the Recycle Bin. Discarded files in your Recycle Bin are likely unnecessary but remain in the folder, sometimes taking gigabytes of storage.
  • Windows temporary files. These are junk files whose use is temporary and become redundant once the current task is complete.
  • Windows and third-party software leftovers. When you uninstall a program, not all the files associated with the software are deleted. This can often conflict with other programs that you are trying to work with.
  • Downloads. Downloads folder usually takes a chunk of your storage space. Usually, it contains unwanted installers, images, videos, and other redundant documents that accumulate over time.

Thumbnails and thumbnail photos can be considered junk files. However, you don't need to clean them unless necessary. If cleaned, your system will have to generate thumbnails again, which can slow things down.

Create a Restore Point Before You Clean Up Junk Files

System Restore in Windows systems allows you to undo system changes by reverting your computer to a previous restore point. It is useful in case you delete a critical system file and run into issues.

Follow our guide to create a restore point in Windows 10. Once you have it ready, continue with the steps below.

1. Empty the Recycle Bin to Free Up Space

The Recycle Bin stores all the files you've deleted from your computer. It is a handy utility as you can restore deleted files if you accidentally discard any. However, if not cleaned frequently, it can accumulate gigabytes of files that eat into your storage space.

What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

Fortunately, cleaning the Recycle Bin is easy. You can select and delete individual files permanently or empty them at once.

  1. Open the Recycle Bin from the desktop. If you don’t have a desktop shortcut available, type Recycle Bin in the Windows search bar and click on the best match.
  2. Go through the deleted files. If you want to restore any, right-click and choose Restore.
  3. To delete all, right-click inside the folder and choose Empty Recycle Bin.
  4. You can also perform this action from the desktop. Right-click on the Recycle Bin shortcut and choose Empty Recycle Bin. Click Yes to confirm the action.

2. Clean Up Temporary Files to Remove Junk

Temporary files are created automatically to hold information for a file in use. Once the task is complete, these files are deleted. Temp files are stored in the Windows Temp folder, and you can manually clean up temporary files to free up disk space in Windows.

What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

To clear temporary files:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
  2. Type %temp% and click OK.
  3. In the temporary folder, press Ctrl + A to select all the files and hit the Delete key. Click Skip for any file that appears to be in use.

Alternatively, Windows 10 comes with Storage Sense, a built-in feature to clean up junk files from multiple sources. If you like the sound of this, you can configure it to delete temporary files automatically.

To set up Storage Sense to delete temporary files, go to Settings > System > Storage. Toggle the switch to enable Storage Sense. Next, click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now. 

What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

Choose when you want to run Storage Sense. Under Temporary Files, check Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using option.

The Disk Cleanup tool in Windows is a one-stop solution to clean up junk files from your computer. It scans and calculates how much space you will be able to free on the selected drive.

Using Disk Cleanup, you can get rid of junk files such as downloads, temporary Windows installation files, temporary internet files, delivery optimization, Recycle Bin, and more.

What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

Here’s how to use the Disk Cleanup tool.

  1. In the Windows search bar, type Disk Cleanup and hit enter to launch the utility.
  2. Choose a drive you want to clean up and click OK. It will scan the selected drive for junk files from multiple and usual sources.
  3. It will populate the screen with how much space you can free up by deleting different junk files.
  4. Check the box to select the file type you want to clean up. To view which files will be removed, click View Files.
  5. Click on Clean up system files to view Temporary Windows installation files and device driver packages.
  6. Click OK to remove the junk files. Select Delete files to confirm the action.

Leave the Thumbnail box unchecked. Removing the thumbnails cache can free up a few megabytes of storage. However, the system will have to regenerate them when you look for a file, which will slow down your PC.

4. How to Remove Junk Files Using the Command Prompt

Don’t fancy the graphical user interface much? You can clean up junk files using the Command Prompt. Here are a few commands you can use for taking out the trash.

To use the Disk Cleanup tool using command prompt, use one of the following commands:

What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

To skip disk selection and view the category selection menu.

Cleanmgr/sagest

To automate the disk-cleaning process without choosing any category.

Cleanmgr/ sagerun

Running low on disk space? Use this command for a quick cleanup.

Cleanmgr/lowdisk

Clean Up Temporary Files Using the Command Prompt

If your work involves frequently cleaning up temp (temporary) files created by a user or the system, a cmd command can come in handy.

To view temp files, run this command as administrator:

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe %temp%\

To delete temp files, run this command as administrator:

del %temp%\*.*/s/q

The Command Prompt is a useful utility. If you are new to the command processor, we have some useful tips to master command prompt in Windows 10 to help you get started.

5. Clean Up Restore Points

System restore points can be a lifesaver. However, too many of them can take up unnecessary space on your storage drive. While Windows doesn't show how much space is taken by the system restore, you can delete old restore points to free up more space.

What Windows utility program deletes unwanted programs and files from your computer?

You can clean up restore points from the Disk Cleanup utility. Restore point clean-up will remove all but the most recent restore points.  Here’s how to do it.

  1. In the Disk Clean utility, click the Cleanup system files button.
  2. Select a drive and click OK to initiate the scan.
  3. Next, open the More Options tab.
  4. Under System Restore and Shadow Copies, click the Cleanup button.
  5. Select Delete to confirm the action.

Remove Junk Files To Improve Windows 10 Performance

Junk Files aren’t a pretty sight and can negatively impact your system performance. However, you can either clean up junk manually or run Disc Cleanup periodically to keep your system clean.

To gain more space, delete unnecessary programs such as bloatware, third-party system cleanup utilities, and other redundant applications from your system.

Which of the following Windows 10 Servicing Options receives updates immediately after Microsoft makes them publicly available?

Current Branch (CB) servicing: A Windows 10 servicing option in which the system receives upgrades immediately after Microsoft makes them publicly available. hotfix: A single, cumulative package that includes one or more files that are used to address a problem in a software product, such as a software bug.

Which program is always updated on Patch Tuesday?

Patch Tuesday is the name given to the day each month that Microsoft releases security and other patches for their operating systems and other software. Patch Tuesday is always the second Tuesday of each month and more recently is being referred to as Update Tuesday.

Which of the following is the tool that installed hotfixes and service packs for Windows machines?

Windows Update provides hotfixes and service packs for Windows computers.

Which of the following is the Windows recovery environment based on?

WinRE is based on Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE), and can be customized with additional drivers, languages, Windows PE Optional Components, and other troubleshooting and diagnostic tools.

What system utility is used to clear unnecessary files from your computer?

Windows has a built-in tool (Disk Cleanup) for cleaning up hidden junk files. Click Start > File Explorer > This PC (Windows 10). Right-click your main hard drive (usually the C: drive) and select Properties.

Which utility is program can remove unwanted files?

System Mechanic is a trusted name when it comes to cleaning up your computer and deleting unwanted files from your hard disk.

What Windows utility software deletes unnecessary files from a storage to free up space on the drive?

Disk Cleanup searches your disk and then shows you temporary files, Internet cache files, and unnecessary program files that you can safely delete.

How do I remove unwanted files from my computer?

Select Start > Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations. Open Storage settings..
Select the temporary files, unused files, files synced to the cloud, or unused apps you want to remove, then select the Clean up button for each section..