Disk Cleanup
Also known as: cleanmgr, Windows Disk Cleanup, clean up C drive
Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) is the built-in Windows utility that removes temporary files, caches, Recycle Bin contents, and old update files to free space on a drive. It is safe to run and only deletes data Windows considers expendable.
- Launched via Start menu or cleanmgr
- Only deletes temporary and expendable files
- Use "Clean up system files" for update leftovers
How to run Disk Cleanup
Open the Start menu, type Disk Cleanup, and pick a drive (usually C:). You can also press Win + R and run cleanmgr. Windows scans the drive and lists categories you can check — Temporary files, Recycle Bin, thumbnails, delivery optimization files, and more.
To reach system-level items like old Windows Update files, click Clean up system files in the same window, which re-runs the scan with administrator rights and adds categories such as Windows Update Cleanup and previous Windows installations.
Disk Cleanup vs Storage Sense
Disk Cleanup is the on-demand tool you trigger manually. Storage Sense (in Settings > System > Storage) is the modern automatic version that runs on a schedule. Both clear similar junk, so newer Windows 11 builds nudge you toward Storage Sense, but cleanmgr is still present and useful.