How to Use CCleaner

3.1 How to Clean Up Temporary Files in Windows

Here we will delete all temporary files created when using Windows and the Internet Explorer browser. We will also erase the My Recent Documents list from your Start menu.

Step 1. Select: Start > Programs > CCleaner to activate the CCleaner main screen in the default Cleaner mode as follows:

Figure 3: The CCleaner Cleaner button

The Cleaner Settings pane presents us with a lot of different options.

Figure 4: The CCleaner Cleaner Settings pane

Important: The safest thing is to check all the items, including those that are not selected by default, like Autocomplete Form History, as shown in Figure 4.

Note the appearance of the Analyze button and the Run Cleaner button at the bottom of the right pane.

Step 2. Click the Analyze button to generate and view a list of the different temporary files that CCleaner is going to delete, without actually deleting them yet.

Step 3. Click the Run Cleaner button to delete these temporary files, and activate the following confirmation dialog box:

Figure 4: The CCleaner Cleaner confirmation dialog box

Step 4. Click the OK button.

After the temporary files have been cleaned up, CCleaner will display a progress report resembling the following:

Figure 5: The CCleaner Windows Temporary Files progress report

You have now successfully removed all Windows and Internet Explorer temporary files from your computer.

3.2 How to Clean Up Temporary Files from Installed Programs

Programs installed on your computer also create and store temporary files. CCleaner can wipe them as well.

Step 1. Click: to activate the Cleaner Settings pane.

Step 2. Click the Applications tab to activate it as follows:

Figure 6: The CCleaner Cleaner Settings Applications tab

Note: The Applications tab features a list of programs on your computer that store temporary files and their history of use. Given that different users have different programs installed on their computer, your own list may differ from the one in Figure 6.

Step 3. Check all the items in this list.

Note: Before you run the Cleaner, you must close all other programs, otherwise CCleaner cannot remove the temporary files from those programs.

Step 4. Click the Run Cleaner button to activate the following confirmation dialog box:

Figure 7: The CCleaner confirmation dialog box

Step 5. Click the OK button.

After the temporary files have been cleaned up, CCleaner will display a progress report resembling the following:

Figure 8: The CCleaner Temporary Files progress report

All temporary files and lists related to Applications on your computer have now been wiped.