🗑️ Take out the trash: On a Mac, hold down Cmd + Shift, then press Delete. Boom, your trash can is empty. On Windows, you’re better off right-clicking and selecting Empty Recycle Bin.
Tech cleanup: Files and folders taking valuable storage from your PC
It happens. The longer we keep our devices, the more cluttered they become.
Open your phone’s app tray for a great example. How many are sitting there that you haven’t opened in months or years? This clutter isn’t just annoying — it can be dangerous, too. Tap or click to delete apps you’re not using.
On your PC, your Start menu is probably a mess, too. That’s easy to clean up, and you’ll thank yourself every time you click it. Tap or click for quick steps to banish the junk.
Then there are all those files you genuinely don’t need. Keep reading for your easy action plan to free up some space like a pro.
Step 1: Empty the Recycle Bin
When you delete a file, it’s not gone. It first goes to the Recycle Bin, waiting for you to take more permanent action. To get them out of purgatory, right-click on your Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.
Here’s another option that shows you even more files: Go to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. You’ll see a list of temporary files, including the contents of the Recycle Bin. Check the Recycle Bin box (and anything else you want to get rid of), then select Remove files.
Deleting old photos, documents and spreadsheets is just the beginning. This 5-minute tech fix will help you speed up your PC.
Step 2: Clear temporary files
Temporary files are created to help apps or processes go off without a hitch — or to help with transferring data and other processes. Over time, they can take up a lot of space. To clear them, open your C: drive and select the Windows folder, then Temp (C:WindowsTemp). Press Ctrl + A to select everything, then hit Delete.
You can also navigate to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Select what you want to delete and hit Remove files.
Sick of paying for expensive software? Tap or click for nine free copycats that are just as good as the originals.
6 ways to find and get rid of unnecessary files on your PC or Mac
Imagine you’re dashing through the woods in a marathon and suddenly fall into a pool of mud. You’re straining your legs as fast as possible, but the dirt clinging to you makes your footsteps heavy and slow. That’s what your computer goes through when it’s clogged full of unnecessary files.
Speed up your PC or Mac: 5 pro tricks to quickly find and delete junk
In our homes, dirt, dust, and grime can pile up over time. Cached files, screenshots and duplicates are the digital equivalent.
One of the questions I get the most on my national radio show is, “How do I delete all these duplicate photos?” It’s a pain, and you need extra software to get the job done right. Tap or click for my picks.
How to safely delete data forever on your PC or Mac
When you delete a file on your PC or Mac, by sending it to the “Trash,” it’s easy to assume that the file is gone forever. But really, it’s just been sent to another place. Not only does that mean these files can be seen by others later, but they could be slowing down your machine. Tap or click here for ways to speed up your device.
♻️ Manage the recycling: It’s up to you how long files stick around in your PC’s Recycle Bin before being wiped forever. Click System > Storage > Storage Sense to choose to delete them after one day, 60 days or never.