PC Manager: Microsoft’s wrong good idea to replace CCleaner

On February 8, 2024, Microsoft announced a new application for Windows 10 and Windows 11: PC Manager. Aimed at cleaning PCs to improve performance, as CCleaner already does a pretty good job, the Redmond firm’s solution has already been heavily criticized.

In an article published on February 9, 2024, Neowin Media states that the Deep Cleaning option deletes very useful temporary files, more specifically those in the Windows Prefetch folder.

Allowing data from regularly opened applications to be stored in memory, this speeds up the software thanks to the latest recorded information. Thus, PC Manager frees up some space on the SDD by deleting temporary files stored in Windows Prefetch, which slows down application opening later.

To make matters worse, Neowin discovered that Microsoft is leveraging PC Manager to offer affiliate links. Located in the Toolbox tab and numbering two, they redirect to Chinese app sites, from which the American firm will earn a commission for each visit and/or purchase.

Microsoft thus offers a utility with mixed performance, while wisely taking the opportunity to make some profit. Obviously, CCleaner has a bright future ahead of it.