How to Run Disk Cleanup Utility as Administrator on Windows 11? 5 Best Ways!

Disk Cleanup Utility is an powerful Windows tool that helps users to free up disk space by removing unnecessary files. This tool allows you to perform the following options: Temporary Windows installation files, Downloaded program files, System error memory dump files, Windows defender files, Temporary internet files, Delivery optimization files, Old Windows updates, Recycle Bin contents. However, to access advanced options such as clearing system files, you need to run the Disk Cleanup utility as an administrator with elevated rights, which ensures that the tool has the elevated permissions required to remove system level files and optimize your system’s performance. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to run Disk Cleanup utility as administrator on Windows 11 pc.

Multiple Ways to Access Disk Cleanup Utility with Administrative Privileges on Windows 11

1. Use the Start menu and Launch Disk Cleanup Utility on Windows 11.
2. Go to the Run Command and open Disk Cleanup Utility.
3. Create a New Task to Open Disk Cleanup with Administrative Privileges using the Task Manager.
4. Always Run Disk Cleanup Utility as Administrator by creating a Dedicated Shortcut.
5. Access cleanmgr using the File Explorer.
6. Open Windows PowerShell or CMD with Elevated Privileges and open cleanmgr.

How do you launch Disk Cleanup Utility on Windows 11 using the Start menu?

This is the straight-forward method to open this application with Elevated Permissions.

• Go to the Start menu. You can also use the Keyboard Shortcut WinKey + S.
• Search for cleanmgr or Disk Cleanup. You can search any of these terms. Once the application shows up, right-click on the Disk Cleanup Utility and click Run as Administrator.

• The System’s User Account Control will confirm and then open Disk Cleanup Utility with Elevated Privileges.

Use the Run Command and open Disk Cleanup Utility with Elevated Permissions

• Open Run Command. You can either use the Start menu or you can just use the key combination WinKey + R.
• In the Run Command, type the following command cleanmgr and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER.

• Disk Cleanup will open now on your Windows 11 OS.

Run New Task to open Disk Cleanup with Administrative Privileges using the Task Manager

• Right-click on the Taskbar and click Task Manager. You can also use the shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + ESC. This combination will open Task Manager directly.

• In the Task Manager, under Processes, click on Run New Task. Create New Task dialog will pop up now.

• Type the command cleanmgr and enable the checkbox “Create this Task with Administrative Privileges“. Finally, click OK.

Always Run Disk Cleanup Utility as Administrator on Windows 11 by Creating a Dedicated Desktop Shortcut

• Right-click on the Empty space of the Desktop, and click New > Shortcut.

• The Create Shortcut dialog box will open now. In “Type the Location of the Item“, enter the command C:\WINDOWS\system32\cleanmgr.exe and click Next.

• The system will assign the shortcut name cleanmgr. Kindly change it to Disk Cleanup Utility. Finally, click Finish.

• Disk Cleanup Utility Desktop Shortcut will be created.

• Right-click on the Shortcut and click on Properties.

• Disk Cleanup Properties Shortcut will open now. Click Advanced.

• In Advanced Properties, make sure to enable the checkbox “Run as Administrator“. Finally, click OK, and then Apply.

• This option allows you to run this shortcut as Administrator, while protecting your computer from unathorized activity.

Open Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell with Elevated Permissions and run Disk Cleanup Utility Command

In this method, we can either use the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. For Explanation, we will use Windows PowerShell here.

• Go to the Start menu and Search for Windows PowerShell and Run it as Administrator.

• In the PowerShell, execute the following command. cleanmgr.

• This command will open Disk Cleanup Utility with Elevated Permissions via the Windows PowerShell.

Launch Cleanmgr as Administrator using the File Explorer on Windows 11

• Use the key combination WinKey + E and open File Explorer.

• In the search bar, paste the following path C:\Windows\System32 and click Enter.

• The System32 Folder will open now. Go to the search bar using the key combination WinKey + F and search for cleanmgr.exe

• Once you find the application, right-click on it and click Run as Administrator.

• The UAC will confirm and open Disk Cleanup Utility as Admin on Windows 11.

Kindly be Cautious while running an App as Administrator

Running Disk Cleanup Utility as Administrator on Windows 11 grants it elevated privileges, which can potentially bypass system security restrictions. Please proceed with care and only run trusted applications in this mode. At Winsides.com, we advise our users to use Administrator privileges only when absolutely necessary to perform tasks requiring elevated rights. Misuse of administrative privileges may lead to System Vulnerabilities, Data Loss, System Instability, Security Concerns, Irreversible Changes, etc.