Manually deleting unwanted files and folders saves you using clean-up software, but can also be risky. Robert Irvine reveals which items you can safely remove and how
Regularly deleting junk files from your PC frees up valuable storage space and makes your system run more smoothly. You probably have a favourite clean-up tool for the task – such as BleachBit, Wise Disk Cleaner or even the once-great CCleaner – which purges junk at the click of a button. However, it’s also useful to know how to delete unwanted files and folders manually, so you don’t have to rely on third-party software.
The obvious problem with the DIY approach to PC maintenance is that you risk removing important items, which may ultimately slow or damage your system rather than speed it up. In this feature, we reveal all the junk files and folders it’s completely safe to delete from your PC. We tell you where to find these items on your hard drive, explain where they come from and outline the most reliable ways to remove them – without needing to download software or tweak the Windows registry. We also highlight the essential files and folders you should never delete.
We’ve used ‘C:’ to indicate the primary hard drive in your PC, but your drive letter may differ. All our removal methods were tested on both a Windows 10 PC and a Windows 11 laptop to ensure they apply to both operating systems.
As a precautionary measure, you should create a system restore point before making significant changes to your PC, and – when possible – send junk items to the Recycle Bin before deleting them permanently.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Manually delete temporary files from Windows
• Wipe old Windows Update files that waste disk space
• Clean up installation files in the Panther folder • Reclaim space by disabling the Hibernate feature
• Delete downloads automatically after 60 days
• Remove the OneDrive folder without losing important files
THE WINDOWS FOLDER (C:\WINDOWS)
The Windows folder is where all the important files for the operating system are stored, but it also contains a lot of unnecessary clutter. Here’s what you can safely remove from the folder.
Temp
The Temp folder is where Windows stores temporary files it creates during the course of its everyday operation. These files are only needed during their initial use, and merely waste space on your hard drive afterwards, so it’s both safe and advisable to delete them.
The Storage Sense feature in Windo
