Disk Cleanup is a built-in utility in Windows designed to remove unnecessary and junk files from disks, thereby enhancing your computer's performance. It's a widely used tool, and consequently, issues with Disk Cleanup not functioning correctly on Windows 10/8/7 are quite common among Windows users. Sometimes, Disk Cleanup may become unresponsive or freeze, or it might fail to delete files altogether. If you're encountering such problems, what should you do? How can you fix Disk Cleanup to function efficiently? Continue reading and utilize the free solutions provided below to resolve the issue and ensure proper Disk Cleanup operation.

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How to Fix Disk Cleanup Stuck on Windows Update Cleanup

This article tackles the irritating problem of "Disk Cleanup Stuck on Windows Update Cleanup." It presents seven efficient solutions to fix the issue, assisting users in freeing up storage space.

disk cleanup stuck

The Best Alternative to Disk Cleanup on Windows 10/8/7

Built-in Windows tools are typically the safest options for any utility you might use, but they can occasionally be difficult to navigate and may lack stability. In such instances, you can achieve the desired functionality and reliability by utilizing a third-party software for cleaning junk files on your PC, such as CleanGenius. This software allows you to optimize your system through junk file cleanup and the removal of large files.

What makes using a tool like CleanGenius an excellent method for optimizing a disk?

  • No requirement for command lines
  • No need to manually clean files
  • No risk of accidentally deleting incorrect files
  • All optimization functions integrated into a single program

It is powerful and completely free, so download it and give it a try. Then, you don't need to worry about disk cleanup issues anymore.

Step 1. Download and install Partition Master Suite.

download and install CleanGenius

Step 2. Click on PC Cleaner and install the CleanGinus tool. Next, click "Cleanup" and then "Scan" to begin cleansing the system and restore your PC to its optimal condition.

system cleanup step 1

Step 3. The software will scan your entire computer to locate idle data files that occupy a significant amount of disk space. You can choose unnecessary large files, system junk files, and Windows invalid entries, then click "Clean" to initiate the system cleanup process.

system cleanup step 2

Step 4. When the scan is complete, click "Done" to finish cleaning system junk files.

system cleanup step 3

Possible Solutions to Disk Cleanup Not Functioning in Windows 10/8/7

When you attempt to use Disk Cleanup to remove junk files, it might not function properly. It could fail to delete files or completely freeze up. To address these issues, try the quick solutions below.

Solution 1: Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter To resolve the issue, follow these steps to run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter: 1. Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. 2. Click on 'Update & Security' from the list of options. 3. In the left pane, select 'Troubleshoot.' 4. Scroll down and click on 'Windows Update' under the 'Get up and running' section. 5. Click on 'Run the troubleshooter.' 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process. 7. Once finished, restart your computer and check if the issue has been resolved. This tool is designed to identify and fix common problems with Windows Update, so it's a good starting point for resolving any update-related issues.

On Windows 7

1. Click the "Start" menu, then type "troubleshooting" in the search bar and select "Troubleshooting".
2. Locate "System and Security" and opt for "Fix problems with Windows Update." Following that, click on "Advanced."
3. Choose "Run as administrator" and make sure the checkbox adjacent to "Apply repairs automatically" is checked.
4. Click "Next" and allow the process to finish. Afterward, restart your computer and run Disk Cleanup once more.

On Windows 8/8.1

1. Press and hold the Windows key + W. Type "Troubleshooting" in the search bar and hit enter. 2. On the left sidebar, click on "View all". Locate and click on "Windows Update". 3. Click "Advanced" then "Run as Administrator", followed by "Next". Proceed with the on-screen prompts to finish the process. After this, restart your computer and run Disk Cleanup again.

On Windows 10

Navigate to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Troubleshooter" > select and run the troubleshooter. After that, restart your computer and run Disk Cleanup once more.

Fix 2: Perform an SFC Scan

1. Press and hold Windows+X keys and choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the context menu. 2. Type sfc /scannow, then proceed with the on-screen instructions to complete the scan. After the scan, restart your computer and run Disk Cleanup once more.

Fix 3: Delete Temporary Files

If you have a corrupted temporary file on your computer, the Disk Cleanup may not function properly. You can attempt to delete the temporary files to resolve the issue.

1. Navigate to the "Start" menu, type %temp% in the search bar, and hit Enter. 2. Select all the temporary files, right-click, and choose "Delete." After that, restart your computer and run Disk Cleanup again to see if the issue has been resolved.

As you can see from the above content, although you can utilize the three quick solutions to fix Disk Cleanup not functioning in Windows 10/8/7, you would have to either employ the Command Prompt or manually delete files, which might result in more severe issues if done incorrectly. Hence, to avert any unforeseen risks, we highly recommend using tools like Partition Master to promptly address low disk space and resize partitions on hard drives in Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP.

Step 1. Locate the Target Partition.

Go to Partition Manager and locate the target partition, then select "Resize/Move".

Select target partition to extend

Step 2. Extend the Target Partition.

Drag the partition panel rightwards or leftwards to include the unallocated space into your current partition, then click "OK" to confirm.

allocate space from another drive

Additional Option: Get Space from Another Drive

If there isn't enough unallocated space on your disk, right-click on a large partition with sufficient free space and select "Allocate Space".

Then select the target partition that you want to extend at the Allocate space to column.

allocate space from another drive

Step 3. Execute Operations to Extend Partition.

Drag the dots of the target partition into the unallocated space and click "OK".

Finish extending partition

Click the “Execute Task” button and then “Apply” to save all the changes.