All Possible Ways to Delete Junk Files on Windows

You or your PC does not need junk files, and leaving them accumulating over time can negatively impact your device. These files can slow down your computer and use lots of valuable storage space, making it necessary to delete these junk files.

There are several ways to remove these files and restore your system to its normal state, and in this guide, we will walk you through all the possible steps to successfully achieve this.

Some ways to easily remove junk files from your system are listed below.

1. Clear the recycle bin

The recycle bin keeps all the files you have deleted from your computer, and it is one of the easiest and most effective ways of removing junk files from your system. We recommend doing this first before attempting any advanced process.

1. Locate the recycle bin shortcut on your desktop.
2. Right-click on it and choose Empty Recycle Bin.
   
3. In the Delete Multiple Items pop-up menu, click Yes.
   
4. Doing this should remove all the junk files on your PC.

2. Remove temporary files to remove junk

Temporary files are created automatically to support a file in use, and once the task is complete, these files become useless. Many Windows users forget to clean up these files, which, if left unchecked, could take up a large amount of storage space.

1. Hold the Windows + R keys to launch the Run dialogue, type %temp% in the text field, and hit Enter.
   
2. Once you are in the temporary folder, press Ctrl + A to select all files and click the Delete option.
   
3. There is also an inbuilt feature known as Storage Sense which can automatically help remove junk files from various sources. To enable it, do the following.
4. Navigate to Settings > System > Storage.
5. Next, turn on the toggle for Storage Sense and choose Configure Storage Sense or run it now.
6. Select when you want Storage Sense to run, then finally check the box for Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using.
   

3. Delete junk files with the Disk Cleanup tool

Disk Cleanup is handy when you want to remove trash items like downloads, temporary Windows installation files, temporal internet files, delivery optimization files, the Recycle Bin, and more.

1. Type Disk Cleanup in the search bar and open it.
   
2. Choose the drive you wish to scan and click OK.
   
3. Choose Clean up system files, pick the drive again, and allow your Windows to calculate the storage space that would be available if you delete these junk files.
4. Pick the files you want to remove, choose OK, and select Delete Files.

4. Clear restore points

Keeping too many unnecessary restore points can take up storage on your device resulting in poor performance. We recommend removing old restore points that are not needed.

1. Type Disk Cleanup in the search bar and open it.
   
2. Choose a drive and click OK.
   
3. Next, navigate to the More Options tab.
   
4. Click the Clean up button under the System Restore and Shadow Copies section.
   
5. Click Delete to confirm your action.

5. Use the command prompt to remove junk files

The command prompt is a handy tool for removing junk files. If you are a more technical user, we recommend using this option. Some commands you can use to clear junk files are listed below.

1. Input the command below to bypass disk selection and instead examine the category selection menu.
   Cleanmgr/sagest
2. For automatic disk cleaning without selecting a category, use the command below.
   Cleanmgr/ sagerun
3. Make use of the command below if you need to do a quick Cleanup.
   Cleanmgr/lowdisk
   
4. Carrying out these commands should help you delete junk files and free up storage space.

FAQS

How to clean up your PC

1. Carry out a Disk Cleanup.
2. Remove large files to create more storage space.
3. Run the CHKDSK command.
4. Delete programs you no longer need.
5. Clear cookies and cache from your browser.

Wrapping things up

We have successfully discussed effectively removing junk files on your Windows device. Following these steps will help you get a positive outcome.

If you have further questions, please tell us in the comment section below.