CCleaner & installation: yes or no?

[kiddingguy]

Either you love it or hate it: CCleaner

Driver updaters, registry cleaner etc is a no-go.

However, when "just" used for deletion of system/Windows, temp-files, browser history, Windows memory dumps and so... is it wise to use? Or not?
And if not, which reliable alternatives are there out there?

[Som]

Haven't used in in about 10 years 

[SnoopZ]

Don't install that bollocks!

[Acid]

I use CCleaner at least once a month, to cleanup files, check for driver updates, and to check for application updates. I've never had a problem with it.

[tsupersonic]

Windows has this built in. Windows Disk Cleanup does what you want. 

[Ixion]

I also use Windows Disk Cleanup. Used Ccleaner for many years before it started being filled with adware etc. at which point it was unceremoniously dumped from my systems.

[+Edouard Subscriber²]

While I can't comment on CCleaner the OP mentions driver updaters.

I've been using IoBit Driver Booster Pro for a few years now without issue.

Should I delete this program or is it safe?

[Ixion]

On 17/03/2025 at 09:27, Edouard said:

While I can't comment on CCleaner the OP mentions driver updaters.

I've been using IoBit Driver Booster Pro for a few years now without issue.

Should I delete this program or is it safe?

Much like Ccleaner driver Booster pro injects advert/upsell dialogues onto your machine. I wouldn't use it personally, the only driver which likely needs regularly updating on any computer is the GPU driver which usually gets detected by the Nv app or Adrenaline application depending on whether you have Nvidia or AMD graphics.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

It does nothing that you can't just do with Windows and the authorised 1st party tools, and yet does so with (sometimes) messing with the system.

[+Edouard Subscriber²]

On 17/03/2025 at 20:59, Ixion said:

Much like Ccleaner driver Booster pro injects advert/upsell dialogues onto your machine.

How would that manifest itself in real time? What would I expect to see my machine doing?

[Nick H. Supervisor]

I haven't used it in many years. Partially because I didn't notice any kind of performance changes so it seemed unnecessary, and partially because of the stories about it making the system unstable by removing things that it shouldn't have. I just use Disk Cleanup once every so often instead.

[Joe User]

I have not installed it in years, nor have I felt a need to recommend it to anyone using Windows 10 or 11.

The built-in Windows Storage Sense works fine for the average joe user, there's no need to use a third-party product anymore.

[cyberhash]

It's an Ok app , as long as you untick all the nonsense that it wants to install on setup. Disable all the automated stuff like "intelligent cookie scans" and scheduled tasks and you should be fine.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

"CCleaner & installation: yes or no?"

No

[kiddingguy]

On 17/03/2025 at 10:06, Ixion said:

I also use Windows Disk Cleanup. Used Ccleaner for many years before it started being filled with adware etc. at which point it was unceremoniously dumped from my systems.

Just put shortcuts to 'Windows Disk Clean Up' and 'Defragment and Optimize Drives' on my desktop. 

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

I would suggest running Microsoft's own Disk Cleanup program (filename: CLEANMGR.EXE as administrator if you feel the need to manually delete the contents of temporary file folders, etc.  Or write a script that does this for you, along with any other adjustments/tweaks you wish to make.  That way, you have full control over what is being done to your system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[macoman]

CCleaner used to be useful in the Windows XP / 7 era and specially the old version released in 2006 was very good but after Windows 10... Microsoft optimized Windows and don't need to use it anymore.

[energie10]

I don’t hate it. I used to use the version by Piriform many years ago.

But it  was made by devs using the old way back in those days.

If you are running on Windows 10 or Windows 11, it is better to use a modern cleaner using today’s cutting-edge technology.

The two cleaners I am presently using are Bleachbit and PrivaZer Pro.

Your choice of a system cleaner is highly subjective. To each his own.