How to Do Disk Cleanup on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

By / October 10, 2025

Is your Windows 11 PC running low on space or feeling sluggish? Don’t worry — performing a disk cleanup can quickly free up storage and boost performance. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to do Disk Cleanup on Windows 11 step by step. Whether you’re a beginner or a tech-savvy user, you’ll learn multiple methods to safely delete unnecessary files and keep your PC running smoothly.

What Is Disk Cleanup in Windows 11?

Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows utility that helps you remove temporary files, system cache, log files, and other junk data from your hard drive. It’s been around since older Windows versions and remains a powerful tool for keeping your computer tidy.

When you perform a disk cleanup, you’re not deleting important files — only items that Windows no longer needs, such as:

  • Temporary internet files

  • Old system restore points

  • Delivery optimization files

  • Recycle Bin contents

  • Update cache

2. Why You Should Do Disk Cleanup Regularly

Regular disk cleanups help your system in several ways:

Benefit Description
Free up disk space Removes unnecessary files to make room for more important data.
Improve performance Reduces load times and improves system responsiveness.
Reduce system errors Clears corrupt temporary files that may cause crashes or bugs.
Maintain privacy Deletes cached data and browsing traces.

👉 Pro Tip: Run Disk Cleanup once a month to keep your system lean and healthy.

3. Files You Can Safely Delete During Disk Cleanup

When running Disk Cleanup, Windows will show a list of items you can remove. Here’s a quick breakdown:

File Type Safe to Delete? Description
Temporary Internet Files ✅ Browser cache and cookies.
Recycle Bin ✅ Deleted files still stored temporarily.
Delivery Optimization Files ✅ Update files shared across PCs.
Thumbnails ✅ Preview images; Windows recreates them.
Temporary Files ✅ Old app and installation data.
System Error Memory Dump Files ✅ Log files for debugging crashes.
Windows Update Cleanup ✅ Removes old update versions.
Previous Windows Installations ⚠️ Delete only if you don’t plan to roll back.

4. How to Open Disk Cleanup on Windows 11 (4 Easy Methods)

There are several quick ways to access Disk Cleanup in Windows 11. Choose whichever method you prefer:

Method 1: Using Windows Search

  1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar.

  2. Type Disk Cleanup.

  3. Click Disk Cleanup from the results.

Method 2: Using Run Command

  1. Press Windows + R.

  2. Type cleanmgr and press Enter.

Method 3: From File Explorer

  1. Open This PC.

  2. Right-click the C: drive and choose Properties.

  3. Under the General tab, click Disk Cleanup.

Method 4: Using Command Prompt

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

  2. Type cleanmgr and press Enter.

5. How to Run Disk Cleanup Manually – Step-by-Step

Follow these steps to perform a basic Disk Cleanup manually:

  1. Open Disk Cleanup using one of the methods above.

  2. Choose the drive you want to clean (usually C:).

  3. Disk Cleanup will calculate the total amount of space you can free up.

  4. Check the boxes next to the file types you want to delete.

  5. Click OK, then confirm by selecting Delete Files.

  6. Wait for the cleanup to complete — it may take a few minutes.

6. How to Use Disk Cleanup to Delete System Files

Want to remove even more junk, like old updates and log files? You can enable system file cleanup:

  1. Open Disk Cleanup.

  2. Click Clean up system files.

  3. Select the system drive (C:) again.

  4. Check boxes for:

    • Windows Update Cleanup

    • System Error Memory Dump Files

    • Device Driver Packages

  5. Click OK → Delete Files.

This will require administrative privileges and may take longer, but it frees up gigabytes of space.

7. How to Automate Disk Cleanup in Windows 11

If you’d rather not do it manually every time, you can schedule automatic cleanups:

Using Task Scheduler

  1. Press Windows + S and search Task Scheduler.

  2. Click Create Basic Task.

  3. Name it “Automatic Disk Cleanup.”

  4. Set the trigger (e.g., weekly or monthly).

  5. In the “Action” tab, choose Start a program and type:

    cleanmgr.exe /sagerun:1

  6. Save and exit.

Now Windows will automatically clean up according to your schedule.

