On February 8, 2024, Microsoft announced a new application for Windows 10 and Windows 11: PC Manager. Intended to clean PCs to improve performance, as CCleaner already does very well, the solution from the Redmond firm is already heavily criticized.
In an article published on February 9, 2024, the Neowin media reveals that the Deep Cleaning option deletes very useful temporary files, more precisely those in the Windows Prefetch folder.
Allowing data from regularly opened applications to be stored in memory, this makes opening software faster thanks to the latest recorded information. Thus, PC Manager makes some space on the SDD by deleting temporary files stored in Windows Prefetch, which subsequently reduces the speed of opening applications.
To make matters worse, Neowin discovered that Microsoft was taking advantage of PC Manager to offer affiliate links. Located in the Toolbox tab and two in number, they redirect to Chinese application sites, from which the American firm would receive a commission for each visit and/or purchase.
Microsoft thus offers a utility with mixed performance, while taking the opportunity to discreetly make some profits. Obviously, CCleaner has a bright future ahead of it.