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Why Should You Clean Your Junk Files in Windows?

Cleaning up junk files in Windows is essential for several reasons:

• Free up space: Junk files take up valuable space on your hard drive, which can slow down your computer.
• Improve performance: Removing junk files can help improve your computer's performance and speed.
• Reduce errors: Junk files can cause errors and problems with your system, so removing them can help prevent these issues.
• Protect your data: Some junk files may contain sensitive information, so removing them can help protect your data.

The Different Types of Junk Files in a Windows Computer

There are several types of junk files that can accumulate on a Windows computer, including:

• Temporary files: These are files that are created by applications to store temporary data.
• System files: These are files that are created by the operating system to store system data.
• Recycle Bin files: These are files that have been deleted but are still stored in the Recycle Bin.
• Windows upgrade log files: These are files that are created during the Windows upgrade process.
• Delivery Optimization files: These are files that are used to optimize the delivery of Windows updates.
• Windows Defender files: These are files that are created by Windows Defender to store scan results and other data.

Create a Restore Point Before You Clean Up Junk Files

Before you start cleaning up junk files, it's a good idea to create a restore point. This will allow you to restore your system to its previous state in case something goes wrong during the cleaning process. To create a restore point, follow our detailed guide to create a restore point in Windows. Once you've created a restore point, you can start the steps below.

1. Empty the Recycle Bin to Free Up Space

The Recycle Bin is a great place to start when cleaning up junk files.

To empty the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:

1. Open the Recycle Bin from the desktop. If you don't have a desktop shortcut available, type Recycle Bin in the Windows search bar and click on the best match.
2. Go through the deleted files. If you want to restore any, right-click and choose Restore.
3. To delete all, right-click inside the folder and choose Empty Recycle Bin.
4. You can also perform this action from the desktop. Right-click on the Recycle Bin shortcut and choose Empty Recycle Bin. Click Yes to confirm the action.

2. Clean Up Temporary Files to Remove Junk

Temporary files are another type of junk file that can take up space on your hard drive.

To clean up temporary files, follow these steps:

1. Press the Win + R to open Run.
2. Type %temp% and click OK.
3. In the temporary folder, press Ctrl + A to select all the files and hit the Delete key. Click Skip for any file that appears to be in use.

Alternatively, you can enable the Storage Sense feature in Windows to automatically clean up temporary files. Navigate to Settings > System > Storage and toggle the switch to enable Storage Sense. Click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now to set up the feature.

Choose when you want to run Storage Sense. Under Temporary Files, check Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using option.

3. Remove Junk Files With the Disk Cleanup Tool

The Disk Cleanup tool is a built-in utility that allows you to remove junk files from your system. To use the Disk Cleanup tool, follow these steps:

1. In the Windows search bar, type Disk Cleanup and hit enter to launch the utility.
2. Choose a drive you want to clean up and click OK. It will scan the selected drive for junk files from multiple and usual sources.
3. Next, the tool will populate the screen with how much space you can free up by deleting different junk files.
4. Check the box to select the file type you want to clean up. To view which files will be removed, click View Files.
5. Click on Clean up system files to view Temporary Windows installation files and device driver packages.
6. Click OK to remove the junk files. Select Delete files to confirm the action.

4. How to Remove Junk Files Using the Command Prompt

You can also use the Command Prompt to remove junk files from your system. To use the Disk Cleanup tool using the Command Prompt, use one of the following commands:

1. To skip disk selection and view the category selection menu: Cleanmgr /sagest
2. To automate the disk-cleaning process without choosing any category: Cleanmgr /sagerun
3. Running low on disk space? Use this command for a quick cleanup: Cleanmgr /lowdisk

Clean Up Temporary Files Using the Command Prompt

If your work involves frequently cleaning up temp (temporary) files created by a user or the system, a cmd command can come in handy.

1. To view temp files, run this command as administrator: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe %temp%\
2. To delete temp files, run this command as administrator: del %temp%\*.*/s/q

5. Clean Up Restore Points

System restore points can be a lifesaver. However, too many of them can take up unnecessary space on your storage drive. While Windows doesn't show how much space is taken by the system restore, you can delete old restore points to free up more space.

1. In the Disk Clean utility, click the Cleanup system files button.
2. Select a drive and click OK to initiate the scan.
3. Next, open the More Options tab.
4. Under System Restore and Shadow Copies, click the Cleanup button.
5. Select Delete to confirm the action.

Alternatively, you can also specify disk space usage for restore points. Useful if you don't want to deal with deleting the restore points frequently. To specify disk usage space for Restore Point:

1. Press the Start and type Restore Point.
2. Next, click on Create a restore point option to open the System Properties dialog.



3. In the System Protection tab, click on the Configure button under the Protection Settings section.



4. In the pop-up dialog, adjust the Max Usage slider to specify Disk usage space.
5. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Removing junk files from your system can help improve Windows's performance and speed. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can remove junk files and keep your system running smoothly. Remember to only delete files that you're sure you don't need, and consider using a third-party cleaning tools like CCleaner, BleachBit for more advanced cleaning options. Note: We do not endorse using any third-party software, so use them at your own risk.