Digital Declutter Checklist

Who this is for

A tick-through tidy of your digital space. The list works area by area, from the desktop and downloads to the accounts you no longer use, so the job can be done in short sittings rather than one long afternoon.

Anyone whose phone is full, whose inbox has stopped being useful or who has lost count of the accounts they have signed up for, and people setting up a new device who want to move across only what they need.

What this helps you track

• Clearing the desktop and downloads folder
• Sorting photos and deleting screenshots
• Removing apps that are no longer used
• Getting the inbox and subscriptions under control
• Closing old accounts and tidying cloud storage

How to use it

1. Write your name, the devices you are tidying and the date you start.
2. Work through one area at a time; there is no need to finish in one go.
3. Tick each item as it is done and add your own items in the blank lines.
4. Back up anything you are unsure about before deleting it.
5. Keep the sheet and repeat the areas that fill up again fastest; the browser version saves in your own browser.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How long does a digital declutter take?

It depends entirely on how much has built up. Doing one area per sitting keeps it manageable, and the ticks show where you got to when you come back.

Should I back up before deleting?

If you are not sure you will never need something, yes. The personal data backup schedule and photo backup plan help make sure there is a copy before anything is cleared.

How do I close an old account properly?

Download anything you want to keep, remove saved payment details, then use the service's own close or delete option. Note the date on the sheet and keep any confirmation email.

Is this the same as a digital detox?

No. A detox is about how much time you spend on screens. This sheet is about what is stored on them: files, apps, messages and accounts.