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For most Windows 11 PCs, start with Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files. Review the categories, leave Downloads unchecked unless you intentionally want to remove downloaded files, and leave Previous Windows installation(s) unchecked if you may need to roll back Windows. Select Remove files when you are satisfied with the list.
This guide updates the popular 2022 instructions for current supported Windows 11 builds. Windows 11 version 22H2 Home and Pro reached end of updates on October 8, 2024, so the menu names and available categories may differ slightly from older screenshots. Microsoft’s current Windows 11 release information lists newer releases, including 25H2 and 26H1.
Deleting disposable files is primarily a way to reclaim storage and resolve low-disk-space problems. It is not a guaranteed general performance upgrade, although having adequate free space can help when a drive is critically full or Windows cannot install updates.
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What Windows 11 means by temporary files
Temporary files are disposable data created by Windows and installed applications while they work. They can include installer remnants, update files, error reports, logs, caches, thumbnails, downloaded program files, and other files that Windows has identified as removable.
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The important distinction is that Windows’ Temporary files page is broader than the current user’s %TEMP% folder. Settings may also report Recycle Bin contents, Windows Update cleanup data, thumbnails, delivery files, old installation files, and other system-managed categories. Therefore, manually emptying %TEMP% does not necessarily remove everything shown under Temporary files.
Windows normally resolves %TEMP% to a path similar to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Temp, but the actual location is controlled by environment variables and can differ. Microsoft documents this behavior through its user environment variable documentation and temporary-path documentation.
System processes can use different protected locations, including C:\Windows\SystemTemp through GetTempPath2. Do not treat that folder as an ordinary user folder or take ownership of it. Use Windows’ built-in cleanup tools for system-managed locations.
Before deleting anything
- Save open documents and close browsers, installers, games, and other applications.
- Read every category instead of selecting everything automatically.
- Back up important files before using Cleanup recommendations or a command with wildcards.
- Do not delete the
%TEMP%folder itself; remove contents that can be removed. - Do not manually delete unrelated system folders such as
C:\Windows\Installer, WinSxS, or protected system temporary folders.
Method 1: Delete temporary files from Settings
Best for: Most users who want the safest balance of visibility, coverage, and simplicity.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select System → Storage.
- Select Temporary files.
- Wait while Windows calculates the categories and their sizes.
- Review the selected categories one by one.
- Clear Downloads unless you deliberately want to delete the files in your Downloads folder.
- Leave Previous Windows installation(s) unchecked if you may need to return to the previous Windows version.
- Select Remove files.
The list varies by computer. It can include temporary files, Recycle Bin contents, Windows Update cleanup, thumbnails, delivery optimization files, old error reports, and previous Windows installations. This is why Settings is more useful than simply emptying %TEMP%.
Categories that need a deliberate decision
Downloads
Downloads can contain installers, documents, photos, archives, and other personal files. Removing this category can delete those files, so open File Explorer and review the folder first if you are unsure.
Recycle Bin
Removing Recycle Bin contents permanently removes the items from the normal Windows recovery path. Restore anything important before selecting it.
Previous Windows installation(s)
This category normally refers to rollback files such as the previous Windows installation. Microsoft states that deleting them removes the ability to return to the previous Windows version. The category may appear after an upgrade and Microsoft’s current support wording refers to the first 10 days after upgrading. If the new installation is working properly and you are certain you will not roll back, it can provide a substantial amount of space; otherwise, leave it alone.
Windows Update Cleanup
Windows Update Cleanup is a built-in category for removing update-related files identified as unnecessary. It is generally a reasonable choice when you need space, but let any current update finish and restart the PC before cleaning. It is not the same as deleting the previous Windows installation, and it should not be confused with manually removing files from Windows system directories. If the category repeatedly becomes very large, investigate Windows Update rather than repeatedly deleting it.
For Microsoft’s current explanation of the categories and the rollback warning, see Free up drive space in Windows.
