How to Clean Disk Junk in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Use Storage Sense (Automatic Cleanup)
✅ Best for: Automatic deletion of temp files, recycle bin, and downloads.
Go to Settings → System → Storage → Storage Sense → Turn On.
Configure to run weekly/monthly.
- Run Disk Cleanup (Manual Cleanup)
✅ Best for: Removing system junk (Windows Update files, error logs).
Press Win + S, type Disk Cleanup → Select your drive (e.g., C:).
Check Temporary files, Windows Update Cleanup, Recycle Bin → Click OK.
- Uninstall Unused Apps
✅ Best for: Removing bloatware and large unused programs.
Go to Settings → Apps → Installed Apps → Sort by size → Uninstall unwanted apps.
- Clear Browser Cache
✅ Best for: Freeing GBs of cached web data.
Chrome/Edge: Press Ctrl + Shift + Del → Select All time → Check Cached images/files → Clear.
- Delete Large & Duplicate Files
✅ Best for: Manual cleanup of old downloads, videos, and duplicates.
Use File Explorer → This PC → Search “size”.
Tools like TreeSize Free or CCleaner help identify large files.
- Disable Hibernation (If Not Needed)
✅ Frees ~5-10GB (size of your RAM).
Run Command Prompt (Admin) → Type:
text
Copy Code
powercfg /h off
- Move Files to Cloud/External Drive
✅ Best for: Photos, videos, and backups.
Use OneDrive, Google Drive, or an external HDD.
- Reset Windows (Last Resort)
✅ Best for: Extreme cases with persistent clutter.
Go to Settings → System → Recovery → Reset PC (Keep files only).
Final Tips:
Regularly check Storage Usage (Settings → System → Storage).
Avoid third-party “registry cleaners” (often cause system issues).
Use WinDirStat for visual disk space analysis.
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