Clear downloaded files

Some downloads can contain malware that installs viruses and monitors your web activity, keystrokes, and browsing behavior. You may be shocked to learn that if you neglect clearing out your download and temp folders , you could have hundreds of megabytes or even gigabytes of data clogging up your system.

Even compressed files like program installers can take up a surprising amount of disc space if left alone. Navigate to the search bar next to the Windows Start Menu.. Enter " File Explorer " and select File Explorer. Select the Downloads folder on the left side of the window. You can also select individual files, but this will take slightly longer. Right-click the selected files and select Delete. Select Yes to confirm the deletion of the files. Right-click the Recycle Bin in the top left corner of your Desktop.

Select the hamburger menu. Select Options. You can also choose to have all downloads removed at the end of your browsing session. This can be done by checking the box next to Cookies and Site Data. Your cookies and site data will be automatically deleted when Firefox closes. Select Manage Data for more options about managing site data like cookies. To delete data for a single website, select the website, then select Remove Selected.

To delete them all at once, select Remove All. Most of your programs will place downloaded files in the Downloads folder. Some programs will create their own download folders. If you know the program that you used to download the file, check its settings to see where files are being saved on your computer. Run a search for the file if you know the name of it. If you can't find the file in your Downloads folder, but you know the name of it, you can use Windows Search to try to find it.

Press the Windows key and type in the name of the file. If Windows can find it, it will be displayed in the search results. Open your browser's download manager if you can't find the file. If you downloaded the file recently, it may still be listed in your web browser's download manager. This will allow you to open a window directly to the file you want to remove. Click the "Show in folder" link for the file you want to delete. Click the Folder button to open the folder that the download is located in.

Click the link in the Location column for the file you want to delete. Drag the file to your Recycle Bin. Alternatively, you can select the file and press Delete, or right-click on the file and select "Delete". If your file cannot be deleted, it is because it is in use by another program. This is most common with file-sharing programs, as someone may be trying to download the file from you.

Close any programs that may be using the file and try again. I can't delete the file. If Windows will not let you delete the file, it is likely because it is in use by another program. This is typically the case if you downloaded the file through BitTorrent and are still seeding it, or you have already opened it in another program.

Click here if you're still having trouble deleting the file. Method 2. Open your Downloads folder. You can access the Downloads folder from your Dock, as well as in the sidebar of any Finder window. This is the default location that most apps will download files to. If you've changed the download location in any of your app's Preferences menu, you'll want to check the location you specified. Find the file you want to delete.

Browse through your Downloads folder until you find the file that you want to remove. Narrow your search to disk image files. Mac programs are downloaded as DMG files, which are disk image files that contain the program. When you install a program, the DMG file remains in your Downloads folder, taking up space.

How to download video from the Internet. Where are the files I downloaded using my web browser? How do I clear my Internet browser history? How can I clear my browsing history on exit? How to clear browser cache and cookies. Internet help and support. Faster, Longer-lasting Hard Drives Includes Defraggler, to keep hard disks healthy and running efficiently. File Recovery Includes Recuva, so you never have to worry about losing a file again. CCleaner Free and Professional are for home use only.

Get CCleaner for your Business. CCleaner Documentation. Are you a Mac User?