Running out of storage can become a real headache, especially when your Windows PC starts showing low disk space warnings, Windows Updates cannot install properly, or everyday tasks begin to feel slower.
Microsoft PC Manager provides several storage management features that can help you find and remove unnecessary files. Its cleanup features can scan for items such as temporary files, browser caches, application caches, and other junk files. It also provides tools for finding large files and analyzing how your storage is being used.
In this guide, you will learn how to perform disk cleanup with PC Manager.
Disk Cleanup with PC Manager [Complete Guide]
- Open Microsoft PC Manager from the Start menu or its desktop shortcut.
- Select Cleanup from the PC Manager window to begin checking your computer for unnecessary files.
- Review the cleanup results and look at the amount of storage that can be recovered.
- Select the appropriate cleanup options after making sure you do not need any of the files being identified.
- Start the cleanup and allow PC Manager to remove the selected unnecessary files.
- Open Storage Management if you need to locate large files, unused applications, or additional storage that can be recovered.
- Check your available storage again after cleanup to confirm that your free disk space has increased.
Step 1: Install and Open Microsoft PC Manager
The first thing you need to do is make sure Microsoft PC Manager is installed on your Windows computer. Microsoft currently supports PC Manager on Windows 10 version 19042.0 or later and Windows 11.
Once the application is installed, open Start and search for PC Manager. Select the application from the search results.
When PC Manager opens, you will see its main dashboard. Depending on your version of the application, you may see options such as Health check, Cleanup, Storage management, Process management, and other PC maintenance tools.
For this guide, your main focus is the Cleanup and Storage management sections.
If you have never used PC Manager before, take a moment to look at the dashboard. You do not need to change every setting. The goal here is simply to identify unnecessary data and safely recover storage.
Step 2: Start a PC Manager Cleanup
After opening PC Manager, look for the Cleanup section on the main screen. This area is designed to help identify unnecessary files that can be removed from your computer.
Select the appropriate cleanup option and allow PC Manager to scan your system. The scan can identify different types of files that may no longer be useful.
Microsoft describes PC Manager’s Deep Cleanup feature as a way to comprehensively scan for junk files, including useless files, browser caches, and application caches.
The amount of time required for the scan depends on your computer and how much data is stored on it. If you have not cleaned your system for a long time, the scan may take longer.
Do not worry if PC Manager finds a large amount of data. Finding several gigabytes of temporary or cached files does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your computer.
Step 3: Review the Cleanup Results
Once the scan finishes, PC Manager will display the files and categories it believes can be cleaned.
This is an important part of the process. Do not blindly delete everything simply because PC Manager identifies it as removable.
Look through the available categories and pay attention to the amount of storage associated with each one. Temporary files and caches can often occupy considerable space, particularly if you frequently browse the web, install applications, or use programs that generate temporary data.
You should also pay attention to anything that could contain information you still need. If you are uncertain about a particular category, leave it alone until you understand what it contains.
The purpose of PC Manager is to make cleanup easier, but you should still review the results before confirming deletion.
Step 4: Clean Temporary and Unnecessary Files
After reviewing the results, select the cleanup items you are comfortable removing and start the cleanup process.
Temporary files are one of the most common sources of recoverable storage. Windows and applications create temporary data while performing different tasks, and some of that data may remain after the task has finished.
Browser and application caches can also accumulate over time. Clearing unnecessary cached data may recover storage, although applications and websites may need to recreate some of that cache later.
PC Manager’s terms of service specifically describe Deep Cleanup as a feature for cleaning unnecessary files, browser caches, and application caches.
Once you confirm the cleanup, let PC Manager finish the process. Avoid shutting down the computer while cleanup is actively running.
Step 5: Use Storage Management to Find Large Files
If the initial cleanup does not recover enough space, open Storage Management in PC Manager.
This is particularly useful when your storage problem is caused by large personal files rather than temporary files.
Microsoft says PC Manager’s storage features can help identify large files, downloads, duplicate files, and other storage usage. Its disk analysis feature can also provide information about storage usage by file type.
Look for files that are taking up a significant amount of space. Large videos, old installers, archived files, and downloaded content can quickly consume hundreds of gigabytes on a modern PC.
Before deleting anything, open or otherwise verify the file so you know exactly what it is. If you want to keep a large file but do not need it on your PC all the time, consider moving it to an external drive rather than deleting it.
Step 6: Check Your Downloads Folder
Your Downloads folder deserves special attention during a storage cleanup.
Over time, it is easy to accumulate application installers, ZIP archives, documents, videos, and other files that you downloaded months or even years ago.
PC Manager can help identify large files, but you should also manually inspect your Downloads folder if you are trying to recover significant storage.
