Storage Sense (Windows)
Also known as: Windows Storage Sense, automatic cleanup Windows, free up space automatically
Storage Sense is a Windows 10/11 feature that automatically frees space by deleting temporary files, emptying the Recycle Bin, and clearing the Downloads folder on a schedule you set. It is the modern, automatic replacement for running Disk Cleanup by hand.
- Lives in Settings > System > Storage
- Runs automatically on a schedule you choose
- Can auto-clear Downloads and the Recycle Bin
Where to turn it on
Open Settings > System > Storage and toggle on Storage Sense. Click it to configure how often it runs, when to empty the Recycle Bin, and whether to delete files in Downloads that have not been opened for a chosen number of days.
You can also run it once on demand with Run Storage Sense now at the bottom of that screen, without waiting for the schedule.
What it cleans
Storage Sense targets the same low-risk data as Disk Cleanup: Windows temporary files, app caches, thumbnails, Recycle Bin contents past your age limit, and old Downloads. It will not touch personal documents you have opened recently or files outside the folders it manages.