Microsoft is making its powerful cleanup tool PC Cleaner easier to install by adding it to the Microsoft Store (which is built into Windows 11) – and it could be a useful tool to speed up your computer and troubleshoot problems.
The tool is similar to CCleaner, a long-standing third-party system cleaner for Windows (now also available for Mac, Android, and iOS). Apps like CCleaner aim to remove clutter from Windows system folders and improve your PC’s performance thanks to the freed up space.
Microsoft has been testing its own software for cleaning and maintaining systems since 2022. Originally, Microsoft’s PC Manager app was developed and tested by Microsoft for the Chinese market. Now, Windows Latest noted that the PC Manager app is available for download from the Microsoft Store and is also available in more regions, including the US. You can use PC Cleaner in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 as it is supported on both operating systems. It didn’t show up on any of my Windows 11 devices in the Microsoft Store, but check it out for yourself. It looks like if you can’t get it yet, it will be available soon according to an official Microsoft PC Cleaner page.
The latest version of PC Cleaner introduces a floating toolbar that gives you quick access to PC Cleaner tools. These include:
- PC Boost that handles unnecessary processes and deletes temporary files, along with a Smart Boost option for spikes in RAM usage and temporary files larger than 1 GB.
- Deep Cleanup searches for older Windows update files and clears trash files, your web cache, and application caches. However, you can select what you want to keep or delete.
- Process that provides an overview of all processes currently running on your PC, allowing you to end any process in PC Cleaner without opening the Task Manager.
- Startup which allows you to manage the apps that launch at startup
- Large Files allows you to locate large files on all your drives faster than having to find them manually using File Explorer.
- More tools like Taskbar Repair to restore it to its original state and Restore Default Apps to restore all default app preferences. In true Microsoft fashion, it looks like the company will apparently use this feature to encourage you to use Microsoft apps like Edge, according to Windows Latest.
Microsoft’s take on third-party system cleaning apps
Microsoft has been less than positive about third-party PC cleaning apps, sometimes calling them harmful. It would warn users that these apps were more likely to accidentally delete crucial registry files to clean up as much ‘junk’ as possible. CCleaner even got the stamp of approval from Microsoft’s Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP). A PUP is a piece of software that users may experience as unwanted, unnecessary or harmful. While Microsoft has a vested interest in people using as many internal apps as possible, CCleaner has had legitimate security issues in the past due to malware-related incidents.
However, it should be noted that although Microsoft has labeled CCleaner as a PUP, it is also available for download from the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft’s PC Manager is free to use and can be customized to match your Windows theme. It has a host of useful tools designed by Microsoft itself for Windows, and the company promises that it won’t delete any necessary system files. While options like third party apps are good to have, this seems like a good bet and I’ll install it myself once it’s available to me. It is less likely to come with malware as it comes directly from Microsoft and can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store. It also has free features that you have to pay for in other apps like CCleaner. If you can’t see it in the Microsoft Store yet (like me), there is one official Microsoft page for PC Cleaner that indicates that a direct download link will be available soon.