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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe safest way to remove temporary files in Windows 11 is Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Review the categories, leave personal files and rollback data selected only when you are sure, then choose Remove files. For recurring cleanup, enable Storage Sense; use Disk Cleanup when you need older system-file categories.
What Windows 11 calls temporary files
Windows and applications create temporary data while installing updates, extracting archives, caching content, recording diagnostics, handling interruptions and running everyday tasks. The Temporary files page is a broad storage category, not just the contents of one folder.
Depending on your Windows build, update history, applications and permissions, it may include:
- User and system temporary files
- Windows Update and Delivery Optimization cleanup data
- Thumbnails and temporary Internet files
- Error reports and diagnostic files
- Recycle Bin contents
- Downloaded program files
- Previous Windows installation(s)
Category names and reported sizes can differ between Windows 11 feature updates. No fixed amount of free space is guaranteed.
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Quickest method: Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select System, then Storage.
- Choose Temporary files and wait for Windows to calculate the categories.
- Review each checkbox. Select only the categories you understand.
- Select Remove files and confirm if Windows asks.
Microsoft documents this path in its Storage Sense and drive-space guidance. Ordinary temporary files, thumbnails, temporary Internet files, Delivery Optimization data and old update-cleanup files are generally suitable for removal when Windows presents them. Treat these items differently:
| Category | What to check first |
|---|---|
| Downloads | It can contain documents, photos, installers and work files. Do not select it without checking the folder. |
| Recycle Bin | Removing it permanently deletes items already in the bin. |
| Previous Windows installation(s) | Removing it can eliminate the ability to roll back to the earlier Windows installation. |
| Cloud content | Storage Sense may make inactive OneDrive files online-only rather than permanently deleting them. |
Use Cleanup recommendations for a guided review
When you are unsure what is consuming the drive, open Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations. Windows groups suggestions under temporary files, large or unused files, files synced to the cloud and unused apps.
- Open each group and inspect the listed items.
- Select only the files or apps you no longer need.
- Choose the relevant Clean up button.
This is a review-and-confirm workflow. It is broader than the Temporary files page, while Storage Sense is intended for automatic management.
Turn on Storage Sense for automatic cleanup
- Go to Settings > System > Storage.
- Select Storage Sense and turn it on.
- Choose when it should run.
- Set the Recycle Bin and Downloads rules if you want automatic handling.
- Use Run Storage Sense now when that control is available.
Storage Sense primarily manages the Windows system drive, normally C:. Other drives require separate inspection or storage controls. Microsoft says it is generally off by default, although Windows may use limited management when disk space is critically low and notify you. The computer must be signed in and online for more than 10 minutes for Storage Sense to run according to Microsoft’s support documentation.
Downloads are not removed by default. OneDrive handling is also separate: beginning with Windows 11 version 22H2, inactive cloud files may become online-only after the documented period rather than being permanently deleted. Files marked Always keep on this device are exempt from that locally available-content management. See Microsoft’s Storage Sense configuration documentation for administrative details.
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Use Disk Cleanup for additional system files
Disk Cleanup remains useful for update-related and other system categories that may not be obvious in a user Temp folder.
- Search Windows for Disk Cleanup and open it.
- Select the usual system drive, normally
C:, then select OK. - Review the categories shown.
- Select Clean up system files for an elevated, broader scan.
- Select the drive again if prompted.
- Review the expanded list, then select OK and Delete Files.
The available categories depend on the computer. Be particularly careful with Downloads, Recycle Bin and Previous Windows installation(s). Microsoft’s drive-space guidance describes this process.
Manual cleanup with %TEMP%
Use this targeted fallback when you want to clear the current user’s temporary folder.
- Close open applications and save your work.
- Press Windows + R.
- Enter
%TEMP%and press Enter. - Press Ctrl + A, then press Delete.
- Choose Continue if permission is requested.
- Choose Skip for files Windows reports as in use.
Delete the contents, not the Temp folder itself. The environment variable normally points to the current user’s temporary location, but its physical path can vary. The command temp may open a temporary location based on the current configuration; it is not guaranteed to be identical to %TEMP%.
What about C:WindowsTemp and Prefetch?
C:WindowsTemp
This is a system-wide temporary location. Administrative permission may be required, and running applications may be using its files. Most people should use Settings or Disk Cleanup instead. If you inspect it, close applications, remove contents only and skip locked files.
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C:WindowsPrefetch
Some cleanup guides recommend deleting Prefetch contents. It is not necessary for ordinary storage cleanup and is not a reliable performance cure. Windows manages and recreates Prefetch data, so use the built-in storage tools first.
If a file will not delete
- Close the application that may be using it.
- Close File Explorer windows showing that folder.
- Try again from Settings or Disk Cleanup.
- Restart Windows, then retry once.
- Leave the item alone if it remains locked or produces a permission error.
Do not force-delete unknown locked files with third-party utilities. If space remains missing, locate the folder actually consuming it instead of repeatedly clearing Temp.
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If temporary files come back
Regeneration is normal: Windows Update, browsers, installers, media tools, development software and crash reporting all create new temporary data. A Microsoft Store issue can also refill a Temp location with .appx files. Press Windows + R, run wsreset.exe, select OK, and then investigate ongoing Store or update activity. Microsoft’s troubleshooting steps are in its free-up-drive-space article.
If a particular application repeatedly generates large logs or caches, update or repair that application. Cleanup may also appear ineffective because Settings uses estimates, protected or hidden files are not visible, files are changing during the scan, or multiple user accounts and drives are involved. Deleting one user’s %TEMP% folder will not clear other users’ temporary data.
What not to delete
- Do not delete the entire
C:WindowsorAppDatadirectory. - Do not delete the Temp folder itself.
- Do not select Downloads without checking its contents.
- Do not remove Previous Windows installation(s) while rollback may still be needed.
- Do not manually remove unfamiliar update or installer directories because they look large.
- Do not use registry cleaners or one-click debloat scripts for this task.
- Do not assume every cache is safe to remove while its application is running.
Will deleting temporary files make Windows faster?
The dependable benefit is reclaimed disk space, especially when the system drive is nearly full. That can help Windows and applications operate normally, but temporary-file cleanup is not a universal cure for slow performance. It will not automatically fix malware, failing hardware, excessive startup programs, insufficient memory or a defective application. Removing caches can also make an application rebuild them, briefly increasing disk activity.
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Choose the right method
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Simplest safe cleanup | Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files |
| Broader guided review | Cleanup recommendations |
| Recurring maintenance | Storage Sense |
| Additional system categories | Disk Cleanup with Clean up system files |
| One user’s Temp folder | %TEMP% |
| Microsoft Store files return | wsreset.exe, followed by investigation of Store activity |
| Expected space is not recovered | Use Storage settings or a trusted disk-usage analyzer to find the actual consumer |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete everything in %TEMP%?
Usually, yes, for the current user’s temporary contents. Close applications first, delete the contents rather than the folder, and skip files that are in use.
Can I delete Windows Update cleanup files?
When Windows lists them in Temporary files or Disk Cleanup, they are generally intended for removal. Review Previous Windows installation(s) separately because removal can end rollback.
Does Storage Sense delete Downloads?
Not by default. Downloads cleanup is a separately configurable rule, so inspect that setting before enabling it.
Does Storage Sense work on drives other than C:?
It primarily manages the Windows system drive. Check other drives separately because behavior and controls can differ.
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