Does Windows 11 still have classic Disk Cleanup?

Yes, cleanmgr.exe is still included and works the same as in Windows 10.

Which is better on Windows 11, Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense?

Use Storage Sense for automatic ongoing cleanup and Disk Cleanup for a manual deep pass, especially to remove Windows.old.

How much space does cleanup usually free?

It varies, but it's common to reclaim several GB to over 20 GB after a recent feature update, mostly from Windows Update Cleanup and Windows.old.

Disk Cleanup for Windows 11

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Windows 11 keeps Disk Cleanup alongside the newer Storage Sense feature; here's how to use both to free up drive space.

Updated August 9, 2026 · PC Utility Hub Editorial Team

Open Disk Cleanup in Windows 11

1Click Start, type "Disk Cleanup", and select the app from the results.
2Select the drive (usually C:) and click OK to scan.
3Review the list of file categories and check the ones to remove.
4Click "Clean up system files" for elevated access to Windows Update Cleanup and Previous Windows installations.
5Confirm with Delete Files.

Where it hides in the Settings app

Windows 11 also surfaces cleanup options directly in Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, which lists similar categories with checkboxes. This view is effectively a modernized front end covering some of the same ground as classic Disk Cleanup, though it does not include Previous Windows installations cleanup.

Turn on Storage Sense

1Go to Settings > System > Storage.
2Toggle Storage Sense on.
3Click Storage Sense to configure how often it runs and whether it deletes files in Downloads or empties the Recycle Bin automatically.
4Optionally enable "Delete previous versions of Windows" so upgrade backups clear automatically after a set number of days.

Freeing significant space fast

Windows Update Cleanup usually reclaims the most space, often several GB.
Delivery Optimization Files can add up if you've had Windows a while.
Previous Windows installations (Windows.old) can be 10-20 GB after a feature update.
Empty the Recycle Bin and clear the Downloads folder manually if Storage Sense isn't set to do it.

If Disk Cleanup won't open

Run `sfc /scannow` and `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth` to repair system files if Disk Cleanup fails to launch or crashes. Also verify disk integrity with chkdsk if the drive shows read errors during the scan.

Frequently asked questions

Does Windows 11 still have classic Disk Cleanup?: Yes, cleanmgr.exe is still included and works the same as in Windows 10.
Which is better on Windows 11, Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense?: Use Storage Sense for automatic ongoing cleanup and Disk Cleanup for a manual deep pass, especially to remove Windows.old.
How much space does cleanup usually free?: It varies, but it's common to reclaim several GB to over 20 GB after a recent feature update, mostly from Windows Update Cleanup and Windows.old.