Microsoft releases first beta of CCleaner-like app

Microsoft has released the PC Manager app in beta. The application is ‘CCleaner-like’ and offers all kinds of tools to clean up a Windows installation. There aren’t really any new features; the app puts links to all kinds of Windows built-in cleaning tools in one app.

The situation is somewhat striking: PC Manager is available in the English language, but the website where it can be found, pcmanager.microsoft.com, is only in Chinese. The app works on Windows 10 version 1809 and newer.

The tools that are included are mainly intended to free up working memory and storage space. For the latter, the well-known factors come along: caches, the recycle bin, temporary files for Windows Update and so on. The application can also make suggestions about which ‘startup apps’ to disable. There’s also integration with Defender for virus protection, according to a look inside the Task Manager during a scan.

Microsoft is trying to let users switch to its Edge browser with the application. Those who have not set it as their default browser are told that it is a ‘potential problem’. The app will also suggest that certain apps not start at the same time as Windows, but those suggestions do not include Microsoft apps.