BleachBit – Advanced Open Source System Cleaner and Privacy Guard

Free up valuable disk space and maintain strict privacy with this powerful, open-source system cleaning utility designed for advanced users.

About BleachBit

BleachBit quickly frees disk space and tirelessly guards your privacy. Free cache, delete cookies, clear Internet history, shred temporary files, delete logs, and discard junk you didn't know was there. Designed for Linux and Windows systems, it wipes clean a massive list of applications beyond just the web browser. It is completely free of charge, open source, and contains no adware, spyware, or malware.

System Requirements

  • Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 (32-bit or 64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • Disk Space: 100 MB
  • Additional Requirements: Administrator privileges recommended for deep cleaning

Features Of BleachBit

  • Deep cleaning for 2500+ applications
  • Advanced file shredding to prevent recovery
  • SQLite database vacuuming for speed
  • Overwrite free disk space to hide deleted data
  • Command-line interface for automation
  • Portable version available (no installation)
  • Custom cleaners via CleanerML
  • Automatic import of winapp2.ini for expanded rules
  • Cross-platform support (Windows & Linux)
  • Translation support for 64 languages

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free and open source (GPL)
  • No bundled adware or toolbars
  • Extremely lightweight and fast
  • Portable option for USB drives
  • Scriptable via command line
  • Frequent community updates
  • Deep scan capabilities

Cons

  • Interface is utilitarian and dated
  • Can be aggressive if not configured carefully
  • Lacks real-time system monitoring
  • No automatic registry backup feature
  • Documentation can be technical

Changelog

Version 5.0.2 (October 20, 2025):
- Added new font size adjustment settings
- Introduced full-screen mode for better accessibility
- Improved cleaning rules for Google Chrome and Firefox
- Fixed minor bugs in the deep scan engine
- Updated translations for 12 languages

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BleachBit safe to use?

Yes, it is safe for standard cleaning. However, using advanced options like 'Deep Scan' without understanding them may remove useful temporary data.

Does it clean the Windows Registry?

BleachBit focuses primarily on file cleaning and privacy. It avoids aggressive registry cleaning to prevent system instability.

How is this different from CCleaner?

BleachBit is 100% open-source, completely free, and contains no ads or tracking, whereas CCleaner is commercial software with a paid tier.