8. How to Clean Up Disk Space Using Storage Sense

Windows 11 includes Storage Sense, an automated cleanup feature that works in the background.

Enable and Configure Storage Sense

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to System → Storage.

  3. Turn on Storage Sense.

  4. Click Storage Sense settings to customize:

    • Frequency (daily, weekly, monthly)

    • Recycle Bin cleanup

    • Temporary file removal

Storage Sense helps automate what Disk Cleanup does — but with less manual effort.

9. How to Use Command Prompt to Run Disk Cleanup

Advanced users can launch Disk Cleanup using command-line parameters for faster execution.

Quick Command

cleanmgr /sagerun:1

How to Set Up Custom Cleanup

  1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Type:

    cleanmgr /sageset:1

  3. Choose file categories you want to remove.

  4. Run:

    cleanmgr /sagerun:1

Windows will perform cleanup automatically based on your selected categories.

10. How to Clean Up Disk Space Using Windows Settings

If you prefer a modern interface, use Windows Settings to clean files:

  1. Go to Settings → System → Storage.

  2. Click Temporary files under your drive.

  3. Check boxes for:

    • Temporary files

    • Downloads

    • Recycle Bin

    • Windows Update Cleanup

  4. Click Remove files.

This method offers the same functionality as Disk Cleanup, but with a modern touch.

11. How to Free Up Space Using Temporary File Cleanup

You can also manually clear temp files using the Run command:

  1. Press Windows + R.

  2. Type %temp% and hit Enter.

  3. Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them.

  4. Repeat the process by typing temp and then prefetch in the Run dialog.

This method helps clear out junk files created by apps and installers.

12. How to Remove Old Windows Update Files

Windows keeps old update backups for rollback purposes. You can safely remove them:

  1. Open Disk Cleanup as administrator.

  2. Click Clean up system files.

  3. Check Windows Update Cleanup.

  4. Press OK and confirm deletion.

This often frees 1–5 GB of space instantly.

13. Advanced: Clean Up Disk Using PowerShell

For power users, PowerShell offers a more automated cleanup option.

Example Command

Get-ChildItem "C:\Windows\Temp" -Recurse | Remove-Item -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

You can also automate temporary file cleanup with:

Clear-RecycleBin -Force

These commands clean deep system directories safely.

14. Tips to Keep Your PC Clean and Optimized

  • Enable Storage Sense for regular maintenance.

  • Delete unused applications via Apps & Features.

  • Clear your browser cache regularly.

  • Move large files (like videos) to external storage.

  • Keep Windows updated for optimal performance.

15. Common Disk Cleanup Errors and Fixes

Issue Solution
Disk Cleanup won’t open Run as administrator or use cleanmgr /sageset:1.
Cleanup stuck at “Calculating” Reboot your PC and try again.
Some files not deleting Use Safe Mode cleanup.
Windows Update Cleanup missing Click Clean up system files first.

16. Summary of Key Takeaways

Action Purpose
Use Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense Remove junk and temporary files.
Run as administrator Access system file cleanup.
Automate via Task Scheduler Save time and keep PC optimized.
Use PowerShell for deep cleanup For advanced users only.

Performing Disk Cleanup regularly can extend your drive’s life, boost speed, and ensure smoother performance.

17. FAQs

1. Is it safe to use Disk Cleanup in Windows 11?

Yes, it’s completely safe. Disk Cleanup only deletes temporary or unnecessary files — it won’t affect your personal data.

2. How often should I perform Disk Cleanup?

Once a month is ideal, or more frequently if you download and install apps often.

3. Can Disk Cleanup delete system restore points?

Yes, but only if you choose “System Restore and Shadow Copies.” Be cautious with this option.

4. What’s the difference between Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense?

Disk Cleanup is manual, while Storage Sense automates the process in the background.

5. Why does Disk Cleanup take so long?

If your system has a lot of cached updates or temporary files, cleanup may take longer — but it’s worth the wait.

✅ Final Tip:
Combine Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense, and occasional manual temp file removal for the most effective storage management. Keeping your drive clean not only improves performance but also prolongs your PC’s life.

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