Method 2: Use Cleanup recommendations
Best for: A nearly full drive when temporary files are not the only problem.
- Open Settings.
- Go to System → Storage → Cleanup recommendations.
- Review the suggested groups, which may include:
- Temporary files
- Large or unused files
- Files synced to the cloud
- Unused apps
- Expand each category and select only files, applications, or cloud-local copies you recognize and no longer need.
- Select Clean up for the category you have reviewed.
Cleanup recommendations is not limited to disposable system data. It may identify personal files, installed applications, and files currently stored locally from a cloud service. Treat it as a storage investigation tool, not as a button that safely removes every suggestion without review.
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If you need to preserve a file but want to reclaim space, consider moving it to another drive or using the cloud provider’s online-only feature. Confirm what the service will do before cleaning, particularly if the computer is offline or other devices need the file.
Method 3: Run Disk Cleanup
Best for: Additional system-file categories, older Windows interfaces, and repeatable cleanup profiles.
- Search for Disk Cleanup from the taskbar.
- Open the Disk Cleanup app.
- Choose the system drive, normally C:, and select OK.
- Review the categories and select the items you want to remove.
- For more system categories, select Clean up system files.
- Select the drive again if Windows prompts you.
- Review the expanded list, then select OK → Delete Files.
Depending on the PC, Disk Cleanup can list temporary setup files, downloaded program files, Internet cache, Recycle Bin contents, old error-reporting files, thumbnails, Windows Update cleanup, and previous installations. Its categories overlap with Settings but are not necessarily identical.
Disk Cleanup is not obsolete: Microsoft still documents cleanmgr for Windows, including saved cleanup profiles. To create a profile, open Command Prompt and run:
cleanmgr /sageset:1Choose the categories when the Disk Cleanup window appears. Later, run:
cleanmgr /sagerun:1The number 1 is simply the profile identifier. You can use another number if needed, but /sagerun:1 runs exactly the categories selected when you created profile 1. Review the selections carefully before saving a profile, especially if it includes Downloads, Recycle Bin contents, or previous installation files. Microsoft’s cleanmgr documentation explains these switches and cleanup categories.
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Best for: A specific user-temp folder that is unusually large or a leftover temporary file that the graphical tools have not removed.
- Close open applications, installers, and documents.
- Press Windows + R.
- Enter
%TEMP%and press Enter. - Press Ctrl + A to select the contents.
- Press Delete.
- If Windows says a file is in use, choose Skip.
Delete the contents you can remove, not the %TEMP% folder itself. A locked file usually means that Windows or an application is actively using it. Do not take ownership of the file, change permissions, or force-close system processes just to remove one temporary item. Microsoft community guidance identifies in-use files as the normal reason some temp items remain.
If a particular file still occupies meaningful space, restart Windows, close the application that created it, and try again. If only a few small files remain, there is usually no benefit in pursuing them.
What this method does not cover
This procedure targets the current user’s temporary directory. It does not automatically clean another user’s temp directory, Windows Update’s managed storage, the Recycle Bin, browser caches, previous installation files, or protected system locations. It is therefore narrower than Settings or Disk Cleanup.
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Method 5: Configure Storage Sense for automatic cleanup
Best for: Preventing temporary data and selected storage categories from accumulating again.
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- Open Settings → System → Storage.
- Turn on Storage Sense.
- Select Storage Sense to configure it.
- Choose how often it should run.
- Review the settings for temporary files, the Recycle Bin, Downloads, and locally available cloud content.
- Use Run Storage Sense now if that control is available in your Windows build.
Storage Sense normally works on the system drive, usually C:, and its settings apply per user. It can remove unnecessary temporary files and Recycle Bin contents. Downloads and cloud content are not automatically treated like ordinary temporary files: their behavior depends on the settings you choose.
Storage Sense and Downloads
Check the Downloads setting before enabling automatic deletion. If it is configured to remove files after a period of inactivity, it can delete downloaded files that you still need.
