Keeping your Windows PC clutter-free is essential for maintaining optimal performance. Microsoft's PC Manager is a handy tool that simplifies the process of cleaning up unnecessary system files and enhancing your PC's efficiency. The Deep Cleanup feature within PC Manager allows you to remove temporary files, system logs, error reports, web cache, recycle bin contents, and more—all the files that are no longer needed by your system.

If you want to manage user files and delete large files using PC Manager, you can refer to our dedicated article.

As of now, Microsoft PC Manager doesn't come preinstalled on Windows devices. You'll need to download it separately, and it's compatible with Windows 10 version 1809 and later, and Windows 11.

If you haven't installed PC Manager yet, follow the steps below to get started. If you already have it installed, you can skip to the next section.

Download and Install Microsoft PC Manager

If you haven't installed PC Manager yet, follow these steps to download and set it up on your Windows PC.

  1. Go to pcmanager.microsoft.com to download Microsoft PC Manager. This process is identical for both Windows 11 and Windows 10.
  1. Once the download is complete, navigate to your Downloads folder and double-click the .EXE file to begin the installation.
  1. A User Account Control (UAC) window will appear. If you're not logged in as an administrator, enter the admin credentials. Otherwise, click Yes to proceed.
  1. Read and accept the End User License and Privacy Agreements by checking the box, then click Install.
  1. Wait for the installation to complete; this may take a few minutes.
  1. After installation, click Launch Now to open PC Manager.

Perform a Deep Cleanup Using Windows PC Manager

With PC Manager installed, you can now perform a deep cleanup to remove unnecessary system files.

  1. Open PC Manager on your system. Ensure the Cleanup tab at the bottom is selected. Then, click on the Storage Management option.
  1. In the Storage Management section, click on the Deep cleanup tile.
  1. PC Manager will scan your system for disposable files such as Recycle Bin contents, error reports, web cache, old Windows update files, and more. Review the list and select the files you wish to delete by checking the boxes next to each item. To view the files in a category, click on the Details link next to it.
  1. In the details window, you can see all the files that are available for cleanup under that category. You can also click the Show Folder icon to open the folder in File Explorer. When you're done reviewing, click the X icon to close the window.
  1. After selecting the files you want to remove, click on the Proceed button to start the cleanup. The process may take from a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the amount of data.

That's it! You have successfully performed a deep cleanup of your system using PC Manager.

Microsoft PC Manager is a valuable tool to optimize your PC's performance by simplifying system maintenance tasks. If you're interested in learning more about PC Manager, you can read our dedicated article on it.