If you wonder how to delete temporary files, it is possible using Disk Cleanup in Windows 10, we are going to show you all the details. To install or run certain applications, Windows often creates temporary files on your computer. Temporary files are useful, but once you are done using the application, these files will generally no longer be used. These files can sometimes take up a lot of space.
How to delete temporary files using Disk Cleanup in Windows 10?
The simplest and fastest way to delete temporary files from your PC is to use the Disk Cleanup feature. This is a useful tool that will scan your disk and allow you to choose the type of files you want to delete. There is a wide range of files to choose from, and among these files, there are also temporary files. To use the Disk Cleanup tool, follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + S and enter Disk Cleanup. Choose Disk Cleanup from the menu.
- Alternatively, you can open the Start menu and enter Disk Cleanup to search for it.
- When the Disk Cleanup tool starts, you need to select the system drive. By default it should be C:
- Disk Cleanup will now scan the system drive for unnecessary files. This can take a while depending on the size of your disc, so be patient.
- You will now see a list of files along with the amount of space they take up. Check the temporary files and click OK. If you want, you can also check Temporary Internet Files.
- Wait while the tool removes the selected files from your PC.
Start Disk Cleanup Tool by using Run dialog box
After the process is finished, all temporary files should be removed from your PC. You can also start the Disk Cleanup tool by using the Run dialog box. To do that, follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + R and enter cleanmgr. Now press Enter or right-click on OK.
- You can also start Disk Cleanup using the command prompt or PowerShell. To do that, follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Administrator). If the command prompt is not available, you can use PowerShell instead.
- Enter the command cleanmgr to start cleaning the disk. You can also use the cleanmgr / d C command to automatically scan drive C.
Start Disk Cleanup Tool through Settings app
Another way to start Disk Cleanup is to use the Settings application. To do that, you need to follow these simple steps:
- Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
- When the Settings application opens, in the Search for a setting field, enter the disk and choose to Free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files. After doing that, the disk cleanup tool will start.
Start Disk Cleanup using Control Panel
If you want, you can also start Disk Cleanup using the Control Panel. To do that, just follow these steps:
- Press Windows key + S and enter the control panel. Now choose Control Panel from the list.
- When the Control Panel opens, go to the Administrative Tools section. Now a list of applications will appear. Find and run Disk Cleanup.
- You can also access Disk Cleanup simply by searching for it in the Control Panel. To do this, type disk cleanup in the search bar in the upper right corner and choose Clean up disk space by removing the unnecessary files option.
Start Disk Cleanup Tool through HDD properties
You can also start Disk Cleanup by simply finding your hard drive and checking its properties. To do that, follow these simple steps:
- Go to This PC.
- Find your system drive, by default it should be a C drive, right-click and choose Properties.
- When the window opens click on Properties, click Disk Cleanup.