Learn how to remove junk files from Windows 10 and keep your hard drive clean without harming your PC.
The Benefits of Removing Junk Files From Your Computer
Leaving files and programs on your computer that you don’t need wastes precious space. It makes your machine work harder than it needs to. It can also slow down your computer, as it has to dig and sift through these files to find what it needs or use resources to update applications you no longer use.
Before You Begin
System Restore is a Windows tool that essentially allows you to take your computer back in time. If you should inadvertently delete a file that you still need, performing System Restore could save you. Before you start taking out the trash on your Windows 10 PC, make sure that System Restore is enabled. Follow up by creating a system restore point that you could revert your system to in case you accidentally delete something important.
Managing the Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin will store deleted files. If you decide you need one back, it’s easy to go in and restore it. However, as space fills up, Windows 10 will begin to permanently get rid of those files, beginning with the oldest ones first. If you are certain you don’t need any of the files currently in the Recycle Bin, you can empty it to make room for more.
Trashing Temporary Files
Temp files are also junk that you can clean off your computer. You can use a Windows 10 setting to automatically get rid of temporary files for you.
The Disk Cleanup Tool
Disk Cleanup is an integrated tool in Windows. Running this tool simplifies the task of getting rid of junk files in Windows 10, such as previous software installations, Recycle Bin contents, temporary files, and thumbnails. Another feature of Disk Cleanup in Windows 10 is system compression, which compresses files that are not yet compressed, freeing up even more space.
How Often Should You Remove Junk Files From Your Computer?
If you use your computer for several hours each day and download dozens of files, you will need to clean out the junk more frequently than someone who only hops on a couple of times each week. However, if you run Disk Cleanup once a week or twice a month, you can keep those junk files from building up and slowing you down.
