14 DAY TRIAL // The days when most Windows users installed system cleaning apps are long gone, pretty much because Microsoft itself has equipped the operating system with the necessary tools to do the whole thing so much easier.
Right now, Windows 10 comes with a Storage Settings page that allows anyone to scan the local drives for temporary files, apps, and other data that eats up space, basically making it possible to clean up the hard disk using a native solution.
At this point, the Storage Sense tool is located at the following path in Windows 10:
Windows 10 > Settings > System > Storage
Storage Sense can be configured to run:
- Every day
- Every week
- Every month
- During low free disk space
Basically, how Microsoft improves the Windows 10 storage cleaner is with a new page that displays all cleaning recommendations on one page, thus making it possible to easily select the data that you want to remove.
“Free up disk space with this Storage Settings feature that gathers unused files and apps so you can digitally cleanse your device,” Microsoft says.
“Windows cannot predict whether you want to delete personal files, uninstall apps, or remove local copies of files synced to the cloud. With this tool, all the content is gathered in one page and removable by you with a few clicks.”
The cleanup recommendations will be grouped in several categories, including temporary files and large and unused files. Recent files will also be included, including those that are stored in the downloads folder. You can also clean files synced to the cloud and unused apps.
Windows 10 version 2004 is expected to launch next month, with the RTM build to be signed off as soon as March. People familiar with the matter said the new version of the operating system was finalized in December, so what Microsoft is doing right now is just giving the last-minute polishing to the final build before shipping it to users enrolled in the Windows Insider program.
When this happens, all Insider rings will be provided with the RTM build, after which Microsoft will collect the last batch of feedback to prepare for the rollout to production devices across the world.
Just like it happened for the previous feature updates, Windows 10 version 2004 will go live for all users across the world in stages, which means that not everyone is getting it at once. Microsoft uses this approach to make sure that widespread issues don’t hit a significant number of devices, as it can always suspend the rollout for specific configurations if it detects bugs.
It goes without saying that the new storage cleaning options will only be available in Windows 10 version 2004, so in order to use it, you’ll have to update your device to the latest feature update for the operating system. Microsoft is yet to announce the name of the new feature update, but further information is projected to be offered in the coming weeks as we approach the moment when the go-ahead button is pressed for this update.