Over time, Windows can accumulate temporary files, thumbnails, Recycle Bin items, and other unnecessary data. Disk Cleanup helps you find and remove these junk files before they take up a noticeable amount of space on your main drive.
If you are looking for a way to remove junk files from your PC, you do not need to install third-party software. Windows 10 and Windows 11 include Disk Cleanup, a built-in tool that lets you review files you can delete and clean up additional system files when you need to free up space.
In this guide, you will learn how to use Disk Cleanup safely, which files you should review before deleting, and what to do if your Local Disk (C:) remains almost full after cleanup.
What Is Disk Cleanup in Windows?
Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows tool that scans a drive and shows unnecessary files you can delete to free up space. Depending on your PC, it may find items such as Temporary files, Thumbnails, and files in the Recycle Bin.
The tool also includes a Clean up system files option, which performs an additional scan and may find files related to updates or previous Windows installations.
The categories shown and the amount of space you can recover depend on your Windows version, installed updates, and the files stored on your PC.
How to Use Disk Cleanup to Remove Junk Files from Your PC
The following steps let you remove unnecessary files from your main system drive, usually Local Disk (C:), using Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Use this built-in cleanup tool to scan your main drive, review the available file categories, and delete the items you no longer need.
- Open Disk Cleanup
Open the Start menu, type Disk Cleanup, and select the tool from the search results.
- Select the drive you want to clean
Choose the drive where Windows is installed, usually Local Disk (C:), and select OK. Windows will scan the drive for files that can be removed.
- Review and select unnecessary files
When the scan is complete, the tool will display a list of categories and the amount of space each one uses. Depending on your PC, you may see items such as Temporary files, Thumbnails, Recycle Bin, or Delivery Optimization Files. Select only the items you no longer need.
- Confirm the cleanup
Select OK, and then choose Delete Files to confirm. Windows will remove the selected items and free up the corresponding disk space.
The amount of space you recover will depend on the files accumulated on your drive and the categories you selected for deletion.
Clean Up System Files with Disk Cleanup
The basic cleanup removes common unnecessary files, but Windows may also keep system files that take up additional space, especially after updates. To review these files, use the Clean up system files option in Disk Cleanup.
- Open the Start menu, type Disk Cleanup, and select the tool.
- Choose the main drive, usually C:, and select OK.
- In the Disk Cleanup window, select Clean up system files.
- Choose the main drive again and wait while Windows performs a scan that includes system files.
When the scan is complete, review the available categories and select only the items you no longer need. Depending on your PC, the list may include temporary system files, Windows Update Cleanup, and files from a previous Windows installation.
Select OK > Delete Files to confirm the cleanup.
Important: If you see an option such as Previous Windows installation(s), remove it only when you are sure you do not need to return to the previous version of Windows. Deleting it also removes the Windows.old folder and prevents you from using recovery options to go back to that earlier version. Microsoft explains this process in its guide to delete your previous version of Windows.
What Can You Delete with Disk Cleanup?
The categories shown by the tool may vary depending on your Windows version, installed updates, and the files accumulated on your PC. These are some of the most common options:
| Temporary files | Files temporarily created by Windows or some applications. | Usually yes. |
| Thumbnails | Previews of images, videos, and documents. | Yes. Windows will recreate them when needed. |
| Recycle Bin | Files you previously deleted. | Yes, but check first in case it contains something important. |
| Delivery Optimization Files | Previously downloaded update files that Windows may use to deliver updates to other PCs. | Yes, if you need to free up space. |
| Previous Windows installation(s) | Files needed to return to a previous Windows version after an upgrade. | Only when you are sure you do not need to go back. |
Before selecting Delete Files, review the categories you marked, especially the Recycle Bin and any option related to a previous Windows installation.
Disk Cleanup or Temporary Files in Settings: Which Should You Use?
Windows also lets you remove files from Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Although this option and Disk Cleanup can both help free up space, they use different Windows interfaces and are useful in slightly different situations.
| Tool | When to Use It |
|---|---|
| Disk Cleanup | When you want to use the classic cleanup utility or access Clean up system files. |
| Temporary files in Settings | When you want to review and remove temporary files from the modern Windows Storage interface. |
If you only need to remove temporary files, the Temporary files screen in Settings may be the simplest option. For system cleanup files and older Windows installation files, use Disk Cleanup.
What to Do If Your C Drive Is Still Full
This cleanup tool can help you remove junk files and unnecessary system files, but it will not always solve a nearly full drive. If most of your storage is being used by installed apps, games, videos, backups, or other personal files, you will need additional methods.
If your C drive, usually shown as Local Disk (C:), remains almost full after cleanup, see our complete guide on how to free up disk space in Windows 10 and Windows 11. It covers options such as uninstalling unused apps, moving large files to another drive, and turning on Storage Sense.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disk Cleanup and Junk Files
Yes. Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows tool designed to remove unnecessary files. However, you should review the Recycle Bin and any option related to Previous Windows installation(s) before confirming the cleanup.
No. Windows 10 and Windows 11 include Disk Cleanup and other built-in options for cleaning unnecessary files and freeing up space. For basic cleanup, it is usually better to begin with these Windows tools before installing third-party software.
Junk files are not always the main cause of low storage. Your drive may also be filled with large apps, games, videos, backups, or personal files. In that case, you will need broader methods to free up disk space in Windows.
Conclusion
Disk Cleanup is a built-in tool in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that lets you remove junk files from your PC without installing additional software. You can use it to delete temporary files, thumbnails, and some system files that you no longer need.
Before confirming the cleanup, carefully review the Recycle Bin and any option related to Previous Windows installation(s). If your drive remains almost full after using Disk Cleanup, you will likely need additional methods to free up more space.
