How to Use CCleaner to Speed Up Your Windows PC

Edited 2 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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CCleaner is a very useful utility for Windows PC that helps to increase the speed of your computer. Many people find that their computer slows down over time. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a lot of unnecessary files, unused programs, or unwanted software that starts with Windows.

CCleaner can help solve these problems by removing unwanted files and cleaning up your system. This helps free up space on your hard drive and helps your computer run more smoothly. This guide will explain in detail how to use CCleaner to increase the speed of your computer.

Downloading and installing CCleaner

The first step to using CCleaner is to download and install the program. You can download CCleaner from its official website. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Open your web browser and go to the CCleaner website.
2. Click the "Download" button to get the free version of CCleaner.
3. Once downloaded, open the installer file to begin the installation process.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install CCleaner on your computer.
5. Once installed, you can open CCleaner from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

After installation, you will see the main CCleaner window. From here, you can begin cleaning and optimizing your computer.

Clearing unnecessary files

CCleaner can delete temporary files, cookies, and other unwanted data from your computer. This can help free up space and make your computer run faster. Follow these steps to clean up unnecessary files:

1. Open CCleaner and click the "Cleaner" tab on the left side of the window.
2. You will see a list of categories such as Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, System, and Advanced.
3. Each category has options. The checked items are the files that CCleaner will delete. If you're not sure, you can leave the default options or read the descriptions to decide what to check.
4. Once you have selected the files you want to delete, click the "Analyze" button. This will scan your computer and show you a list of files that can be deleted.
5. After the analysis, you can see how much space these files are taking up and decide if you want to delete them or not. If you are satisfied, click the "Run Cleaner" button.

This process may take some time, depending on how many files there are to clean. Once complete, CCleaner will show you a summary of what was removed and how much space was saved.

Solving registry problems

The Windows Registry is a database that stores settings and options for Windows software and hardware. Over time, your registry can become cluttered with unnecessary entries, which can slow down your computer. CCleaner can help by cleaning your registry. Here's how to do it:

1. In the CCleaner window, click the "Registry" tab.
2. Here, you'll see a list of different types of registry issues that CCleaner can check for, such as missing shared DLLs, unused file extensions, etc.
3. Click the "Scan for Problems" button to have CCleaner detect potential problems in your registry.
4. After the scan is complete, CCleaner will display a list of issues. You can review the list and decide if you want to fix them.
5. Click the "Fix selected problems..." button to fix registry problems.
6. CCleaner will ask if you want to back up the registry before making changes. It is recommended that you do this, as you may need to restore something later.
7. After backing up, click "Fix all selected issues." CCleaner will then clean your registry.

Fixing registry problems can help improve your computer's performance, as well as resolve unexpected errors. The cleaning process is quick and effective.

Managing Startup Programs

Sometimes, programs set themselves to start automatically when Windows starts. This can slow down your computer's startup time. CCleaner lets you manage which programs should start with Windows. Here's how:

1. Open CCleaner and go to the "Tools" section.
2. Click the "Startup" option. You will see a list of all the programs that are set to start automatically with Windows.
3. Review the list and decide which programs you want to disable. Usually, you don't need most programs to start automatically.
4. Select a program you don't want to start automatically. Click the "Disable" button to prevent it from starting with Windows.
5. If you change your mind, you can select the program again and click "Enable" to make it start with Windows.

By managing your startup programs, you can speed up the time it takes your computer to boot. This can be especially useful if your PC's startup time has slowed down over time.

Uninstalling unwanted programs

Over time, you may install programs that you no longer use. These programs can take up valuable space on your hard drive and slow down your computer. CCleaner makes it easy to uninstall unwanted programs:

1. In the CCleaner window, click the "Tools" section.
2. Then click "Uninstall". You will see a list of all programs installed on your computer.
3. Look through the list and decide which programs you no longer need or use.
4. Select the unwanted program and click the “Uninstall” button to remove it from your system.

Uninstalling unused programs can free up space and resources that your PC can use for more important tasks. Be sure to remove only programs that you recognize and do not need.

Using the Drive Wiper

Sometimes, you may want to securely erase the contents of a drive. This can be useful if you're planning to sell or give away your computer, or if you have sensitive data that you want to erase completely. CCleaner has a drive wiper feature for this purpose:

1. Click "Drive Wiper" followed by "Tools" in CCleaner.
2. There are options to erase the free space or the entire drive. Be careful with the "Entire Drive" option as it will erase everything, making data recovery nearly impossible.
3. Choose the method and security level for wiping the drive. More secure wiping takes longer, but is more thorough.
4. Select the drive you want to erase and click "Wipe" to start the process.

Drive Wiper ensures that files are completely deleted beyond normal recovery methods. This feature should be used with caution, especially when erasing an entire drive.

Advanced Features and Settings

CCleaner also offers advanced features and settings that allow you to further customize your experience:

Include/exclude files

If you want CCleaner to include specific files or folders that aren't included by default, you can add them:

1. Go to "Options" and then "Include" to specify the files or folders to be included in the cleanup process.
2. Alternatively, use the “Exclude” option to prevent certain files or folders from being cleaned.

Managing Cookies

You may want to keep some cookies and remove others. To manage which cookies are kept:

1. Open "Options" and then "Cookies."
2. Here you can move cookies between “Keepable cookies” and “Removable cookies”.

Monitoring & Smart Cleaning

CCleaner can monitor your system in real time and suggest cleaning programs:

1. By clicking "Options" and then "Monitoring" you will be able to enable or disable system monitoring.
2. Smart Cleaning Reminder can notify you when it's time to clean your PC.

Final thoughts

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively use CCleaner to clean up and speed up your Windows PC. Regular maintenance using CCleaner can contribute to better performance, prevent unnecessary slowdowns, and extend the life of your computer. However, it is always a good idea to create a backup of important files and settings before making significant changes to your system. Making CCleaner a part of your regular computer maintenance can help ensure that your PC continues to function well.

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