No one enjoys using a slow and sluggish system, whether it is old or new. So, if you’re seeking for ways to speed up your PC and clean it up, you’ve come to the correct place. In this article, we’ll go through the best ways to clean up Windows 10 PCs and get rid of garbage files, unnecessary data, cache, and cookies.
Normally, a computer will perform flawlessly for 5-1/2 years, but it will slow down significantly sooner in some cases. This not only annoys the user, but it also lowers productivity. With that said, if you’re seeking for ways to clean up Windows 10 PC and erase unwanted files on Windows 10, you’ve come to the right place.
Step 1: The Disk Cleanup tool
The Disk Cleanup program is available on every storage device on your computer. Select the Start button, type “disk cleanup” (without the quotes) into the search box, and then click the Disk Cleanup shortcut in the search results. To make it easier to find this shortcut in the future, click and drag it to your desktop or taskbar. In File Explorer, right-click a storage device, pick Properties, and then click the Disk Cleanup icon to the right of the pie chart to discover the utility.
The shortcut may or may not appear in your search results. If this is the case, use “free up disk space” instead of “disk cleanup” When the program’s name doesn’t work, a slogan could.
If you have a lot of clutter to get rid of, the application may take several minutes to examine your situation and categorize your junk for elimination. Once you’ve done that, you’ll see a new window with a list of items that are safe to delete. Some options, such as the one next to Temporary Internet Files, are even pre-checked.
Step 2: Storage Sense
At Settings > System > Storage on Windows 10, you’ll find a lot of the same functionality with a prettier UI. When your disk space is low or every so often, you can utilize Storage Sense to automatically clean up files. To alter these settings, go to Configure Storage Sense or run it immediately.
Click Temporary files on the list of what’s taking up space on your PC, and you can erase the same categories of items as in Disk Cleanup. Show more categories gives you more information about data types that aren’t taking up as much space.
Step 3: Empty the Recycle Bin
When a file is deleted from a Windows computer, it is not permanently gone. It is instead redirected to the Recycle Bin, where you can recover it. As a result, the Recycle Bin takes up a lot of room over time, and garbage accumulates.
As a result, emptying the Recycle Bin is a vital part of PC maintenance. Follow the instructions below to free up space and empty the Recycle Bin:
- On the desktop, look for the Recycle Bin icon.
- To open it, double-click it.
- You’ll notice all of the removed files here; double-check them.
- If you’re certain you want to delete everything, hit Ctrl + A to select everything.
- Select Recycle Bin Tools > Empty Recycle Bin from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Uninstall Big Programs
You’ll find files for most of the apps you’ve installed under Program Files (and/or Program Files (x86) on 64-bit Windows). Uninstall them from Settings > Apps > Apps & features if you don’t use them any longer.
Step 5: Browser and thumbnail caches
Several megabytes can be used by browser and thumbnail caches. When you load a webpage, it is saved in the cache for subsequent access, thus clearing it can make future surfing slower.
Caches in Chrome and Firefox can be cleared from within the apps by hitting Ctrl+Shift+Delete while the browser is active. It’s better to do it in the browser because you have more control over what you want to keep and what you want to delete.
While clearing your browser cache only frees up space momentarily, it doesn’t hurt to do so on a regular basis if you have security or privacy concerns.
Step 6: Clean Windows 10 Bloatware
Most store-bought PCs come with bloatware from the manufacturer that takes up space and replicates features already available in Windows. Furthermore, Windows 10 offers a number of useless programs that you will almost certainly never use.
You should remove bloatware from your system if you haven’t already. It’s an essential aspect of the Windows 10 cleanup process.
Step 7: System Restore
In the event that system files are mistakenly destroyed or corrupted, Windows employs System Restore to restore them. A system restore is similar to a bookmark or snapshot that the operating system can use to return to a previous state. It doesn’t back up the complete contents of your storage drive, so if you can’t start Windows at all, it won’t help you. And these recurring bookmarks might take up a lot of space. In fact, System Restore is off by default in Windows 8 and 10, so you shouldn’t have to fiddle with its settings unless you’ve enabled it manually.
Unfortunately, Windows does not allow you to choose which restore points to preserve, nor does it provide an easy way to determine how much disk space your restore points consume. All you can do with the Disk Cleanup tool is erase everything but the most current one. Go to the Disk Cleanup tool to do so. Clean up system files is selected, then the More Options tab is selected, then the System Restore and Shadow Copies section is selected, then the Clean Up button is selected, and lastly the Delete button is selected to confirm.
Are you sure you want to remove all of your restore points? You’ll need a different tool for that. To access your System Restore settings, click the Start menu button, right-click Computer, pick Properties, click the System Protection link on the left-hand side, and click the Configure button. If you don’t have a Computer shortcut on your Start menu or desktop, click the Start button, type “computer” into the search box, right-click it, select Properties, and you’ll be taken to the window where you may turn on System Protection. Then select Configure from the drop-down menu.
You may turn off System Restore completely, tell Windows how much disk space you want to commit to it, and delete all restore points by clicking the Delete button. This box also displays the amount of space taken up by your System Restore points. Windows 7 allocates around 5% of your storage device to restore points by default. So, theoretically, it won’t be too crowded. However, if you have a large storage device, that 5% might add up to a lot of gigabytes that could be put to greater use. Overall, making system backup images and keeping them on an external device (or even the cloud) will provide you with more control and consistency.
Step 8: Refresh Windows 10
Maybe your PC is so messed up that you don’t want to put out the effort to clean it up in Windows 10 PC. In that case, you can reinstall Windows from scratch using a built-in option.
You may be familiar with the Reset this PC option in the Recovery options. However, if you use this with certain parameters, your PC will be restored to its original state, including any preinstalled manufacturer bloatware. You can use a different way to avoid this.
To use it, go to the Recovery menu and press the same Get started option. Pick Keep my files, select whether to download or reinstall locally, select settings, and then select No for Restore preinstalled apps?
This is the same as the Fresh Start option in the Windows Security app’s Device performance & health section in previous Windows 10 versions. It reinstalls Windows 10 and updates it to the most recent version while also removing all installed apps. Your personal data and “certain Windows settings” are the only things that are saved.
Even while Windows promises to keep them safe, you should make a backup of your files beforehand in case something goes wrong. Make a note of windows 10 licensing keys you’ll need to reactivate software following the refresh.
It will take some time to manually reinstall all of your programs. However, if your computer is a shambles, a clean system may be worthwhile.
Conclusion:
As a result, we’ve outlined the most efficient and effective ways to clean up Windows 10 PC and improve performance. All of these activities can be completed in a few clicks by following these procedures and, more importantly, by using a system optimization program like Advanced PC Cleanup. This implies you can still acquire a clean Windows machine if you’re short on time.
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