What is the best way for disk cleanup on Windows 10?

If you are looking for effective ways for disk cleanup on Windows 10. Be cautious when selecting files to delete; avoid removing system files, program files, or files you don’t recognize.

Restarting your PC is a simple and completely free method to help with disk cleanup on Windows 10. While it may seem basic, a restart can clear out temporary files and free up some system resources, especially if files are in use or locked.

How Restarting Helps with Disk Cleanup on Windows 10:

• Clears Temporary Files: When you restart, Windows automatically deletes certain temporary files that are no longer needed or in use.
• Releases Locked Files: Files that were in use and couldn't be deleted manually may be released and cleaned up during restart.
• Refreshes System Resources: Restarting can improve overall system performance by resetting processes and freeing RAM.

How to Use Restart as a Free Disk Cleanup on Windows 10 Method:

1. Close all open applications: Save your work and close programs.

2. Click on the Start menu: Or press the Windows key.

3. Select "Restart": Click on the power icon and choose "Restart."

4. Allow your PC to reboot: Wait for Windows to restart fully.

BleachBit is a popular free cleaning tool that can help you free up disk space by removing unnecessary files, similar to the built-in Windows tools. It’s user-friendly and safe when used correctly, making it suitable for beginners.

Using BleachBit for Disk Cleanup on Windows 10

Advantages:

• Cleans cache, cookies, temporary files, logs, and more.
• Supports cleaning of many applications (browser caches, chat apps, etc.).
• Open-source and free.

How to Use BleachBit Safely for Disk Cleanup on Windows 10

1. Download and Install.

2. Launch BleachBit:

• Open the program after installation.

3. Select Items to Clean:

• You'll see a list of cleaning options categorized (e.g., System, Browsers, Applications).
• For beginners, it's safest to stick with common options.

4. Run a Preview:

• Click Preview to see how much space will be freed.
• Review the list to ensure you're comfortable with what will be deleted.

5. Clean Up:

• Click Clean to start the process.
• Confirm any prompts if asked.

For a beginner, the safest and most effective disk cleanup on Windows 10 involves using built-in Windows tools and a few trusted open-source utilities. I'll walk you through them in a safe, step-by-step order.

These commands are safe and powerful. Always run Command Prompt as Administrator (Right-click Start button > "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" or "Terminal (Admin)").

Command 1: Clean Windows Update Cache

Sometimes Windows Update leaves gigabytes of old data.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

2. Type or paste: net stop wuauserv and press Enter. (This stops the update service).

3. Type: net stop bits and press Enter.

4. Navigate to the update cache folder by typing: cd %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download and press Enter.

5. Type: del /q * and press Enter. This deletes all cached update installers.

6. Go back to the main prompt by typing: cd \ and press Enter.

7. Restart the services: Type net start wuauserv and press Enter, then net start bits.

Command 2: Clear System Temporary Files

This cleans the system-wide Temp folder.

1. In your Admin Command Prompt, type: del /q /f /s %temp%\*

2. Then type: del /q /f /s C:\Windows\Temp\*

(It's normal to see "File not found" for some items).

Command 3: DISM & SFC (Health Check + Cleanup)

About the disk cleanup on Windows 10. This isn't a typical cleaner but repairs Windows and can clean up the component store.

1. Run a system scan: sfc /scannow

2. After it finishes, run the Deployment Image Cleanup tool:

dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

3. For a more aggressive cleanup (safe after major updates):

dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase

Note: After /resetbase, you cannot uninstall previous updates.

For Windows 10 disk cleanup, I am using third-party disk cleaning software. 

While the built-in Windows 10 disk cleanup tools target standard temporary files and update caches, third-party applications delve deeper. They commonly clean redundant files from a wider array of applications (including browsers and other software), identify duplicate files, and remove leftover registry entries from uninstalled programs. This deeper clean can potentially free up significantly more disk space.

Furthermore, these tools typically provide greater user control and convenience through advanced features. Many include detailed analyzers that visually break down storage usage, schedulers for automatic maintenance, and one-click optimization routines that combine cleaning with other system tweaks. Some also offer secure file shredding, driver update managers, and software uninstallers that remove all associated files and registry data functionality not integrated into Windows' native tools.

However, it's crucial to choose reputable third-party software and use it with caution for cleaning up disk in Windows 10. Some tools can be overly aggressive or bundled with unwanted programs. The registry cleaning function, while popular, is often overstated in benefit and carries a small but real risk of causing system instability if critical entries are removed.

For most users, Windows' built-in tools are sufficient for basic maintenance, but a trusted third-party tool can be a valuable upgrade for more thorough, automated, and insightful system cleanup.

Storage Sense is a modern, automated storage management feature in Windows 10 that not only handles routine cleanup of user files like temporary data and Recycle Bin contents but can also be configured to clean up certain system files automatically, helping to cleanup disk on Windows 10 without requiring manual intervention each time.

Step 1: Open Settings (Windows key + I) and go to System > Storage.

Step 2: Toggle Storage Sense to On.

Step 3: Click "Configure Storage Sense or run it now."

Step 4: Under the "Temporary Files" section, ensure the option "Delete previous versions of Windows" is checked.

Step 5: This instructs Storage Sense to remove the Windows.old folder and related system files if they are at least 10 days old (configurable).

Step 6: To trigger an immediate cleanup of these system files, scroll to the bottom of the same settings page and click "Clean now" under the "Free up space now" section. This will run Storage Sense immediately to make a disk cleanup on Windows 10, applying all your configured rules, including the removal of eligible system files.

Cons of Storage Sense

Limited Automatic System Cleanup: Storage Sense automatically removes only common temporary files. Major system files typically require the manual "Clean now" button click.

Permanent Deletion: When it runs, files are deleted permanently according to your rules, bypassing the Recycle Bin for those locations.

No Granular Control: It offers less detailed file category selection compared to the classic Disk Cleanup tool.

Yes. Windows 10 does have a built-in cleaner called Disk Cleanup. This is the classic and most comprehensive dedicated cleaner. It helps you remove temporary files, system files, cached data, and even previous Windows installations (Windows.old folder.)

Steps for Windows 10 disk cleanup:

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type "Disk Cleanup", and select the app from the search results.

2. If prompted, choose the drive you want to clean (usually C:, your system drive), then click OK.

3. The tool will scan and show a list of file categories with the amount of space you can free up. Check the boxes for the types of files you want to delete. Common safe choices include temporary files, log files, caches and previous Windows installation files.

4. Click OK, then Delete Files to confirm. 

5. Wait while the tool removes the selected files.

Disk Cleanup remains one of most reliable and easy-to-use tools for disk cleanup on Windows 10. By regularly removing unnecessary files, especially after major updates or when storage runs low. You can help keep your system running smoothly and ensure that valuable disk space is available for your important files and applications.