Windows 11 stores temporary files in more than one location. The safest Command Prompt method is to delete the contents of a Temp folder while leaving the folder itself intact.
You can clean your current user’s Temp folder with del and rd, clean the system Temp folder from an elevated prompt, or use the Command Prompt version of Disk Cleanup.
Before you start: open Command Prompt as administrator
Administrator access is not normally required for your personal Temp folder. It may be required when cleaning %WINDIR%\Temp or files outside your user profile.
- Select the Search box on the Windows 11 taskbar.
- Type Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes when User Account Control asks for permission.
On current Windows 11 installations, Command Prompt may open inside Windows Terminal. That is still cmd.exe, so the commands below work normally.
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1. Find and inspect your Temp folder
Start by checking which temporary folder the current Command Prompt process is using:
echo %TEMP%
echo %TMP%
These variables commonly point to a path similar to:
C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Temp
Do not assume that every Windows account uses the same Temp folder. Environment variables belong to the process and its user environment.
List the folder, including hidden and system files, before deleting anything:
dir /a “%TEMP%”
The /a switch includes hidden and system files in the listing.
2. Delete files from the current user’s Temp folder
Run this command:
del /f /s /q “%TEMP%\*”
| Part | Purpose |
|---|---|
| del | Deletes files. |
| /f | Forces deletion of read-only files. |
| /s | Processes matching files in the folder and its subfolders. |
| /q | Suppresses confirmation prompts. |
| “%TEMP%\*” | Targets the contents of Temp, not the Temp folder itself. |
Important: Command Prompt’s del command permanently deletes files. They do not go to the Recycle Bin through the normal deletion process.
3. Remove temporary subfolders
del removes files but does not remove the directory structure. To remove subfolders left inside Temp, run:
for /d %D in (“%TEMP%\*”) do @rd /s /q “%D”
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Do not run this while Command Prompt’s current directory is inside the Temp folder. Change to another directory first, for example:
cd /d “%USERPROFILE%”
for /d %D in (“%TEMP%\*”) do @rd /s /q “%D”
Using the command in a batch file
The syntax changes slightly in a .bat or .cmd file. Double the percent sign used for the for variable:
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for /d %%D in (“%TEMP%\*”) do @rd /s /q “%%D”
Use %D when typing directly into Command Prompt and %%D inside a batch file.
Complete command sequence for the user Temp folder
This sequence displays the target, shows its contents, deletes files, and then removes subfolders:
echo %TEMP%
dir /a “%TEMP%”
del /f /s /q “%TEMP%\*”
for /d %D in (“%TEMP%\*”) do @rd /s /q “%D”
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsReview the output of the first two commands before running the deletion commands. The main Temp folder remains in place.
Clean the Windows system Temp folder
The system Temp folder is separate from your personal Temp folder. Its usual location is:
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C:\Windows\Temp
Verify the actual Windows directory and inspect the target:
echo %WINDIR%\Temp
dir /a “%WINDIR%\Temp”
From an elevated Command Prompt, delete its contents with:
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del /f /s /q “%WINDIR%\Temp\*”
for /d %D in (“%WINDIR%\Temp\*”) do @rd /s /q “%D”
Windows and running applications may have some files open. Those files normally remain; do not terminate system processes just to complete the cleanup.
Use Disk Cleanup from Command Prompt
Windows 11 still includes Microsoft’s documented cleanmgr.exe tool. It provides categorized cleanup rather than deleting everything in a Temp directory.
Open Disk Cleanup
cleanmgr
To target a particular drive:
cleanmgr /d C:
Disk Cleanup can offer categories such as Temporary Files, Temporary Setup Files, Temporary Internet Files, and Recycle Bin contents. Review the categories before confirming.
Save a cleanup profile
To choose categories once and reuse them later:
cleanmgr /sageset:1
Select the categories in the Disk Cleanup Settings window. Then run the saved profile with:
cleanmgr /sagerun:1
The number identifies the profile. Microsoft documents values from 0 through 9999, so you can create separate profiles for different cleanup choices.
Graphical alternative: Storage settings
If you prefer Windows’ categorized cleanup interface, open:
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Start > Settings > System > Storage
Select Temporary files to review available categories. You can also open Storage Sense from the same area. Storage Sense can remove unnecessary temporary files and Recycle Bin contents on the system drive, normally C:. For another drive, Microsoft’s path is Advanced storage settings > Storage used on other drives.
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| Message or symptom | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process | Close applications, installers, and other tools that may be using the file. Try again after restarting Windows if necessary. Locked files can safely remain. |
| Access is denied | Reopen Command Prompt with Run as administrator, especially when cleaning %WINDIR%\Temp. Elevation still does not unlock files actively being used. |
| The directory is not empty | Use rd /s /q for a directory tree. Inspect hidden and system entries with dir /a. |
| Read-only files remain | del /f handles read-only attributes, but not locked, corrupted, or otherwise protected files. |
| Hidden or system files remain | First identify the specific file with dir /a. For a file you have verified is in Temp, its attributes can be changed with a command such as attrib -h -s “path\to\file”. Do not apply this blindly to unrelated system files. |
| The folder fills up again | This is normal. Windows and applications create temporary files while they run. Cleanup does not prevent new Temp files. |
Commands to avoid
A commonly repeated shortcut is:
rd /s /q %TEMP%
This targets the entire Temp directory tree. It is better to delete the contents with del and remove only the subfolders with the separate for /d command. That approach preserves the main Temp folder and reduces the chance of disrupting software that expects the directory to exist.
Clearing %TEMP% does not remove every cache, Windows update file, or storage category. Use cleanmgr or Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files for broader cleanup categories.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: del command
- Microsoft Learn: rmdir command
- Microsoft Learn: cleanmgr command
- Microsoft Learn: dir command
- Microsoft Support: Storage settings in Windows
FAQ
Is it safe to delete everything in the Windows 11 Temp folder?
Deleting unused contents of your user Temp folder is generally safe, but files currently used by Windows or an application may fail to delete. Close running programs first and leave locked files in place. Do not delete the Temp folder itself.
Do CMD-deleted temporary files go to the Recycle Bin?
No. The del command permanently deletes files rather than moving them to the Recycle Bin.
Why does the Temp folder come back after I delete it?
Windows and applications need temporary storage and recreate files and folders as they run. The main Temp folder should remain available.
Do I need administrator rights to clear Temp files?
Usually not for %TEMP%, which belongs to the current user. Administrator access may be required for %WINDIR%\Temp or files belonging to another account.
Does deleting %TEMP% clean all temporary files in Windows 11?
No. Windows uses multiple temporary-file and cache locations. Run cleanmgr or review Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files for broader categories.
The Bottom Line
For a controlled Command Prompt cleanup, verify the target with echo %TEMP% and dir /a, then run del /f /s /q “%TEMP%\*” followed by the for /d command to remove subfolders. Use an elevated prompt only when cleaning the system Temp folder, and expect locked files to remain.
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