Removing Temporary Files

Written by Eric Wyatt (last updated December 21, 2020)

To aid programs, Windows offers a dedicated space for those programs to write files, as needed, while you are using the program. This location is known as the Temporary folder. The Temporary folder, as the name suggests, exists as the location for programs to write temporary, yet necessary, files related to the operation of the program on your machine.

With the name "Temporary," one would assume that the files are there only temporarily. In fact, that is exactly what is supposed to happen. When you close the program, all the temporary files a program creates should be removed by that program. This, however, does not always happen. Sometimes a computer program does not remove the temporary file for one reason or another. If the programs on your computer could write temporary files anywhere they wanted, you could have hidden files taking up precious storage space all over your system, and you would never know. This is why Microsoft created the Temporary folder—so you can find those files in a single location.

If you find that your system is running low on storage space, an excess of undeleted temp files could be a possible culprit. To quickly empty your Temporary folder, follow these simple steps.

  1. Launch the Run prompt by pressing Win+R. This opens the Run window.
  2. Type "%Temp%" (without quotes) and press Enter. Windows opens the Temporary folder.
  3. Press CTRL+A to select all the files and folders, then press Delete. Windows deletes all the files in the Temporary folder.
  4. Close the Temporary folder window.

A few things to note: First, if you have just installed any programs that require a restart, it is recommended that you restart your system before you delete the temporary items, as sometimes the installation holds temporary files until it finishes rebooting. Second, if items are left in the Temporary folder after you tried to delete them, Windows has determined, for some reason, that those files are still in use, even if it appears that you're not running any programs.

These quick steps will allow you to remove any temporary files that are not needed by your computer. This can potentially save valuable disk space on your system.

 This tip (13814) applies to Windows 10.

Author Bio

Eric Wyatt

Eric Wyatt is a swell guy (or so his friends tell him). He is a formally trained designer and branding expert, bringing a wide range of skills to his Tips.Net articles. ...

MORE FROM ERIC

Clipboard History

Windows has had cut and paste functionality for years. Windows 10 improves the Clipboard functionality by including a new ...

Discover More

Share with a Nearby Computer

Have you ever needed to quickly share something with another computer? With Nearby Sharing, part of the Windows 10 April ...

Discover More

Setting an Account to Automatically Logon

Passwords are a great way to protect the content on our computers. What if you want to login to your system without using ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Encrypting a File Folder

Want to make the data stored on your system more secure? Think about enabling the built-in encryption capabilities of ...

Discover More

Deleting a Saved Search

Windows Explorer has a good search utility built into it. As you use it, you may wish to delete a previously saved search ...

Discover More

Permanently Deleting a File

If you have a file that you're sure you want to permanently delete (instead of having it go to the Recycle Bin) it's an ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is six minus 4?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips