How to Analyse Junk Files Before Cleaning in Easy System Utility

Easy System Utility lets you analyse selected Windows and software locations before removing anything. This gives you a clearer idea of how much temporary data has built up and helps you check your cleaning choices before starting the cleanup.

The Analyze button is useful when cleaning Windows junk files for the first time, after changing your selections or when you want to see whether a particular cache is using a noticeable amount of disk space.

Nothing is deleted during the analysis. Easy System Utility only checks the selected locations and reports what it finds.

Why analyse before cleaning?

See also: How to Clean Your PC Automatically When Windows Starts Article

Running an analysis adds an extra review step before files are removed.

It can help you:

• See how much removable data has been found
• Compare different Windows cleaning categories
• Check whether browser or software caches contain files
• Confirm that your selected locations are correct
• Test a custom included folder before cleaning it
• Avoid running an unnecessary cleanup when little data has accumulated

This is especially helpful when you are not yet familiar with every option in the Clean section.

You can still run the cleaner directly, but analysing first gives you more control and a better understanding of what Easy System Utility is checking.

Open the Clean section

Open Easy System Utility and select Clean from the left-hand menu.

The cleaning screen contains two main groups:

• Windows
• Software

The Windows group contains temporary files, caches, logs and other data created by Windows.

The Software group contains supported browser and application data, including cache files, histories and sessions.

Use the Windows and Software buttons below the list to move between them.

Select the Windows locations you want to analyse

See also: How Automatic Cleaning Works in Easy System Utility PRO Article

In the Windows section, tick the cleaning categories you want Easy System Utility to check.

Available options may include:

• Clipboard
• Crash Dump Files
• Delivery Optimisation Files
• DirectX Shader Cache
• DNS Cache
• Downloaded Program Files
• Prefetch Files
• Recent Files
• Recycle Bin
• Temporary Files
• Thumbnail Cache
• Windows Cryptnet URL Cache
• Windows Data Usage
• Windows Defender Backup Files
• Windows Error Report Archive
• Windows Log Files
• Custom Locations

You do not need to select every category.

For a general Windows disk cleanup analysis, you could begin with temporary files, thumbnail cache, crash dumps, Windows Error Report files and the Recycle Bin.

You can then add other categories depending on what you want to clean.

Select software and browser locations

Switch to the Software section to choose data created by installed programs.

The available entries may include supported software such as:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox
• Brave
• Discord
• Battle.net
• Blender
• LibreOffice

Some programs have several separate cleaning options.

For example, a browser may have entries for:

• Cache files
• Login data
• Session information
• Top sites
• Visited links
• Form history

Read the name of each option before selecting it. Analysing does not delete the information, but the selected data will be removed if you later press Clean.

If your main aim is to free some disk space without affecting your browser sessions, begin with cache files rather than selecting login or session data.

Start the analysis

See also: How to Save Cleaning Selections in Easy System Utility Article

Once you have selected the Windows and software categories you want to check, click Analyze.

Easy System Utility will scan the chosen locations and calculate the amount of data it finds.

While the analysis is running:

• Leave Easy System Utility open
• Avoid changing the cleaning selections
• Allow the scan time to finish
• Keep heavily used programs closed where possible

The scan time depends on the number of selected locations and the amount of data stored on the PC.

A small scan may complete quickly, while a larger analysis covering several browsers and Windows locations may take longer.

Does analysing delete any files?

No. Clicking Analyze does not remove files.

The analysis checks the selected locations and gathers information about the files that may be cleaned.

Files are only removed after you click Clean.

This makes the Analyze option a useful way to test new selections without immediately changing anything on your computer.

Understanding the analysis results

See also: How to Include a Custom Folder in Easy System Utility Cleaning Article

After the scan finishes, Easy System Utility displays information about the selected cleaning categories and the amount of data found.

A category with no removable data may show little or nothing to clean.

A category with a larger cache or collection of temporary files may show a higher amount.

The result does not necessarily mean every file is useless. Some cache files are created to help Windows or software load content more quickly.

The purpose of the analysis is to show what has accumulated so you can decide whether you still want to remove it.

Review your selections before cleaning

Before clicking Clean, look over the categories you selected.

Pay particular attention to options that may affect stored program information, including:

• Browser login data
• Browser session data
• Form history
• Recent file records
• Clipboard contents
• Recycle Bin
• Custom locations

For example, removing browser cache files is different from removing browser login or session data.

Clearing the cache normally removes stored website resources, while clearing login or session data may sign you out or affect open tabs.

Untick any category you no longer want to clean.

Can the analysis result change before cleaning?

Yes. The analysis is a snapshot of what Easy System Utility found at that time.

