Having Trouble with Disk Cleanup? Quick Solutions to Fix It!

Disk Cleanup is a vital Windows utility designed to free up storage space by removing unnecessary files. Despite its usefulness, users often encounter issues such as:

• Windows Update Cleanup not showing in Disk Cleanup.
• Disk Cleanup not functioning properly on Windows 11.
• Disk Cleanup freezing during Windows Update Cleanup.

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, here are effective solutions to resolve them.

Common Causes of Disk Cleanup Issues

1. Corrupt system files.
2. Insufficient permissions.
3. Pending Windows updates preventing cleanup.
4. Conflicts with third-party software.
5. Temporary system bugs.

Solutions to Fix Disk Cleanup Problems

1. Run Disk Cleanup as Administrator

• Press Windows + S and search for Disk Cleanup.
• Right-click and select Run as administrator.
• Choose the drive (e.g., C:) and check if the Windows Update Cleanup option appears.

2. Check for Pending Windows Updates

• Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Navigate to Windows Update and check for updates.
• Install any pending updates and restart your computer.

3. Use Storage Sense Instead

• Open Settings (Windows + I).
• Go to System > Storage.
• Enable Storage Sense and let it manage disk cleanup automatically.

4. Manually Delete Windows Update Files

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
• Stop the “Windows Update” service.
• Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download in File Explorer.
• Delete all files in this folder, then restart the “Windows Update” service.

5. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM Commands

Use Command Prompt (Admin) for these commands:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

6. Force Disk Cleanup via Command Prompt

Run these commands to bypass issues:

textcleanmgr /sageset:1
cleanmgr /sagerun:1

7. Use Third-Party Tools

If Disk Cleanup fails, try alternative cleanup tools:

• CCleaner: Removes junk files efficiently.
• BleachBit: Open-source cleanup tool.
• Wise Disk Cleaner: Cleans and defragments your disk automatically.

8. Reset Windows Update Components

Use Command Prompt (Admin) for these commands:

textnet stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Conclusion

Whether you’re dealing with stuck updates or permissions issues, these solutions should help you resolve Disk Cleanup problems quickly. For persistent issues, consider using third-party tools or consulting advanced troubleshooting guides.