How to Run Disk Cleanup in Windows

Running Disk Cleanup on a Windows Server helps to free up space by removing unnecessary files. An administrator may need to be present to run this tool.  Follow these steps to perform Disk Cleanup:

Step 1: Open Disk Cleanup

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cleanmgr and press Enter.

Step 2: Select the Drive

1. In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, select the drive you want to clean up (usually the C: drive).

2. Click OK.
3. Select “Clean up system files” button

Step 3: Choose Files to Delete

1. Disk Cleanup will calculate the amount of space you can free up. This may take a few minutes.
2. Once the calculation is complete, a list of file categories will appear. Check the boxes next to the types of files you want to delete.

3. Click OK.

Step 4: Confirm Deletion

1. A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click Delete Files to confirm.

Step 5: Clean Up System Files (Optional)

1. If you want to clean up system files, click the Clean up system files button in the Disk Cleanup dialog box.
2. Select the drive again and click OK.
3. Check the boxes next to the types of system files you want to delete.
4. Click OK and then Delete Files to confirm.

Additional Tips

• For Windows Server versions prior to 2016, you may need to install the Desktop Experience feature to access Disk Cleanup.
• Use the command cleanmgr /sageset:n to configure Disk Cleanup settings and cleanmgr /sagerun:n to run Disk Cleanup with those settings.