Lorene Melone
How To Determine if Total PC Cleaner from Microsoft Store is Safe or Useless
If you’re tired of clutter piling up on Windows and want something straightforward, Total PC Cleaner from the Microsoft Store might seem like a solution. But honestly, this kind of app can be a bit of a gamble—you’re not sure if it’s just another flashing junk tool or actually safe. Anyway, here’s what to do if you wanna give it a shot or even troubleshoot it.
Step 1: Installing Total PC Cleaner
First off, go to Microsoft Store. Not everyone’s aware, but it’s that app store icon on your taskbar or start menu. Search for Total PC Cleaner. If you see a bunch of similar-looking apps, double-check the developer or reviews—on some setups, this might be a hit or miss.
Pick the app (preferably from a decent developer, rating mostly above 4.0), then click Get. Remember, because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, sometimes this step can hang or fail. If that happens, try restarting the store app, or check your internet connection.
Once downloaded, hit Open from the app page or your Start menu. Usually, on first run, it’ll ask for permissions—let it do its thing. Not sure why it works this way, but Windows apps aren’t always the clearest about permissions—check Settings > Privacy & Security if it’s acting weird.
Step 2: Understanding the Cleaning Options
When the app finally launches, you’ll see several options—kind of generic, but they cover common stuff. Here’s why they matter:
- Junk Files: Scrapes cache, temp files, downloads, etc. These can pile up fast and eat space, so it’s usually safe to clean—but always review results first.
- Large Files: Finds the space hogs, mostly videos, ISOs, or old backups. Good for quick cleanup if you’re running low on space.
- Duplicate Files: Locates copies you probably forgot about, freeing space and reducing clutter.
- Virus Scan: Of course, some apps claim to scan for malware; this one’s probably just a quick check—don’t expect a full security suite here.
Step 3: Running a Scan for Junk Files
This is the main reason most people grab these apps—free up some space, right? So, if your drive’s been acting sluggish or you’ve noticed browser cache and downloads piling up, this might help.
- Click on Junk Files.
- Hit Scan. Expect it to trawl through your browser cache (Chrome, Edge, whatever), downloads folder, temp files—stuff you forgot was ever there.
- Once it finishes, review the list. Sometimes, it marks too much, or in some cases, you might even spot critical files—be careful not to check the wrong ones. It’s kinda weird, but on some setups, the scan results can be off, so review carefully.
- If ready, hit Clean. Might pop up a confirmation, then it’s all about waiting. Expect a little delay, especially if you’ve got a big cache—don’t panic.
Step 4: Free Up Space with Large Files
If your drive’s still cramped, this feature is handy. It scans for big old files—videos, ISO images, and so on.
- Pick the Large Files option.
- Press Scan and wait for it to do its thing. It’ll generate a list of space-hoggers—be cautious about what you delete, especially if it’s your backups or work files.
- Review and decide what’s safe to delete. Sometimes, it’ll suggest deleting things you actually want to keep, so use your judgement.
Step 5: Comparing Total PC Cleaner with Other Tools
This app’s basic, but there are more beefy options like CCleaner or Windows’ built-in Storage Sense. Those tend to be better at deep cleaning or managing storage—though they can also be more invasive or complicated.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Because Windows and these apps aren’t perfect, a couple quick tips:
- Always check for updates inside the app—don’t just install and forget. Sometimes, updates fix bugs or improve cleaning.
- If system performance still sucks after cleaning, consider whether those large files or duplicates are actually needed. Sometimes, these cleaners mess up and delete something important.
- On some machines, after a cleaning, a reboot is needed for changes to take full effect—since files in use might not get deleted until restart.
Conclusion
Total PC Cleaner from the Microsoft Store is okay for quick, light cleanup when you’re in a hurry. Just don’t expect it to be a miracle worker, and double-check what it suggests deleting. Also, be aware that some of these apps can be overly aggressive for the sake of marketing. Better safe than sorry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Total PC Cleaner safe to use?
Mostly, yes—since it comes from the Microsoft Store, it’s probably not malware. But always watch what it’s deleting; sometimes it marks safe files as junk.
Can I run Total PC Cleaner with other cleaning tools?
Sure, but don’t run a bunch at once. They can clash, leading to errors or even accidental data loss.
Are there costs involved?
The basics are free, but some features might ask for a premium upgrade if you want more control or deeper scans. Not sure why they can’t just include everything upfront;
Summary
- Installed from Microsoft Store—watch out for fake or shady apps
- Scan for junk files—review carefully before clicking clean
- Use the large file scanner if space is tight—be cautious deleting large backups or documents
- Remember, not all cleaner apps are equal—sometimes Windows’ own tools are better
Fingers crossed this helps—worked for me on some setups, and hopefully, it does for someone else too.