What you will achieve
Run Storage Sense immediately to clear temporary files, empty the Recycle Bin, and prune old Downloads — freeing disk space without manually hunting folders or deleting something critical.
1) Confirm Storage Sense is enabled
- Open Settings → System → Storage.
- Toggle Storage Sense on if it is off.
- Click Storage Sense to review what it will clean: temporary files, Recycle Bin age, Downloads age, and OneDrive cloud-only content if configured.
2) Run Storage Sense now
- On the Storage Sense page, click Run Storage Sense now at the bottom.
- Wait for the progress bar — large temp caches can take several minutes.
- Return to Settings → System → Storage and confirm free space increased.
3) Alternative: Cleanup recommendations
Windows 11 also offers granular cleanup on the main Storage page:
- Under Cleanup recommendations, expand categories (Temporary files, Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud).
- Review each checkbox — do not blindly select Downloads unless you are sure.
- Click Clean up for selected items.
4) Classic Disk Cleanup for Windows Update cache
For stubborn Windows Update Cleanup entries:
- Press Win + R, type
cleanmgr, select the system drive. - Click Clean up system files, tick Windows Update Cleanup and Delivery Optimisation Files, then OK.
5) Schedule automatic runs
In Storage Sense settings, set Run Storage Sense to Every week or During low free disk space. Configure Recycle Bin and Downloads retention (1, 14, 30, or 60 days). Immediate runs respect the same rules — adjust retention before clicking Run now if you need to keep recent Downloads.
6) Check what Storage Sense skipped
After a run, open Settings → System → Storage and review category sizes. Large Apps & features or Other buckets need manual review — Storage Sense does not uninstall apps. For OneDrive, use Free up space on files already synced to cloud rather than deleting local-only copies you still need offline. Re-run after major Windows updates — leftover $Windows.~BT folders sometimes need Disk Cleanup instead.