Short answers to the questions we are asked most often by Windows users. Longer explanations live in the guides.
Is BleachBit free?
Yes. It is released under the GNU General Public License, with no paid tier, trial period, or account requirement.
Is BleachBit safe to use on Windows?
It is safe when you stick to the standard cleaners and use Preview first. Risk comes from checking Passwords, saved form data, or experimental system entries without understanding what they hold.
Does BleachBit work on Windows 11?
Yes, on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Run it as administrator if you want it to reach system level caches such as Windows update leftovers.
Will cleaning log me out of websites?
Clearing cookies and session data signs you out. If you would rather stay logged in, clean only the cache entries and leave cookies unchecked.
How much space can it recover?
On a PC that has never been cleaned, a few gigabytes is typical, and heavy browser users often see more. A machine cleaned last month will give back far less.
Is there a portable version?
Yes. The portable build runs from a folder or USB stick and stores its settings next to the program, so nothing is installed on the host PC.
Can BleachBit run automatically?
Its command line accepts specific cleaners, so you can attach a cleanup to Windows Task Scheduler and run it on a schedule you choose.
Does it speed up a slow computer?
Indirectly. Freeing disk space and clearing bloated browser caches help, but a slow PC is more often held back by startup programs, background apps, or aging hardware.
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