♻️ 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.
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.
Junk files can pile up over time until they’re the digital equivalent of a mud pit, slowing your system’s processes to a slog. Every once in a while, you need to hunt down the useless files gumming up the works. This effort can speed up your computer and even improve its overall performance.
Tap or click here for one quick tip to speed up your PC or Mac. If that doesn’t solve the problem, no worries — we put together six tricks you can use to fix the fluff and focus only on what your computer needs to run smoothly. We’ll give you multiple problem-solving strategies to clear your computer of all that metaphorical mud.
This tip is brought to you by our sponsor, Dell. Read to the end to see how Dell can help you find the right tech for free. No one likes wasting money!
So, what are unnecessary files?
It’s an umbrella term for all the gunk you don’t need. For instance, old files you no longer use as well as duplicates.
Another source of clutter comes from temporary files your system uses to store data while running programs. They’re also helpful when creating permanent files.
For example, say you’re saving an important document in Microsoft Word, but something goes awry with the program. You don’t have to worry because your computer saved a temporary file as a backup. They can be helpful in case of emergency, but they can build up to a significant chunk of space you don’t need over time.
Here are six ways to clean out your Mac or PC.
1. Use native software
In other words, use the program that naturally comes with your Mac or PC. They’re tailored to your device’s requirements, making them the optimal software. If you download extraneous programs all willy-nilly, you’re likely using something with more features than you need.
Got a PC? Use the Disk Cleanup tool
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We all clean our homes at least once a week, but spring cleaning is special. It’s that time of year when we bust out the big guns and clean more thoroughly than usual. You know by now that we recommend cleaning your tech gadgets as well as your furniture.
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.
Easily remove old files on your PC with these tools
There will come a time during the life of your PC that you will run out of space — no matter how large the hard drive is. Old files can easily clutter the most spacious hard drive, and you’ll need to clear them out to make room for new stuff. This will not only increase storage space but also improve the performance of your PC.