Cleared junk files recently?

What are junk files?

Junk files are temporary files that were created so that your computer or phone could perform a task, such as opening a document, viewing an image, or browsing the internet. These files are useful in the moment, but once they’ve served their purpose, they’re just junk — system junk files that clog up a device and cause poor performance.

Having junk files on your computer or phone isn't your fault. They’re inevitable and ubiquitous. Thankfully, they’re not the same as bloatware or a computer virus, but they might slow down your device and impact performance if ignored for too long. That's why it's a good idea to delete junk files regularly.  

An excess of junk files is one of several reasons why your PC gets slower over time or why you might suffer 100% disk usage in Windows 10. Nearly anything you do on your computer requires your system to create a temporary file. But that file is needed to install, run, or execute your request only at that very moment. Once that step of the process is complete, the file is no longer needed and turns into computer junk. 

The problem is that these files sit on your device in their original form, taking up space and slowing you down. Sometimes these temporary files improve the user experience, such as browser cache files that help load frequently visited web pages faster, or keep your shopping cart full while you’re browsing an e-commerce site. But, in general, it's best practice to regularly clean your browser and delete your browser cookies for optimal performance and safer internet surfing.

Different types of junk files

Computer junk files and phone junk files are created for many different reasons. For example, when you work with Photoshop, it will create a temporary file while you're editing photos. But sometimes it forgets to delete these temporary files, and they begin to accumulate. Another example is Microsoft Office, which creates a lot of log files for actions you perform or things that went wrong, such as crashes. Unless you're an expert, you don't need these files remaining on your hard drive.

Examples of junk files on your computer

So what are junk files on my computer? The most common types of junk files on your computer can be classified as one of the following:

Temporary internet files — more commonly known as browser cache — are files created automatically by your computer to load websites you've already visited more quickly, especially multimedia sites with lots of videos and audio files.

Temporary system files are used to make certain essential features or functionality work, but they become obsolete after their work is done.

Downloaded program files are created to install applications or programs on your device. They’re essential to make the program run initially, but then become useless.

Thumbnails are image preview files that help load the image more quickly when viewed more than once. Once deleted, an image might take longer to load the second time around.

Recycle bin files are files that have been temporarily deleted but remain stored on the device. The recycle bin feature allows users to second-guess anything they delete, either intentionally or accidentally. After recycling something, you can still retrieve it if needed.

Improperly removed programs and their related materials stick around even after you uninstall them. You can put an app in the trash or uninstall a program, but you might miss other remnants like temporary files or installation files.

Is it safe to delete junk files?

Yes. It is safe to delete junk files. Remember, junk files weren't always junk files. At one point in time, they were simply files. Useful files that supported a specific task. Once that task has been fulfilled, those files are obsolete and should be deleted.

You can always recover deleted files in Windows. So if you do delete a junk file that you later decide you want, you can recover it. But there’s rarely a reason to recover junk files. Also, because junk files are triggered by common actions such as web browsing and program installation, these necessary files will simply be recreated whenever your device needs them.

How to remove junk files from your device

There are several easy ways to delete junk files from your computer or phone. 

• Delete temporary files. Most junk files are temporary. Target these first, with the top 3 ways to clean temporary files from your computer. 

• Get rid of unnecessary apps. Find and delete bloatware, and get rid of unneeded apps that you never use or didn't even know you had. 

• Perform a disk and browser scan. This is the fastest and most thorough approach to regularly removing junk files from your device. Use an automated tool such as AVG TuneUp.

Advanced System Repair Pro makes removing junk files safe and easy. It’ll quickly locate your unneeded files and other bloatware, along with old apps and programs you no longer use. Then, you can get rid of it all with just a few clicks. You can also choose your preferred cleaning frequency settings — every day, every seven days — and sit back and let Advanced System Repair Pro do the rest.

Junk files are persistent, so an automated cleanup tool works wonders to make sure your device is regularly taken care of. With Advanced System Repair Pro, everything stays within your control, and your machine will run like new.