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Storage Sense and OneDrive
Storage Sense can make inactive OneDrive files online-only to free local disk space. An online-only file is not permanently deleted from OneDrive and can be downloaded again when there is an internet connection. Files marked Always keep on this device are exempt. Microsoft documents a 30-day default for making inactive OneDrive files online-only beginning with Windows 11 version 22H2, but this is configurable cloud-storage behavior, not ordinary temp-file deletion.
Storage Sense generally needs the user to be signed in and online for more than 10 minutes to run. Microsoft also says it is normally off by default, although Windows may prompt for or enable selected behavior when the device is critically low on disk space. See Microsoft’s Storage Sense documentation for the current options.
Advanced option: clear %TEMP% from Command Prompt
Command Prompt is useful for scripting or for advanced users who specifically want to process the current user’s temp path. It is not safer or more complete than the graphical cleanup tools.
Open Command Prompt and run:
del /q /f /s "%TEMP%\*"The switches mean:
/qenables quiet mode and suppresses confirmation prompts./fforces deletion of read-only files where possible./sprocesses matching files in subdirectories.
The path separator and wildcard are deliberate: "%TEMP%\*" expands to files inside the current user’s temp directory. This command does not clean every temporary location on the computer. It may also report access-denied or in-use files.
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Use this command only when you understand the scope. Files deleted with del do not go through the Recycle Bin and cannot normally be restored through ordinary Windows recovery. Microsoft’s del command documentation warns about wildcards and explains the switches. Do not use a loosely scoped command such as del /q /f /s %TEMP%*; the safer pattern includes the path separator and quotes.
Troubleshooting temporary-file cleanup
Some files cannot be deleted
Choose Skip for files in use. They are often active application or Windows working files. Close applications and retry after a restart only if the remaining files are large enough to matter. Do not change permissions or delete system processes to force cleanup.
Settings still reports a large Temporary files total
That number may include far more than %TEMP%: Windows Update files, old installations, Recycle Bin contents, thumbnails, delivery files, logs, and other managed categories. Windows may also recreate some temporary data immediately.
Wait for the calculation to finish, reopen Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files, and compare the result with:
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- Cleanup recommendations for large files and unused applications
- Disk Cleanup, including Clean up system files
- The main Storage breakdown to identify what is actually consuming the drive
Do not expect the displayed figure to reach zero. Some files are locked, and applications and Windows components routinely recreate caches and working files.
The Temp folder rapidly fills again
Rapid growth after deletion indicates a process that is actively generating files. Repeatedly emptying the folder treats the symptom rather than the cause. Check for an application, installer, Windows Update process, Microsoft Store activity, or security issue that corresponds with the growth.
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Microsoft documents a case where Microsoft Store .appx files can quickly fill the Temp folder after Disk Cleanup. In that situation, run:
wsreset.exeThis resets the Microsoft Store cache. The exact Settings navigation in older Microsoft support articles may not match current Windows 11 builds, so the command is the useful part of that documented troubleshooting path. If the problem continues, update or repair the affected application, check Windows Update, and run a Windows Security scan rather than continuing to delete temp files.
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Run Storage Sense, review Cleanup recommendations, and use Disk Cleanup with Clean up system files. Update space requirements vary based on the update path, optional features, installed languages, RAM, and other system conditions.
If Windows offers an external-storage workflow, Microsoft documents using external storage and specifies at least 10 GB of free space for that process. See Microsoft’s guidance on freeing space for Windows updates.
The goal is to clear browser cache
Windows temporary-file cleanup is separate from browser history, cookies, and browser cache. In Microsoft Edge, open Settings and more → Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Clear browsing data → Choose what to clear.
For a narrower cleanup, select Cached images and files. Clearing cookies can sign you out of websites, so do not select cookies unless that is intentional. Microsoft documents the current Edge path in View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge.
Should you delete Prefetch?
