---
title: "What is disk cleanup in Windows 10?"  
description: "What is disk cleanup in Windows 10?"  
author: "Rahul Roi"  
published: 2021-01-22  
updated: 2023-11-29  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/156389/what-is-disk-cleanup-in-windows-10  
category: "hardware technology"  
tags: ["hardware tools", "hardware & networking", "computer hardware", "computer software"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# What is disk cleanup in Windows 10?

What is [disk](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/96923/what-are-hard-disk-partitions) cleanup?

And how can use it in [windows](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/311752/how-to-install-and-use-the-google-wifi-software-on-a-windows-or-mac-computer) 10?

## Replies

### Reply by Aryan Kumar

Disk Cleanup is a utility in Windows 10 that allows users to free up space on their computer's hard drive by removing unnecessary files. It helps optimize the performance of the system by clearing temporary files, system files, and other items that are no longer needed. Here's how you can use Disk Cleanup in Windows 10:

## Accessing Disk Cleanup:

- You can access Disk Cleanup by following these steps:

   - Press the **Windows key** on your keyboard to open the Start menu.
   - Type "Disk Cleanup" and select the corresponding result.
   - Alternatively, you can open File Explorer, right-click on a drive (e.g., C:), select "Properties," and then click on the "Disk Cleanup" button in the Properties window.

## Selecting the Drive:

- Disk Cleanup will prompt you to select the drive you want to clean up. Choose the drive where you want to free up space (usually the C: drive).

## Analyzing Disk Space:

- Disk Cleanup will analyze the selected drive and calculate how much space can be freed up.

## Selecting File Categories:

- After analysis, Disk Cleanup will present a list of file categories that you can delete. These may include temporary files, system files, recycle bin contents, and more. You can select or deselect categories based on your preferences.

## Cleaning Up Files:

- Click the "OK" button to proceed. Disk Cleanup will ask for confirmation before permanently deleting the selected files. Click "Delete Files" to initiate the cleanup process.

## Completion:

- Once the cleanup is complete, you'll see a summary of the space that has been freed up. This can include a breakdown of the space reclaimed from each category.

### Important Points to Consider:

## System Files:

- If you want to clean up system files (such as old Windows installations or system restore points), you'll need to click the "Clean up system files" button in the Disk Cleanup window.

## Be Selective:

- Review the list of file categories carefully before proceeding to ensure that you don't delete anything important. It's generally safe to delete temporary files, recycle bin contents, and system files that are marked for cleanup.

## Regular Maintenance:

- Performing disk cleanup regularly can help maintain optimal system performance and prevent the hard drive from getting filled with unnecessary files over time.

Disk Cleanup is a useful tool for managing disk space and can be particularly helpful if your computer is running low on storage or if you want to perform routine maintenance to keep your system clean and efficient.


---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/156389/what-is-disk-cleanup-in-windows-10

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.