A laptop with a nearly full drive is the usual reason to open BleachBit. The tool clears browser cache, cookies, logs and other leftovers to win back space. This page covers version 6.0.6.633, updated October 20, 2026. The installer is fetched from the developer's own server, download.bleachbit.org.
First steps after installing the 14.4 MB package
The installer is small at 14.4 MB, and the app is free under the GPL-3.0 licence. The package ID is BleachBit.BleachBit, which helps if you install through a Windows package manager.
Start with the browsers you actually use, since Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera are named in the developer's description. Expect to look through the list of supported applications yourself.
Cache, cookies, logs and shredding in one cleaner
BleachBit frees cache, deletes cookies, clears Internet history, shreds temporary files and removes logs. The developer says it covers thousands of applications, and lists Firefox, Adobe Flash, Google Chrome and Opera as examples.
There are deeper options too. It can shred files so they are harder to recover, wipe free disk space to hide traces of files other programs deleted, and vacuum Firefox, which the developer says makes the browser faster. Shredding and wiping are the parts that set it apart from a plain temp-file sweep.
When PowerToys or Glary Utilities fit better
BleachBit focuses on cleaning. It has no startup manager, process viewer or privacy-settings panel.
If you want a broader maintenance suite, Glary Utilities or Advanced SystemCare are alternatives. Autoruns and Process Explorer suit startup and process inspection, and O&O ShutUp10 covers Windows privacy settings. PowerToys is also an option, though it is a different kind of utility.
BleachBit pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with the GPL-3.0 open source licence
- Small 14.4 MB download
- Covers browsers such as Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera
- Can shred files and wipe free disk space
- Download served from the official host, download.bleachbit.org
Cons
- Focused on cleaning only, with no startup manager or process viewer
- No privacy-settings panel
- Limited to cleaning, with no startup or process tools
Is BleachBit safe?
The installer comes straight from download.bleachbit.org, the developer's server, and nothing is stored on our side. BleachBit is made by BleachBit, and its code is open source under GPL-3.0, so anyone can read it. Since the program deletes and shreds files, review what is ticked before you start a clean.
How to install BleachBit
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start BleachBit from the Start menu.
