How to Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 Pro to Free Space

A nearly full drive can make Windows 10 Pro feel sluggish, interrupt feature updates and leave too little room for photos, work files or new applications. Disk Cleanup is a built-in utility that removes many temporary and leftover system files without requiring a third-party cleaner.

The tool is useful on a home desktop, an older laptop or a family PC shared between several people. It can reclaim anything from a few hundred megabytes to several gigabytes, particularly after a major Windows update. The safest approach is to review each category before deleting it and keep personal files separate from temporary system data.

Check what is using your drive

Before opening Disk Cleanup, check the available space on the Windows drive. Open File Explorer, select This PC, and look at the bar beneath the drive usually marked Windows (C:). You can also right-click the drive, choose Properties, and view the used and free space figures.

For a broader view, open Settings > System > Storage. Windows groups storage into categories such as Apps, Temporary files, Documents, Pictures and Other. This matters because Disk Cleanup mainly targets temporary and system-related files. If videos, installers or a crowded Downloads folder are using most of the drive, deleting Windows cache files alone may not solve the problem.

It is worth finding large personal files before making changes. A laptop used for NBN streaming, gaming or remote work can quietly accumulate downloaded movies, meeting recordings and Windows installation packages. People in regional areas may also keep large offline files because an NBN connection is slower or less reliable than expected, so check those files rather than assuming every large item is disposable.

If the drive has only a small amount of free space, close open programs and save important work. Disk Cleanup is generally safe, but deleting some categories can remove information needed to undo a recent change. A backup to an external drive, OneDrive or another trusted location is sensible before performing a deeper cleanup.

Run the standard Disk Cleanup scan

Press the Windows key, type Disk Cleanup, and select the desktop app from the results. If Windows asks which drive to scan, choose C: and select OK. The first scan may take several minutes while Windows calculates how much space each category can recover.

The results window contains a list called Files to delete. Common entries include Temporary Internet Files, DirectX Shader Cache, Delivery Optimisation Files, Temporary files, Thumbnails and Recycle Bin. Select a category to see its description in the lower part of the window. Tick the items you understand, then select OK and Delete Files.

Temporary files and DirectX shader cache data are usually safe to remove. Windows and applications can recreate them when required. Delivery Optimisation Files are cached update files that can help other PCs receive updates; clearing them does not remove Windows itself, although future downloads may take a little longer.

The Recycle Bin deserves a manual check. Once it is included in Disk Cleanup, files inside it are permanently removed. Open the Recycle Bin first and restore anything you still need. Thumbnails can also be removed safely, but Windows will rebuild them as folders are opened, which may cause a short delay while previews appear again.

Clean up system files carefully

To expose additional categories, open Disk Cleanup and select Clean up system files. Choose the Windows drive again if prompted. Windows will rescan the computer with administrator permissions and may find several gigabytes of old update material.

Windows Update Cleanup is often one of the largest entries. It removes outdated update components that are no longer needed. The process can take a long time, and the computer may appear to pause while Windows works through its component store. Do not force a shutdown simply because the progress window is slow.

Previous Windows installation(s) refers to files kept in the Windows.old folder after an upgrade or major version change. Removing them can free substantial space, but it also removes the normal rollback option for returning to the earlier installation. Keep this category until the current Windows 10 Pro setup has worked properly for several days, especially after new drivers or security software have been installed.

Review Windows upgrade log files, System created Windows Error Reporting, Temporary Windows installation files and similar entries before selecting them. These are generally safe once the computer is stable, but logs can be useful when diagnosing a failed upgrade. If Windows Update has recently broken, keep the logs until the issue has been investigated.

Disk Cleanup does not replace a backup. It also does not normally remove personal documents, photographs or browser bookmarks. Still, read the category descriptions and avoid selecting a Downloads category if you have not checked the folder yourself. A quick cleanup should never turn into an accidental loss of tax records, schoolwork or family photos.

Use advanced options and related tools

For repeatable cleanup, press Windows + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter. Advanced users can create a saved selection with cleanmgr /sageset:1, choose the categories to include, and then run cleanmgr /sagerun:1 later. This is useful on a household computer that regularly gathers update caches, though the command should be used only after the categories have been reviewed.

Storage Sense provides a more automated alternative. Go to Settings > System > Storage and select Configure Storage Sense or run it now. You can set Windows to clear temporary files automatically and choose how often the Recycle Bin or Downloads folder is emptied. Be cautious with Downloads: a folder that contains software installers or documents may be important even when the files have not been opened recently.

If Disk Cleanup removes too little, inspect installed applications under Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Uninstall programs you no longer use, but avoid removing hardware utilities or drivers simply because their names are unfamiliar. Large games and creative applications are often better candidates for removal than small Windows components.

Browser caches can also be cleared from Chrome, Edge or Firefox, but keep saved passwords and active sign-in data unless you have another way to access those accounts. Clearing every cache at once may make websites load more slowly for a short period. For people buying or upgrading PCs through Australian retailers such as JB Hi-Fi or Officeworks, storage capacity can vary sharply between otherwise similar models, so a regular storage check is especially useful on 128 GB and 256 GB SSDs.

System protection can occupy additional space through restore points. To review it, search for Create a restore point, open the result, select the Windows drive and choose Configure. You can adjust the maximum usage or remove old restore points, but keep at least a current restore point when troubleshooting drivers or applications. Do not confuse this with a full backup.

Finish the cleanup and prevent space problems

After selecting the required categories, allow Disk Cleanup to finish without interrupting it. Restart Windows when convenient, then return to This PC and check the free-space figure. A small improvement is normal if the drive was not heavily cluttered. A larger gain may appear after Windows Update Cleanup completes and the computer restarts.

If free space falls again quickly, use Settings > System > Storage to identify the growing category. A large Other section can contain application data, virtual machine files or folders created by software. Check the relevant application before deleting anything. Windows 10 Pro may also use space for the page file and hibernation file, which are managed system components rather than ordinary rubbish.

Avoid registry cleaners and utilities that promise dramatic results with a single click. Many third-party cleaners bundle advertising, change browser settings or delete useful troubleshooting data. Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense and careful manual file management are usually enough for routine maintenance.

A full drive can affect more than performance. Windows may fail to download updates, installers may report insufficient space and applications can behave unpredictably. If you have already resolved a display issue, storage maintenance will not replace graphics-driver work; for example, the steps in this fix blurry high-DPI apps guide address scaling rather than disk capacity.

Security should remain part of the maintenance routine. Do not delete suspicious files merely because they are large or stored in a temporary folder. Run Microsoft Defender, keep important files backed up and consider the instructions in this ransomware protection guide before changing security settings. A clean drive is useful, but protecting the files that remain is just as important.

Open Disk Cleanup today, review the standard categories, and remove only the files you can identify with confidence. Check the drive again after restarting Windows, then schedule a monthly storage review so temporary files and update leftovers do not quietly consume the space you need.