Look! 5 Ways to Clean Up Junk Files in Windows 10

Temporary Internet files and cookies can accumulate on your computer, cluttering your disk with hundreds or thousands of junk files, if not regularly deleted. These files are created by Windows and other programs during installation and operation, and can include temporary files, log files, downloaded files, and unwanted Windows registry entries. As a result, it's essential to delete these junk files to speed up your PC and maintain its performance.

What Junk Files Can You Delete Without Hesitation

Before starting the cleaning process, it's essential to identify which files can be deleted. Just like clearing out expired food from your refrigerator, you need to know what files are safe to discard to free up space. Some files that can be deleted include.

Recycle bin files
Temporary files
Program files, thumbnails, log files and more
System junk files
Large files

To prevent accidental deletion of system files, it's recommended to back up your system in advance or enable the system restore function. After that, you can follow these effective ways to delete junk files and free up space.

Method 1. Empty the Recycle Bin

The recycle bin is where deleted files go, taking up space on the hard drive until they're permanently deleted or restored from there.

Step 1. Right-click on the recycle bin icon on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin" from the context menu.

Step 2. To confirm that you want to permanently delete the items, select "Yes".

clean up recycle bin files

Method 2. Automatically Delete Temp Files in Windows 10

Windows tends to accumulate temp files and other junk on your hard drive, taking up unnecessary space. You can follow these settings to automatically clean up this clutter.

Step 1. Open "Settings". Navigate to "System > Storage".

Step 2. To enable the "Storage sense" feature, go to Settings > System > Storage > Storage sense, then toggle the switch to the right to turn it on. This will help your device automatically free up storage space by deleting temporary files, emptying the recycle bin, and removing other unnecessary items.

Step 3. To free up space, click on the "Change how we free up space" links, ensuring that Storage sense is enabled.

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Step 4. To enable Windows 10 to automatically delete temporary files, turn on the "Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using" option, along with other desired settings. This will allow Windows to periodically clean up unused temp files, freeing up disk space.

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Windows 10 automatically deletes all unused files that have not been modified in the past 30 days.

Method 3. Use Disk Cleanup to Clean Up Program Files and More

Program files, thumbnails, and log files left behind by app installers can be safely removed as they occupy space on the hard disk drive without serving any purpose. The Windows built-in tool, Disk Cleanup, can be used to remove these files, as well as temporary files and system files, making it a useful tool for cleaning up unwanted files.

Step 1. Type "disk cleanup" in the search box on the taskbar, and select "Disk Cleanup" from the list of results.

Step 2. To clean up the drive, select the drive you want to clean up and then select "OK".

Step 3. To delete files, select the checkbox next to the type of files you want to delete, such as "Downloaded Program Files", "Temporary Internet Files", or "Thumbnails". Be sure to clear the check boxes for these types if you don't want to delete them.

delete files using disk clean up

Method 4. Deal with System Junk Files (Free)

A system file is a crucial file in Windows that, if altered or deleted, can cause system failure. It's best to leave system files alone, but sometimes, a clean-up tool like Qiling Disk Master's System Cleanup feature can help remove system junk files, keeping your PC running smoothly.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Open Qiling Disk Master on your computer. Click "Surface test" button to go on.

Step 2. Click the "Proceed" button to initiate the operation, and the system will immediately perform the task. Bad sectors will be identified and marked in red.

The WD hard drive diagnostic tool identifies and marks bad sectors on the drive, making them inaccessible to the operating system to prevent data loss. The tool will display the number of bad sectors found, providing a clear indication of the drive's condition.

Method 5. Clean Up Large Files (Free)

Qiling Disk Master is a useful Windows 10 cleanup tool that can help you free up hard drive space taken up by many large files. Its Large File Cleanup feature scans and identifies all large files on your partitions, allowing you to easily find, locate, and remove them from your Windows 10/8/7 system.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Open Qiling Disk Master on your computer, click on "Large File Cleanup", and then click the "Start" button to proceed. This tool supports moving or deleting large files to free up disk space, and you can also try moving the default folders to another drive.

Step 2. Then choose the hard drive you want to scan.

Step 3. After the scan is complete, files larger than 20M will be listed, and you can select the unwanted ones to delete. Be cautious not to accidentally delete files that are essential for your computer's normal operation or software functionality. Additionally, we provide recommendations for deletion in the "Large File Cleanup" section once the scanning is finished.

Step 4. To delete large files, click the "Delete" button and confirm the delete operation. Alternatively, if you have space on another drive, choose "Move" to relocate the files. This tool can be used regularly to remove unnecessary large files and free up disk space.

Additional Help to Deal with Large Files

To tackle large files, consider deleting or compressing them. You can also consider using cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox to free up space on your device.

1. Move large files to a cloud drive

If your hard drive is running out of space, consider transferring files to a cloud drive like OneDrive or DropBox, which offer free storage options, such as 5GB with OneDrive, or upgrade to a paid subscription for more space.

2. Transfer large files to an external hard drive

You can free up space on your computer by moving large files to an external hard drive or transferring programs that are taking up too much space.

3. Change the game location

If your C drive is full, you can move the Origin or Steam games to another drive without having to redownload or rebuy them. This can free up space on your C drive.

Conclusion

Using a slow PC can be frustrating, but hopefully, the tips provided here will help resolve the issue. Some suggestions, such as deleting system files and emptying the recycle bin, may also uncover other underlying problems, so proceed with caution. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a message.