Avast WEBforum

Consumer Products => Avast Cleanup => Topic started by: damontattersfield on May 02, 2019, 12:07:29 PM

Title: What happens when I clean the download folder?
Post by: damontattersfield on May 02, 2019, 12:07:29 PM
When you to go "free up space" and then "clean system junk" there is an option to clean your downloads folder. When you clean the folder, will it remove useless cache, or other things, you absolutely don't need, or does it actually delete the programs in your download folder? I have quite a few programs in my download folder, that I don't want deleted, but if I clean the folder, will it delete or interfere with any of this programs? Thanks ;)
Title: Re: What happens when I clean the download folder?
Post by: Stellarman on May 02, 2019, 01:43:58 PM
When you to go "free up space" and then "clean system junk" there is an option to clean your downloads folder. When you clean the folder, will it remove useless cache, or other things, you absolutely don't need, or does it actually delete the programs in your download folder? I have quite a few programs in my download folder, that I don't want deleted, but if I clean the folder, will it delete or interfere with any of this programs? Thanks ;)

Hi,

this is a good question and I am actually glad that you asked before you proceed with any action there.

The Download category which is available in System junk component actually scans and deletes the Download folder in C:\Users\<username>\Downloads which is by default used by web browsers to download and store all the files downloaded from the Internet.
So you should be really careful when selecting it to be deleted and there is also a warning dialog before you proceed with the deletion to prevent an unpleasant outcome.

If you are not sure which files are in a particular category you can simply click in the System junk UI and check the overlay dialog which shows you first 50 files in that category including the path to the file as well.

Thank you.

Title: Re: What happens when I clean the download folder?
Post by: damontattersfield on May 03, 2019, 11:53:48 AM
Thanks for the tip! I've moved all of the stuff from my download folder to desktop, and I'll find a place to put it in later.  ;D
Title: Re: What happens when I clean the download folder?
Post by: Stellarman on May 03, 2019, 12:43:27 PM
Thanks for the tip! I've moved all of the stuff from my download folder to desktop, and I'll find a place to put it in later.  ;D

You don't have to necessarily move the items from Downloads folder to another location. If you don't want to clean the Downloads folder while you also don't want to be bothered by the displayed potential (MBs/GBs) you could clean from the Downloads folder, you can simply ignore the category in System junk and it will never be reported again neither in the UI nor in the calculated potential you could clean from your hard drive.

Regards.
Title: Re: What happens when I clean the download folder?
Post by: damontattersfield on May 04, 2019, 01:58:00 AM
Ok, thanks for all the help. :)