How to Use Disk Cleanup to Free Up Space

If your computer is running low on storage space, using the Disk Cleanup tool can help remove unnecessary files and free up valuable disk space. Disk Cleanup is a built-in utility in Windows that allows you to safely delete temporary files, system files, and other files that are taking up unnecessary space on your hard drive. In this tutorial, we will explain how to use Disk Cleanup step by step.

Step 1: Open Disk Cleanup

To begin, follow these steps to open the Disk Cleanup utility:

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click on the Start button.
2. Type Disk Cleanup in the search bar, and then click on the Disk Cleanup app from the search results.

Step 2: Select the Drive to Clean

Once the Disk Cleanup window is open, you will see a list of drives available on your computer.

1. Select the drive that you want to clean up from the Drives list. This is typically the C: drive where your operating system is installed.
2. Click on the OK button.

Step 3: Select Files to Delete

After selecting the drive, Disk Cleanup will analyze and calculate the amount of space that can be freed up. This process may take a few moments.

1. In the Disk Cleanup window, you will see a list of file categories with checkboxes. These categories represent the types of files that can be deleted.
2. Review the different file categories, and check the boxes next to the types of files you want to delete. For example, you may select Temporary files, Recycle Bin, and System error memory dump files.
3. If you want to clean up additional system files, click on the Clean up system files button. This will reanalyze your system for additional files that can be deleted, such as old Windows installations or updates.

Step 4: Start the Cleanup Process

Once you have selected the files to delete, you are ready to start the cleanup process.

1. Click on the OK button to proceed.
2. You will see a confirmation message asking if you want to permanently delete these files. Click on Delete Files to confirm.
3. Disk Cleanup will now start removing the selected files. The process may take some time depending on the amount of data being deleted.

Step 5: View the Free Space

After the cleanup process is complete, you can view the amount of space that has been freed up.

1. Close the Disk Cleanup utility.
2. To check the free space on the selected drive, open File Explorer.
3. Right-click on the drive you cleaned up (e.g., C: drive) and select Properties.
4. In the General tab, you will see the Used space and Free space on your selected drive.

Congratulations! You have successfully used Disk Cleanup to free up space on your computer. Regularly performing disk cleanup can help keep your system running smoothly and ensure you have adequate storage space for your files and applications.