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. Show
On slower drives such as traditional hard disks, junk files can slow your operating system 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 ComputerAll kinds of sources can create a junk file on your PC, from the leftovers 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 that most systems have:
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 FilesSystem Restore in Windows 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. Once you have it ready, continue with the steps below. 1. Empty the Recycle Bin to Free Up SpaceThe 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.
Fortunately, cleaning the Recycle Bin is easy. You can select and delete individual files permanently or empty them at once.
2. Clean Up Temporary Files to Remove JunkTemporary 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.
To clear temporary files:
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.
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 files, Recycle Bin, and more.
Here’s how to use the Disk Cleanup tool.
Leave the Thumbnail box unchecked. Removing the thumbnail 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 PromptDon’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 the Command Prompt, use one of the following commands:
To skip disk selection and view the category selection menu:
To automate the disk-cleaning process without choosing any category:
Running low on disk space? Use this command for a quick cleanup:
Clean Up Temporary Files Using the Command PromptIf 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:
To delete temp files, run this command as administrator:
The Command Prompt is a useful utility. If you are new to entering commands, we have some useful tips to master the Command Prompt in Windows 10 to help you get started. 5. Clean Up Restore PointsSystem 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.
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.
Alternatively, you can also specify disk space usage for restore points. Useful if you don't want to deal with deleting the restore points frequently. To specify disk usage space for Restore Point:
Remove Junk Files to Improve Windows 10's PerformanceJunk 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. How do I remove junk files from my C: drive?Disk cleanup in Windows. In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, and select Disk Cleanup from the list of results.. Select the drive you want to clean up, and then select OK.. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of. To get a description of the file type, select it.. Select OK.. How do I clean my C: drive?How do I clean up my hard drive?. Open “Start”. Search for “Disk Cleanup” and click it when it appears.. Use the “Drives” drop-down menu and select the C drive.. Click the “OK” button.. Click the “Cleanup system files” button.. How can I clean my C: drive without losing data?Method 1.. Click Disk Cleanup and select files that you want to delete from C drive.. Click OK to confirm the operation.. Method 2. Clean up C drive without formatting. You'll see that Disk Cleanup utility can only remove some temp files and Recycle Bin files on your computer.. |