updated
Aug 19, 2026
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Microsoft PC Manager is Microsoft's own free maintenance app for Windows 10 and 11. It clears junk files, tames startup programs, frees up memory and blocks intrusive pop-ups, with every feature free and no paid tier to upgrade to.
Microsoft PC Manager is Microsoft's own maintenance app for Windows 10 and 11, and every part of it is free.
Version 3.22.4.0 handles junk file cleanup, startup programs, memory, storage and pop-up blocking from a single window.
There is no Pro tier, no trial clock and no upsell screen waiting behind the buttons.
The Only Major Optimizer Without a Paid Tier
Most well-known Windows optimizers run on a freemium model: free to start, then paid to unlock the parts you actually wanted.
CCleaner is still the most downloaded tool in the category, but its free version has shed features over the years. Driver updates, the software updater, real-time monitoring and scheduled cleaning now sit behind the paid tier.
PC Manager flips that around. Every feature is free, every update is free, and nothing in the interface is greyed out waiting for a licence key.
What the Boost Button Actually Does
The headline feature is a single click that clears cached temporary files, closes background processes eating memory, and hands that memory back to the system.
A small toolbar can sit in the corner of your desktop with a Boost button that runs the whole sequence in a couple of seconds. No menus, no wizards, no questions.
If you want more hands-on control, HDCleaner offers a much deeper set of cleaning tools across the registry (Windows' internal settings database), browsers and system files.
Wise Disk Cleaner adds disk analysis and defragmentation (reorganising files so the drive reads them faster), tuned separately for older hard drives and SSDs. PC Manager stays deliberately simpler: the cleanup runs, and you get on with your day.
Storage and Startup Management
PC Manager scans for large files, duplicate copies and the storage clutter that piles up quietly over months of use.
The built-in startup manager switches off programs that slow down boot, with clear impact ratings so you can see which ones actually matter.
To remove the extra apps Windows ships with, Win11Debloat is a free script that strips out Cortana, Bing search in the Start menu and dozens of other built-in components PC Manager leaves alone.
Winslopr does the same job through a point-and-click window, and CrapFixer goes further into settings and telemetry, the usage data Windows sends back to Microsoft.
Pop-Up Blocking and the Health Checkup
PC Manager can block intrusive pop-up windows and notification spam from certain apps, so they stop interrupting what you are doing.
The health checkup scanner flags common system issues and basic security risks. It is a light layer that sits alongside your main antivirus rather than replacing it.
For deeper privacy cleanup, which PC Manager deliberately stays out of, Privacy Eraser Free wipes over 200 kinds of privacy traces across browsers and apps.
Glary Tracks Eraser clears activity history from more than 100 Windows programs. Either one pairs well with PC Manager, since the three barely overlap.
What You Need Before You Install
Installing from the Microsoft Store is the easy route, because Windows quietly fetches everything the app needs on its own.
The .msixbundle file behaves differently. It is the app package on its own, and it will not install unless a shared Microsoft component called Windows App Runtime 1.5 is already on the PC.
BEFORE YOU INSTALL
Windows App Runtime supplies the interface PC Manager is built on. Install the runtime first, then the .msixbundle, or the install stops with a vague error that never names the missing piece.
You only need the one runtime build that matches your PC: x64 for almost every desktop and laptop, arm64 for ARM machines such as Snapdragon-powered Surface devices, and x86 for older 32-bit systems.
The .BlockMap files listed alongside them are internal Store data and are not needed. If you are not sure which build you want, CPU-Z reports your processor and its architecture in a couple of clicks.
How It Compares to the Free Alternatives
PC Manager is not the most powerful tool in the Drive Cleaners category. It is the lightest.
It will not deep-clean the registry, manage your drivers or fully debloat Windows. What it gives you instead is an official Microsoft app with no bundled extras sneaked into the installer.
The open-source options stake out different ground. BleachBit is the privacy-first pick, fully open source, with nothing phoning home.
Kudu bundles 15 or more maintenance tools into one free, open-source app: broader than HDCleaner, far more capable than PC Manager, and ad-free throughout.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
The tell is simple. If you press Boost, watch it finish, and the PC still feels slow, junk files were never the problem.
Slow boot with a nearly empty startup list usually points at a failing or nearly full drive, which the tools in the HDD, SSD and USB section can test properly.
Stuttering games or video playback point at drivers instead. Snappy Driver Installer Origin works offline with no bundled software, and GPU-Z tells you which card you are actually running.
And if the machine is old enough that Windows 11 refuses to install at all, FlyOOBE deals with that specific wall rather than the symptoms.
System Requirements
PC Manager runs on Windows 10 build 19042.0 (version 20H2) and later, and on every edition of Windows 11.
The 188MB package sets up in under a minute, and the mini toolbar gives you one-tap access to the cleanup tools without opening the full app. It stays light on resources while it runs, so it does not become the slowdown it is meant to fix.
Quick questions
Is Microsoft PC Manager really free?
Yes. There is no paid tier, no trial period and no locked features. Microsoft publishes it free through the Microsoft Store.
Do I need to install anything else first?
From the Microsoft Store, no. If you install the .msixbundle file directly, you need Windows App Runtime 1.5 for your architecture first, or the install will fail without saying why.
Does it work on Windows 10?
Yes, on Windows 10 build 19042.0 (version 20H2) and later. Older Windows 10 builds are not supported.
PC Manager or CCleaner?
CCleaner does more, but several of its useful tools are paid. PC Manager does less and charges for none of it.
Will it remove the apps Windows comes with?
No, that is out of scope for PC Manager. Win11Debloat and Winslopr handle that job.
Is it safe to run alongside my antivirus?
Yes. The health checkup is a light scanner meant to sit next to your main antivirus, not replace it.
Download Microsoft PC Manager 3.22.4.0 and see how it handles your PC, or tell us how you got on if you have used it before.
