how to clean up your work computer.

Whether you’re gearing up to hand in your notice for a new gig or you’ve simply hit a wall with a desktop covered in chaotic folders, it’s time to take an action to clean it. Sorting through your digital mess is just as cathartic as scrubbing down your actual office space.

Ready to toss the virtual trash? Here’s a foolproof guide to help you clean up your work computer and breathe new life into your screen.

1. your desktop needs a deep clean.

The easiest way to bog down your productivity is a messy desktop. It’s always the first place things pile up. How? It’s the screen that acts as a catch-all for stray PDFs, random screenshots and half-finished drafts.

Therefore, to get back on track, you need to clean out this digital wasteland. Part ways with the files you’re never going to use again by dragging them to the trash and carefully put away the documents you actually need to hold onto.

2. spring clean your screen: purge your hard drive.

Be ruthless with your file purge. Ask yourself, “Will I ever look at this again?” If the answer is no, chuck it. It’s the professional equivalent of asking if it “sparks joy.” It’s time to part ways with ancient to-do lists, duplicate drafts, useless GIFs and those awkward office party photos you’d rather forget.

For the absolute must-keeps, push them over to a shared drive or the cloud. Clearing out the junk will immediately speed up your machine and your workday.

3. build an intuitive folder structure.

The foundation of an organized and clean computer is a filing system that screams clarity and consistency. Start by spinning up a dedicated folder for every specific project. Once you sign off on a task, you can tuck it away into an archive folder to keep things tidy.

Additionally, you might prefer to switch it up and organize chronologically, creating folders for each month. That said, the best structure to adopt depends entirely on the sheer amount of files you deal with and what helps you dig up information the fastest.

Furthermore, keep your naming conventions sharp and logical, so you never have to rack your brain trying to remember where a file lives.

4. clean your browser history and cache.

Have you ever mistyped a URL only to have it haunt your autocomplete suggestions forevermore? Or maybe you visited a website weeks ago, and its ads are now relentlessly tracking you across the internet despite your complete lack of interest? Perhaps you've been a little too relaxed with your company's web browsing guidelines. Whatever the reason, clearing your browser history and cache is the solution.

This provides your computer with a fresh start, eliminating those pesky autocomplete errors and online stalkers. Remember, clearing your cache will log you out of all your online accounts. This is easily remedied if you've saved your passwords or, better yet, use a password manager (highly recommended for enhanced privacy and security!)

5. don’t leave your file backup to chance.

It only takes one rogue cup of coffee or a sudden tech glitch to see months of hard work go down the drain. Don’t let your efforts vanish into thin air! Make it a habit to back up your files on your company’s shared drive or cloud network.

The ultimate time to sync up your data is right after you’ve cleared out the digital clutter, so your files are perfectly prepped for a rainy day. On top of that, if you’re gearing up for a new job, leaving behind a well-organized shared folder is the perfect way to wrap things up.

6. sort your personal files for a digital clean slate.

​While it's a golden rule to keep work and personal files apart, the lines inevitably blur. Before you clock out for the last time, make sure you sweep away any personal documents, emails or contacts from your work machine. Why?

Remember, your employer will likely copy your drive and hand it off to your manager to keep projects moving forward. Furthermore, to ensure your tax returns, private massages and resume don’t become office material, clear them out.

7. erase or update saved logins.

Take a look at the saved logins on your browser (usually under the settings tab) and delete any that you no longer use, and update anywhere the password has changed. This can be a lifesaver down the road when you’re trying to log into an account, and the password is ready to autocomplete without you having to search through emails or notebooks to find it!

While you’re in your browser settings, you can also take a look at all your default settings (i.e. search engine, colours, font size, etc.) and ensure you’re happy with them. If you’re leaving a job permanently, erase all your logins, especially if they include logins to personal accounts.

At most workplaces, your work computer login will be erased entirely along with your browser history and saved logins, but it’s better to play it safe!

8. empty the recycle bin clean.

Don’t forget to empty the recycle bin (or trash if you’re on a Mac) when you’re done with your file purge! Did you know that when you delete a file, it’s not really gone until you empty the bin? Files in your trash folder also take up space on your computer and can slow it down.

If you haven’t emptied your trash bin in a while (or ever) you might be surprised how much faster your computer is after emptying it! If you don’t know how to empty your recycle/trash, it’s easy. Right-click the recycle bin/trash icon on your desktop (or dock for Mac) and select the empty option.

extra steps if you’re leaving for a new job.

1. clean your computer before you hand in your notice.

Though it’s rare for employers to send you packing after you give your two weeks’ notice, it does happen occasionally. So it’s a good idea to take precautions and clean your computer beforehand.

2. if you want to be extra safe, do a factory reset of the computer.

This will wipe absolutely everything, so it’s extra important to make sure that you back up any files you’ll need for your last couple of weeks on a drive. Keep in mind that a full reset may not be an option if you don’t have admin access to your computer.

3. if a full wipe seems extreme, you can also download free apps.

Download apps such as Eraser or File Shredder to remove data for specific folders or apps, ensuring no stray files are unintentionally left behind. Again, this may require admin access.

4. keep a clean repository of all your passwords.

Make sure you have all the passwords you need. If your work computer is the primary way you log into some accounts you’ll need access to after you leave, ensure you have the login info you need, including both the usernames and passwords.

5. don’t leave any app data behind.

Delete data on apps where you share personal info that you don’t want getting into the wrong hands (for example Skype, iMessage or even your work email). While you’re at it, delete any apps you downloaded for personal reasons, such as Spotify or Netflix.

6. don’t forget about your company phone.

Many of these same steps apply to cleaning out your company phone before handing it back to your employer. In fact, given how personal we tend to get with phones, it might be even more important to scrub your phone data!