How does CCleaner work? Basics of using CCleaner.

Computer mess: Every computer user knows this feeling when his device doesn’t work as fast as it used to. This is due to the nature of constantly changing systems – programs make changes, applications store temporary files, and the operating system receives updates. In theory, all these files and data should be removed after the installation or operation of the program is complete, but the reality is completely different. Processes running in the background slow down the CPU, and files that are not deleted over time accumulate into gigabytes of clogged space, negatively affecting device performance.

When the computer is in this state, its automatic disk cleanups and processes become completely useless. Windows has built-in tools available to any user, thanks to which you can manually clean system garbage, but they are hidden in the unreadable depths of control panels and settings.

How does CCleaner – the most popular cleaning tool, work?

Organizing the computer is facilitated by special programs that bypass the tedious search for the appropriate Windows settings window for a convenient and easy-to-use interface. The most popular of them is CCleaner – a tool that has been operating since September 2003 and combines cleaning up computer clutter. This program is already rooted in the consciousness of both home-grown and professional IT specialists, as evidenced by the number of downloads – the tool has been downloaded over 16 million times, and around the world, as many as 2 billion have been recorded. CCleaner has been peer-reviewed and judged by several experts and editors, including being named a “must-have” by CNET magazine and a 5-star rating from Softpedia editors.

For 15 years, CCleaner has had the opportunity to understand users’ needs and expand the functionality beyond the basic cleaning of unwanted files. The program is equipped with the basic functions of removing remnants of application operation, optimizing the system registry, and backing up files to clean the system efficiently and safely. Over time, new functions were added, such as selecting files to scan, program startup control, program installation and uninstallation, and many others.

Basic functions of CCleaner

The first window the user sees after installing the program is the “Easy Cleanup” page.

Before proceeding to organize files, the program first analyzes the computer’s condition. After the scan is completed, information about the tracking files on your computer (left behind by websites and advertisers) and unnecessary files are displayed. The scope of Easy Cleanup is defined by the creators of CCleaner and ensures the most efficient operation of the program without exposing important system files and applications.

How does CCleaner work? Custom cleaning

In the second program window, the user will find advanced options for scanning and cleaning files in the Windows system and the applications on the computer. This page is intended for more advanced users who know what parts of the computer they want to search.

In this part of the program, you can customize what files will be analyzed and, after the analysis – deleted. You can select the individual parts of the system from the list, and CCleaner will process the application. The “Windows” tab contains components of the operating system and its applications, while the “Applications” tab contains parts of programs and hardware drivers installed by the user. After adjusting the scan settings, select “Analyze,” which will display a list of the scanned items.

Double-clicking on each of them will open a detailed list of files and their paths on the disk. Selecting the “Run CCleaner” button will initiate the file deletion process. Custom Cleanup is a good method of precisely deleting files as it allows you to designate a specific part of your system or application to analyze and clean.

Cleaning and repairing registries in CCleaner – how does it work?

The Windows registry is the basic element of the operating system and acts as an archive that stores information about settings, hardware, and file paths. When working with a computer – creating and modifying files, installing programs – the registry grows as it has to store all this information. Despite the uninstallation and deletion of files, certain registry entries always remain and can cause problems for the computer over time.

CCleaner, which has a built-in registry analysis and repair tool, comes to your aid in this matter. On the left side of the window, there is a list where you can select log areas to be analyzed. After selecting the selected items and clicking the “Scan for problems” button, a list of found problems is displayed. The user can review it and manually check or uncheck the problems to be fixed.

Some elements may not be selected by the program due to their potential impact on the system operation – marking them for repair is the user’s responsibility. When you select “Fix Selected Problems,” CCleaner backs up your registry as a precaution in case something goes wrong during the repair process.