No—not as routine maintenance. Prefetch is a self-maintaining, performance-related cache rather than a normal temp-file target. Clearing it can temporarily make application launches slower while Windows rebuilds the data. Leave it to Windows unless you are following specific troubleshooting guidance for a particular problem.
Should you delete files from Windows Installer or WinSxS?
No. Do not manually remove files from C:\Windows\Installer, WinSxS, C:\Windows\SystemTemp, or other unrelated system directories. Use Settings, Disk Cleanup, Storage Sense, or a documented repair procedure instead.
Which cleanup method should you choose?
| Method | Beginner safety | Coverage | Best use | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settings → Temporary files | Highest | Windows-selected categories | Normal one-time cleanup | Accidentally selecting Downloads, Recycle Bin, or previous installation files |
| Cleanup recommendations | High | Temporary files plus personal files and apps | Investigating a full drive | Deleting recognized-but-still-needed files or applications |
| Disk Cleanup | High | System and legacy cleanup categories | Deeper cleanup or saved profiles | Selecting rollback or system categories without understanding them |
Manual %TEMP% |
Medium | Current user’s temp directory | A specific large temp folder | Locked files or deleting active installer data |
| Storage Sense | High | Automatic system-drive cleanup | Recurring maintenance | Unexpected Recycle Bin, Downloads, or cloud-content behavior if configured |
| Command Prompt | Medium to low | Current %TEMP% files |
Scripting and advanced use | Irreversible wildcard deletion with the wrong scope |
Recommended order
- Use Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files and review the warnings.
- Use Cleanup recommendations if personal files, unused applications, or cloud-local files are consuming the drive.
- Run Disk Cleanup → Clean up system files for additional system categories.
- Inspect and clear the current user’s
%TEMP%folder if it is unusually large. - Enable and configure Storage Sense if you want Windows to perform recurring cleanup.
- Use the Command Prompt command only when you need scripting or understand exactly what it will delete.
Third-party cleaner utilities are not necessary for these tasks. Windows’ own tools provide the clearest category descriptions and the safest way to handle rollback files, update cleanup, Recycle Bin contents, and cloud-storage settings.
Sources and version notes
- Microsoft: Free up drive space in Windows
- Microsoft: Manage drive space with Storage Sense
- Microsoft Learn: cleanmgr command
- Microsoft Learn: del command
- Microsoft: Windows 11 Home and Pro lifecycle
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all files in the Windows Temp folder safe to delete?
The contents of the current user’s %TEMP% folder are generally disposable, but files may be in use by Windows or an application. Close your apps, delete what Windows allows, and choose Skip for locked items. Do not delete the folder itself or treat protected system temp locations as ordinary folders.
Will deleting temporary files remove my documents or Downloads?
Not normally when you review the standard temporary-file categories, but Settings can include Downloads, Recycle Bin contents, or personal files suggested by Cleanup recommendations. Leave Downloads unchecked unless you have reviewed its contents, and inspect every Cleanup recommendations category before selecting Clean up.
Does Storage Sense permanently delete OneDrive files?
Storage Sense can make inactive locally stored OneDrive files online-only, which removes the local copy but not the cloud copy. They can be downloaded again when online. Files marked Always keep on this device are exempt; Downloads and cloud behavior depend on your Storage Sense settings.
Why do temporary files come back after I delete them?
Windows and applications recreate caches, logs, update files, and installer data during normal operation. If the folder refills unusually quickly or consumes significant space, investigate the application, Microsoft Store, Windows Update, or security software generating the files instead of repeatedly deleting them.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files first, but do not blindly select every checkbox. Downloads and Recycle Bin contents may contain files you still need, while Previous Windows installation(s) removes your ability to roll back Windows. Use Cleanup recommendations and Disk Cleanup for deeper system-space analysis, clear %TEMP% manually only when necessary, and configure Storage Sense for ongoing maintenance. Skip locked files and investigate any Temp folder that rapidly refills.
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