Open File Explorer > Downloads and review the files carefully. If something is no longer needed, you can delete it. If it is important but rarely used, consider moving it somewhere else.
Remember that deleting a file may initially move it to the Recycle Bin, depending on how it is removed. Emptying the Recycle Bin is necessary if you want that space to be completely released from the drive.
Step 7: Remove Applications You No Longer Use
Applications can consume substantially more storage than temporary files. If your PC has accumulated programs you no longer use, uninstalling them can make a noticeable difference.
PC Manager includes an Application Uninstallation feature that can help remove applications you no longer need.
Open the relevant application management area in PC Manager and review the installed programs. Before uninstalling anything, make sure you recognize the application and know that you no longer need it.
Avoid removing software simply because you do not recognize its name. Some applications and components may be required by Windows or another program.
For a beginner, the safest approach is to remove programs that you knowingly installed yourself and no longer use.
Step 8: Check How Much Storage You Recovered
After completing the cleanup, check your available storage.
Open File Explorer > This PC and look at the available space on your Windows drive, which is commonly the C: drive. Windows also provides storage information through Settings > System > Storage. Microsoft recommends checking available drive space when troubleshooting low-storage situations.
Compare the amount of free space with what you had before starting the cleanup.
If you recovered several gigabytes, the cleanup was successful. If the available space barely changed, your storage problem may be caused by large personal files, installed applications, cloud files, or another category that a basic cleanup does not remove.
Step 9: Use Windows Storage Tools if You Still Need Space
PC Manager is useful, but it is not the only storage management option available in Windows.
You can go to Start > Settings > System > Storage to review Windows’ storage categories. Microsoft also provides Storage Sense, which can automatically remove certain unnecessary temporary files and manage storage on the system drive.
Windows also includes Cleanup recommendations, where you can review categories such as temporary files, large or unused files, cloud-synced files, and unused applications.
If your PC does not have Storage Sense available or you specifically need the traditional cleanup utility, you can search for Disk Cleanup from the Windows taskbar. Microsoft documents Disk Cleanup as another way to remove temporary and system files.
This gives you another option when PC Manager does not recover enough space.
Step 10: Make Disk Cleanup a Regular Habit
You do not need to wait until your C: drive is almost full before cleaning your PC.
A simple monthly check can help you keep track of storage usage. Open PC Manager > Cleanup and review what it finds. Then check Storage management for unusually large files or unnecessary downloads.
Also keep an eye on your available system storage before installing major Windows updates. Microsoft notes that insufficient storage can prevent updates from installing properly.
Regular cleanup is generally easier than trying to recover a large amount of storage after your drive becomes nearly full.
Faqs
Is Microsoft PC Manager safe for disk cleanup?
Microsoft PC Manager is Microsoft’s PC maintenance application, and its cleanup features are designed to identify unnecessary files. However, you should still review cleanup categories before deleting anything, particularly when dealing with personal files.
Does PC Manager delete personal photos and documents?
A normal cleanup should focus on the categories identified by its cleanup tools, but you should always review what is selected before confirming deletion. When using Storage management, be especially careful when manually selecting large personal files.
Can PC Manager clean the C: drive?
Yes. PC Manager can analyze and clean storage on your Windows computer, including unnecessary system and application data. Microsoft describes its storage management tools as helping users manage disk space and identify files that occupy significant storage.
Will PC Manager make my computer faster?
It can help when low storage or unnecessary temporary data is contributing to poor performance. However, disk cleanup is not a guaranteed solution for every performance problem. Microsoft notes that slow Windows PCs can also be affected by startup applications, outdated software, malware, or hardware limitations.
How often should I use PC Manager for cleanup?
There is no universal schedule. For a typical Windows PC, checking your storage once a month is a reasonable habit. If you frequently download large files or install and remove applications, you may want to check it more often.
What if PC Manager says it cannot proceed with cleanup?
First, restart your computer and try the cleanup again. If the problem continues, use Settings > System > Storage to check available space and try Windows’ Cleanup recommendations or Storage Sense. You can also use the traditional Disk Cleanup utility when appropriate.
Bottom Lines
Disk cleanup with Microsoft PC Manager is a straightforward way for beginners to identify unnecessary files and recover storage on a Windows PC. Start with Cleanup, carefully review what PC Manager finds, and then use Storage management to investigate large files and other space-consuming data.
The key is not to treat cleanup as a one-click process where you delete everything without looking. Review the results first, protect files you still need, and use Windows storage tools when you need a deeper look at your drive.
If your computer is still low on storage after using PC Manager, focus next on large personal files, unused applications, Downloads, and Windows storage recommendations.
Microsoft also recommends Storage Sense and other Windows cleanup options for freeing additional space.