What are the Best Free Disk Cleanup Tools for Windows?

Your C volume is nearly full and Windows sends low space warnings. You don't need a bigger disk or a paid cleaner to start.

Windows includes two cleanup tools and two free third party tools add more. The tools below go from the easiest built in option to the most detailed.

What are the Best Free Disk Cleanup Tools for Windows?

Do You Need a Paid PC Cleaner?

No. Windows includes two cleanup tools. BleachBit states on its site that it is free with no ads or upsells. Start with those before you consider anything else.

How do You Use Storage Sense?

Microsoft states that Storage Sense works on Windows 11 and Windows 10. It clears temporary files and items in the Recycle Bin. It leaves your Downloads folder and cloud synced content alone unless you configure those settings. See Storage Sense guidance.

1. Open Start then Settings then System then Storage.
2. Set Storage Sense to On.
3. Open the Storage Sense settings and choose how often it starts under Run Storage Sense.
4. Set the Recycle Bin and Downloads options only if you want those folders cleared.

Microsoft adds that Storage Sense starts automatically when the device is low on disk space and works only on the system volume.

The Cleanup recommendations page lists temporary files, large or unused files, files synced to the cloud and unused apps. Microsoft warns that deleting a previous Windows version removes the Windows.old folder, which you need to roll back. You can't undo that deletion. See cleanup recommendations.

How do You Open Disk Cleanup?

Microsoft documents cleanmgr as the command that clears unnecessary files from a disk. It can include temp files, internet files, downloaded files and the Recycle Bin. Cleaning the volume with your Windows installation makes all options available. See cleanmgr reference.

1. Open Command Prompt.
2. Enter the command below.
3. Select the items you want to remove.
4. Confirm the cleanup.

:: Open Disk Cleanup for the C volume
cleanmgr /d C:

Review the list before you confirm. Files you remove go straight from the list and not into the Recycle Bin.

How do You Clear Temp Files and the Hibernation File?

Your user temp folder contains throwaway files that apps create. Open it by entering %temp% in the Run box from Win + R, select the files and delete them. Ignore files that Windows reports as in use.

Microsoft documents powercfg /hibernate off as the command that disables the hibernate feature. Disabling it removes the hibernation file and frees that space. The command powercfg /a reports the sleep states your system has. See powercfg options.

:: Report available sleep states
powercfg /a
:: Disable hibernation
powercfg /hibernate off
:: Enable hibernation again later
powercfg /hibernate on

Disable hibernation only when you never use Hibernate. Empty the Recycle Bin afterward because Microsoft states that deleted files free space only after you empty it.

How do You Clean App Caches With BleachBit?

BleachBit is free and released under the GPLv3 license according to its official site. It cleans temporary files, browser caches, logs and application traces on Windows and Linux. Its site states that it displays every file before anything is deleted.

1. Download BleachBit from its official site.
2. Tick the categories you want to clear.
3. Select Preview to see what BleachBit will remove.
4. Select Clean after the preview looks right.

BleachBit can also clear cookies and saved passwords. Untick browser categories if you want to remain signed in to sites.

How do You Find Large Folders With WizTree?

WizTree shows which folders and files use the most space. Its site states that on NTFS volumes it scans the Master File Table directly, which makes scans fast. The results appear as a folder tree with a visual map.

WizTree is free for personal use. Its site states that business use needs a Supporter Code and large organizations need an Enterprise license.

Delete the folders you no longer need after the scan. Apps you don't use also take space. See how to uninstall stubborn programs in Windows. If you remove a file by mistake see how to recover deleted data from a desktop computer.