# Microsoft PC Manager Review: What It Does, and Is It Safe?

Microsoft PC Manager is a free utility from Microsoft, safe to install from Microsoft's own site or the Store, and worthwhile if you like having the cleanup and storage tools in one place. It will not make a healthy PC noticeably faster. Most of what it does, Windows can already do in Settings and Task Manager. What follows is based on [Microsoft's product page](https://pcmanager.microsoft.com/en-us) and [LazyAdmin's hands-on review](https://lazyadmin.nl/it/microsoft-pc-manager/) from November 2024; we have not measured it ourselves.

## What it does

Microsoft's page lists a boost, storage management, pop-up management, a health checkup, and a toolbox of built-in Windows tools. It runs on Windows 10 (build 19042 and later) and Windows 11, and it is free.

| Feature | What it actually does | Windows already has |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Boost | Ends unused background processes and deletes temporary files | Task Manager, Storage settings |
| Deep cleanup | Lists cache and temporary files per app, then deletes what you select | Temporary files, Disk Cleanup |
| Process management | A simpler list of running apps you can end | Task Manager |
| Startup apps | Toggles apps at boot, with the seconds each adds | Task Manager's **Startup apps** |
| Storage management | Overview, Storage Sense, Downloads, large files, duplicates | Storage settings, but no duplicate finder |
| Pop-up management | Suppresses pop-ups from Windows apps, not websites | Per-app notification settings |
| Toolbox | Quick links to Windows and web tools | Start menu |

LazyAdmin's verdict on Boost is worth repeating: you will not notice anything unless memory use is above 90%, and closing browser tabs or adding memory does more. The review singles out storage management, and the duplicate finder is the one thing here that Windows does not offer.

## Is it safe

It is published by Microsoft and hosted on Microsoft's own site, so there is no trust question about where it came from. Three things are worth knowing:

- **Read the first launch.** LazyAdmin notes that if you leave "Restore settings to ensure the native Windows experience" ticked, your browser and taskbar settings are restored. Untick it if you have set those the way you want.
- **Deep cleanup can remove useful caches.** Clearing a browser's or chat app's cache makes the next launches slower. Select by app rather than everything, and see [cache cleanup](/windows/blog/windows-cache-cleanup) for what returns on its own.
- **It runs in the background.** LazyAdmin measured about 300 MB of memory after an hour and points out that running it at startup works against the goal. If you only use it now and then, turn off its startup entry.

## Should you install it

**Install it** if you like one window for cleanup and storage, want the duplicate finder, or look after a relative's PC and prefer something from Microsoft.

**Skip it** if you already use Storage Sense and Task Manager, since you would be adding a program to reach the same controls. And if the PC is actually slow, find the cause first: [why a PC gets slow](/windows/blog/why-is-my-pc-so-slow).

## PC Manager or CCleaner

PC Manager comes from the company that makes the OS, and Microsoft's feature list has no registry cleaner, in line with its policy of not supporting those. CCleaner has a different history, and its site lists its own feature set. For more, see [is CCleaner safe](/windows/blog/is-ccleaner-safe) and [CCleaner alternatives](/windows/blog/ccleaner-alternatives-windows).

## Where Mole fits

[Mole for Windows](/windows) overlaps on cleanup, startup items and large folders, and goes further in uninstalling, with a leftover review after the vendor's uninstaller, plus a treemap of the disk and a live **Status** page. It costs money and PC Manager does not. Mole has no duplicate finder and no pop-up management. Pick PC Manager if the free feature list covers your needs, and Mole if you want a review list you can read before anything is removed, along with uninstalling and the disk map.

## FAQ

### Is Microsoft PC Manager free?

Yes. Microsoft's page says it can be downloaded and used for free on a PC.

### Is Microsoft PC Manager safe?

Yes, when installed from Microsoft's site or the Store. Read the first-launch options, and choose what Deep cleanup removes.

### Does PC Manager really make a PC faster?

Rarely in a way you will notice. Boost frees memory and temp files, which matters mainly when memory is nearly full.

### Do I need PC Manager if I have Windows 11?

No. Task Manager and Storage settings cover most of it. It collects them in one place and adds a duplicate finder.

### Does it work on Windows 10?

Yes, on build 19042 and later, according to Microsoft's page.


Canonical: https://mole.fit/windows/blog/microsoft-pc-manager-review