- Delete content from the SoftwareDistribution and Windows.old folder under C drive, and reopen Disk Cleanup.
- Clear all Windows temporary files using the Run dialog and retry opening the Disk Cleanup utility.
Basic Fixes
- Clean boot Windows and relaunch Disk Cleanup : An installed software may conflict with the Disk Cleanup utility. Clean boot your Windows 11 system and reopen it.
- Update Windows 11 : Press the Windows + I shortcut to open Settings, select Windows Update from the left sidebar, and install available system updates.
Fix 1: Cancel, Restart Your PC, and Run the Disk Cleanup Again
Cancelling and restarting the Disk Cleanup process removes hiccups, causing it to get stuck in the calculating stage.
Step 1: Click the Cancel button to terminate the running Disk Cleanup utility.
Step 2: Press the Windows + X shortcut to open the Power User Menu, select Shut down or sign out , and click Restart .
Step 3: Finally, press the Windows key , search Disk Cleanup , and click to open it.
Fix 2: Delete Content From SoftwareDistribution Folder
The SoftwareDistribution folder houses Windows Update files. If they get corrupt, the Windows Update and Disk Cleanup process will fail. To fix it, delete its folder contents and retry opening Disk Cleanup .
Step 1: Press the Windows + E shortcut to open the File Explorer, open the drive containing Windows installation files (e.g. C drive), and select the Windows folder.
Step 2: Locate and open the SoftwareDistribution folder.
Step 3: Use Ctrl + A to select all files and press the Delete key on your keyboard to remove them. Then, reopen the Disk Cleanup utility .
Fix 3: Delete the Windows.old Folder
When you update Windows, its older version gets stored in the Windows.old folder to allow reversion. However, these files can create conflicts, leading to an indefinite calculating message in Disk Cleanup. Remove them manually to resolve the issue.
Step 1: Open File Explorer using the Windows + E shortcut, select the Windows installation drive (e.g. C), and double-click the Windows.old folder.
Tip: If you can’t find the Windows.old folder, enable Hidden items from View > Show > Hidden items.
Step 2: Press the Ctrl + A shortcut to select all files and subfolders, right-click, and select Delete .
Fix 4: Manually Clear Temporary Windows Files
Excessive temporary files often cause problems when running utility programs such as Disk Cleanup. Remove them using the Run dialog to restore normalcy.
Step 1: Press the Windows + R shortcut to open the Run dialog, type %temp% , and hit Enter to open the folder containing all temporary files.
Step 2: Select all files using the Ctrl + A shortcut and press Delete on your keyboard to remove them. Re-open the Disk Cleanup utility.
Fix 5: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Lastly, run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter to fix the Disk Cleanup stuck on calculating issue on Windows 11.
Step 1: Open Windows Settings using the Windows + I shortcut, select System from the sidebar, and click Troubleshoot .
Step 2: Select Other troubleshooters .
Step 3: Click Run next to Windows Update and wait a few seconds for Windows 11 to resolve the issue.
