Clean out my download folder on a pc

Your downloads folder isn't always the most organized place on your computer and deleting files you don't need will make it easier to locate the one you do need next time you search for it. The main danger of deleting a file you downloaded to your computer is that you won't be able to use the file again.

If you downloaded a contract to review, made changes and then delete the file without saving it with a different name or in a new folder, you'll lose your changes. If the file is necessary to a program you have installed on your computer, removing the downloaded file may cause the program to experience errors or work incorrectly. If you notice your computer running more slowly than usual, it may be due to hard disk fragmentation. As you download, use, change, save and delete files, the information is stored at different places on the hard drive.

This fragmentation can cause your computer to run less efficiently. Spotify Shuffle Play Button. Windows 11 Performance. Edge Shopping Features. Spotify Lyrics. Windows 11 Mute Keyboard Shortcut. Edge Buy Now Pay Later. Windows 10 November Update. Apple Self Service Repair. Find Downloaded Files on an iPhone. Use Your iPhone as a Webcam. Hide Private Photos on iPhone. Take Screenshot by Tapping Back of iPhone. Should You Upgrade to Windows 11? Browse All Windows Articles.

OneDrive Windows 7 and 8. Copy and Paste Between Android and Windows. Keeping all of your downloads in this location is helpful because it provides a centralized location for you to locate the files that you found on a website, or attachments that you downloaded from your email account.

Our article continues below with additional information on finding the Downloads folder in Windows 10, including pictures of these steps. The steps in this article were performed on a laptop computer using the Windows 10 operating system. The specific location of your downloads folder may vary, so if you are trying to find the file path then you can right click on the Downloads folder and choose Properties. You can then select the Location tab, which will display the Windows 10 file path location for the folder.

One of the more common types of files that you might be downloading are games. But recently, you should be more carefully when using it on Windows 10 October Update since it may clear your Downloads folder. Toll now, the annoying file deletion bug found recently on Windows 10 October Update has been fixed by Microsoft at least for the testers currently. Now, there comes another file deletion issue — Disk Cleanup empty Downloads folder also on the Windows 10 October Update.

Too many temporary and unnecessary files will not only occupy disk space, but also influence the computer responding speed.