Running low on drive space? Disk Cleanup is built into Windows 11 and Windows 10 and lets you choose which file categories to remove. Start with a regular cleanup, then check system files and set up automatic cleanup to keep up with the job.
Open Disk Cleanup and choose a drive
For a one-time cleanup, start with Windows search. These steps work in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Search for Disk Cleanup from Start or the taskbar.
Open Disk Cleanup in the results.
Choose the drive you want to clean.
Select OK. You'll review the file categories before confirming deletion.
Choose what to delete
Read each category's description before adding it to your cleanup.
- 1.Select a file category to read its description.
- 2.Check the categories you want to remove, leaving anything you want to keep unchecked.
- 3.Select OK when you've finished reviewing your choices.
- 4.Select Delete files to confirm the cleanup.
If you need more space, clean up system files
Open Disk Cleanup again.
Choose the Windows drive.
Select OK.
Select Clean up system files. This requires administrative authorization.
Choose the drive again.
Select OK to scan for system files.
Review the resulting categories. The choices depend on your Windows installation, and removing a previous Windows installation also removes your option to return to it.
Check the categories you want to delete.
Select OK.
Confirm with Delete files.
Tip: Keep previous-installation files until you're sure you won't need to return to that version of Windows.
A keyboard shortcut for opening Disk Cleanup
Prefer the keyboard? Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Enter cleanmgr.exe and press Enter. This opens Disk Cleanup on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Choose the drive you want to clean.
Select OK, then follow the category review and deletion steps above.
Use Storage settings for another cleanup view
Windows also lets you review temporary files in Settings. This option works in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Open Start > Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files.
Check the categories you intend to delete. The categories shown depend on your PC's current state.
Select Remove files to delete your selections.
For a broader review on Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations.
Review Temporary files, Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud, and Unused apps.
Select the items you want to remove in a section.
Select Clean up for that section.
Keep up with cleanup using Storage Sense
For automatic cleanup on Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Storage and set Storage Sense to On. It cleans the system drive, and its settings apply separately to each user.
Open Storage Sense to configure it.
Choose how often cleanup runs under Run Storage Sense.
Configure the retention controls for Recycle Bin and Downloads separately. Set each to match how long you want those files kept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Microsoft PC Manager to use Disk Cleanup?
No. Microsoft PC Manager is a separate companion app. Disk Cleanup is built into Windows and needs no download.
How much space will Disk Cleanup free up?
The amount depends on the files on your PC and the categories you select. There is no fixed amount that every cleanup will recover.
Where can I inspect storage on other drives?
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Storage used on other drives. Select a drive to review its storage categories.