Running a cleanup isn't just about making room for more photos or games. It has tangible benefits for your PC's health:

that haven't been permanently emptied. Why Should You Care?

(often left behind after a major update).

A full hard drive is a slow hard drive. By spending five minutes a month running Disk Cleanup , you can keep your computer feeling snappy and ensure you always have room for what matters most [19].

Whether you're on Windows 10 or 11, the process is simple. Experts at CAL Business Solutions suggest doing this at least once a month [14]:

Is your computer starting to feel a bit sluggish? Does it take longer to open apps or save files than it used to? If so, you might be dealing with digital "clutter." Just like a physical desk, your computer’s hard drive can get buried under piles of unnecessary files, slowing you down and eating up valuable space.

: For traditional hard drives, reducing the amount of data can help minimize unnecessary read/write operations [6]. How to Run Disk Cleanup (The Right Way)

Clear the Clutter: Why Disk Cleanup is Your PC’s Best Friend