The result may change if:

• Windows creates new temporary files
• A browser or program is opened
• A file is removed by another process
• The Recycle Bin changes
• A background application updates its cache
• The computer is restarted

This means the amount actually removed may not exactly match the earlier analysis.

A small difference is normal, especially when Windows and other programs are still running.

Why does Easy System Utility find more files after a second analysis?

Windows and installed applications continually create temporary files.

Running a second analysis may find additional files if you have:

• Browsed the internet
• Opened a game or program
• Installed a Windows update
• Restarted the computer
• Used File Explorer
• Watched videos or opened media
• Run another Windows service

This does not mean the earlier cleanup failed. It usually means new cache or temporary data has been created since the previous scan.

Why does the analysis show less than expected?

There are several reasons why a scan may find less removable data than you expected.

Few categories are selected

Check both the Windows and Software sections.

You may have only selected one or two cleaning locations.

The PC was cleaned recently

If you recently ran Easy System Utility or another Windows disk cleanup tool, there may not be much temporary data left.

Programs are still open

Some applications keep cache files locked while they are running.

Close the relevant browser or program, then run the analysis again.

Folders are excluded

A folder added to Exclude Locations may be skipped by supported cleaning operations.

Check the Exclude Locations section in Settings.

Administrator permission is required

Protected Windows locations may not be fully accessible when Easy System Utility is running with standard permissions.

Use Start ESU as administrator, approve the Windows prompt and repeat the analysis.

Should you close browsers before analysing?

You can run the analysis while a browser is open, but closing it may give more complete results.

Browsers can keep cache, session and database files active while they are running.

For the clearest browser cleanup result:

1. Save any work in the browser.
2. Close all browser windows.
3. Wait a few seconds for background processes to finish.
4. Run the analysis again.

You should definitely close the browser before cleaning its selected data.

Analyse custom included folders carefully

Easy System Utility allows you to add your own cleaning folders through Include Locations in Settings.

After adding a folder, select Custom Locations in the Windows cleaning list and run Analyze.

This gives you a chance to check whether the folder contains a significant amount of data before removing it.

Only add folders that contain files you genuinely consider disposable.

Avoid adding broad personal locations such as:

• Documents
• Desktop
• Pictures
• Videos
• Downloads

A custom included folder is not automatically judged by Easy System Utility. If the folder contains important files, those files could be removed when you clean it.

What is the difference between Analyze and Deep Clean?

The Analyze button in the standard Clean section checks known Windows, software and custom locations based on your selected categories.

Deep Clean searches a selected drive for particular file extensions, such as:

• .tmp
• .temp
• .log
• .dmp
• .mdmp
• .chk
• .wer
• .bak
• .old

Deep Clean produces an individual results list so you can review specific file paths before selecting files for removal.

For regular Windows junk file cleaning, use the standard Clean section and its Analyze button.

Use Deep Clean when you want a broader file-type search and are comfortable reviewing each result in more detail.

Save your preferred cleaning selections

Once you have chosen a set of categories you are happy with, click Save Selections.

Easy System Utility will remember your Windows and software choices for future cleanups.

This saves time when you regularly analyse and clean the same locations.

Saved selections are also used by Easy System Utility PRO for:

• Automatic daily cleaning
• Automatic weekly cleaning
• Automatic monthly cleaning
• Cleaning when Windows starts

Review your saved selections before enabling an automatic schedule, as the cleaner will use those choices when it runs.

Do you need to analyse every time?

You do not have to analyse before every cleanup, but it is a useful habit.

It is particularly worth analysing when:

• Using Easy System Utility for the first time
• Changing your cleaning selections
• Adding a custom location
• Cleaning browser login or session data
• Running the cleaner after a long break
• Checking why disk space is low
• Testing a newly added software cleaning option

Once you are comfortable with your saved selections, you may choose to run a normal cleanup more directly.

Easy System Utility PRO can also automate regular cleaning using those saved choices.

What happens after you click Clean?

After reviewing the analysis, click Clean to remove the files found in your selected locations.

Some files may be skipped if they are:

• Currently in use
• Protected by Windows
• Locked by an open application
• Being scanned by security software
• Stored inside an excluded folder

When the cleanup finishes, Easy System Utility reports the outcome.

If several files could not be removed, close open programs and run Easy System Utility as an administrator before trying again.

Analyse first for more control

The Analyze feature allows you to inspect your Windows disk cleanup selections without immediately deleting anything.

A straightforward cleaning routine is:

1. Open the Clean section.
2. Choose the Windows and software categories you want to check.
3. Close relevant browsers and programs.
4. Click Analyze.
5. Review the result and selected categories.
6. Untick anything you want to keep.
7. Click Clean when you are ready.
8. Save your preferred selections for future use.

Using Analyze first makes it easier to understand where temporary data is building up and gives you greater control over what Easy System Utility removes.