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Old Windows update files can sometimes take up over 15 GB of space, so it’s a good idea to clean up those temporary files.

What are temp files?

Temporary files, also called temp or tmp files, are created by programs on your computer to hold data while a permanent file is being written or updated. The data from temporary files is transferred to a permanent file when the task is complete or when the program is closed.

Temp files often have the extension .TMP and are stored in the C:\Users\AppData\Local\Temp folder.

For example, if you’re writing a document, your word-processing app may create a temporary file to track your progress. If the app crashes, your data is recovered from the temp file. The software that created the temp file should also automatically delete temporary files from Windows 11 when they’re no longer needed.

But when automatic removal doesn’t happen, temporary files become unwanted junk files that build up, waste storage space, and eventually cause performance issues. That’s when it’s time to free up disk space by locating and permanently deleting those files from your Windows PC.

You need your computer to work properly, so if you’re wondering about other reasons your PC gets slower over time, it may be because of high CPU usage and the installation of unnecessary apps on your PC. Issues like these deserve just as much attention as temporary files.

How to clean temp files in Windows 10 and 11

You can manually delete temporary files in Windows 10 and 11 in four ways:

• Use the Temporary Files menu in Windows settings.
• Use Disk Cleanup.
• Use Command Prompt to delete temporary files.
• Delete temporary files by cleaning up your browser.

Each of these methods will help you identify the folders and locations that store temporary files, so work through each of them, in turn, to clear as many temp files from your computer as possible. We’ll make sure you know which files are safe to remove before you wipe any data.

The instructions for older versions of Windows — such as Windows 7 and 8 — are similar, but may differ slightly.

Clear temp files by using the Temporary Files menu

Both Windows 10 and 11 allow users to quickly identify and clear temp files through the Temporary Files menu. This is one of the quickest methods, and it covers the most common types of temporary files.

Here’s how to clear temp files by using the Temporary Files menu:

1. Open the Windows Start menu and select Settings.
2. Ensure System is selected and choose Storage.
3. Click Temporary Files.
4. Choose the temp file types you want to delete, then click Remove files.

Be careful not to delete the Downloads folder if you’re actively accessing those files.

Every other folder, however, is full of unwanted junk. Unless you recently lost work due to a computer crash and you still need to recover it, it’s usually fine to clear these out — no programs or other installations will be affected.

Storage Sense

Windows 11 and 10 come with a feature called Storage Sense that automatically deletes temporary files. Storage Sense clears most temp files every few days without you having to do anything. From the System Storage screen (as shown in Step 3 above), toggle on Storage Sense.

You can manage Storage Sense settings by clicking its tile. From there, configure the temp file cleanup schedule — you can schedule it to clear temp files daily, weekly, monthly, or only when storage is getting critically low.

Use Disk Cleanup to delete temp files

Disk Cleanup is a built-in Windows utility that deletes temporary files on Windows by scanning your whole drive. It’ll locate your Windows 11 or 10 temp folder, and other temp file storage locations, then clear them out alongside other junk taking up valuable space.

Here’s how to access and run Disk Cleanup on Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows key + S simultaneously. Type “disk cleanup” and press Enter. Click Run as administrator.
2. If prompted, select the drive you want to search for temp files to clean. Click OK.
3. Review the description for each file type and select or deselect them as needed. Click OK.

This screen looks pretty much the same on older versions of Windows. Disk Cleanup finds tmp files in several locations. Here are the types of temp files Disk Cleanup can remove:

• Temporary setup and program files, and other .TMP files
• Old CHKDSK files
• Setup logs
• Windows Update and Windows upgrade leftover files
• Temporary internet files and offline webpages
• System error memory dump files
• Windows error reporting files
• Thumbnails and user file history

That’s a great ‘how-to’ article written by AVG. Many thanks to AVG for such a detailed and enlightening piece.