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Linux does not have one universal time at which /tmp is cleared. On a system using the standard systemd policy, systemd-tmpfiles removes files after they reach the configured age—10 days for /tmp and 30 days for /var/tmp in the upstream defaults. Cleanup is normally triggered by systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service, started according to systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timer, so a file can disappear while the machine is running rather than only during reboot.
Your host can behave differently because administrators, distributions, containers and mount options can replace those defaults. To know when a particular file will be removed, inspect the timer and the effective tmpfiles.d rules on that machine.
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The upstream systemd documentation states that, by default, files in /tmp/ are cleaned after 10 days and files in /var/tmp after 30 days. Those are age thresholds, not promises that deletion occurs at a particular hour on a particular date. The cleanup job must run, and local rules may use a different age or exclude a path altogether.
| Location | Upstream systemd default age | What it is intended for | Can local policy change it? |
|---|---|---|---|
/tmp |
10 days | Short-lived temporary files | Yes. Administrator rules and distribution policy take precedence. |
/var/tmp |
30 days | Temporary data that may need to survive a reboot | Yes. It is still temporary and can be cleaned earlier or later. |
The age is evaluated when systemd-tmpfiles --clean applies the configured rules. If the timer runs after a file crosses its age threshold, deletion normally happens on that run; it is not tied to the file’s creation time plus an exact wall-clock appointment.
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Which component clears /tmp?
On a typical systemd-based installation, the process is split between policy and scheduling:
tmpfiles.drules describe which paths are managed, what type of cleanup applies and what age should trigger it.systemd-tmpfiles-clean.serviceperforms the cleanup operation.systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timerstarts the service on the schedule configured by the distribution and local administrator.
The command-line program reads rules from the installed tmpfiles.d search path. Administrator files in /etc/tmpfiles.d/ are the normal place to override vendor policy; packaged rules are commonly under /usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/, and runtime-generated rules may appear under /run/tmpfiles.d/. The exact set on your host is authoritative.
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There are also boot-oriented rules. The --boot mode applies entries intended for early boot, so a path can be affected during startup even when its ordinary age-based cleanup has not run. A machine that is not using systemd may instead rely on a cron-driven or distribution-specific temporary-file utility. In that case, systemd’s defaults do not describe the host.
Does Linux delete /tmp on reboot?
Sometimes, but reboot is not the general rule. Age-based cleanup normally happens when the systemd service runs, including during normal operation. Debian 13 release guidance specifically warns that new installations regularly delete old files in both /tmp and /var/tmp while the system is running.
Reboot can still affect the result for two separate reasons:
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A volatile /tmp mount
Some systems mount /tmp as a tmpfs, which stores its contents in memory (and possibly swap) rather than on a persistent disk filesystem. When that mount is torn down, its contents are lost. A reboot therefore removes the files regardless of whether they have reached the 10-day age threshold. The mount may be configured by systemd, the distribution, the installer or local administration, so check the machine instead of assuming that every Linux installation uses the same arrangement.
A persistent /tmp directory
If /tmp is an ordinary directory on a persistent filesystem, reboot alone does not inherently delete every entry. The cleanup service may run before or after reboot and remove entries that match its rules. Boot-time rules can also remove selected paths during startup.
To identify the mount type, use a filesystem or mount inspection command such as findmnt /tmp. A result showing tmpfs means the mount has volatile lifecycle semantics; a disk filesystem means persistence across reboot is possible, but policy cleanup still applies.
How to find your machine’s cleanup schedule
Run these commands as a normal user for status information:
systemctl status systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timer— shows whether the timer is loaded and active, plus its most recent and next activation when available.systemctl list-timers systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timer— displays the scheduled time, elapsed time and service associated with the timer.systemctl status systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service— shows the last cleanup invocation and whether it succeeded.
The timer’s cadence is not a universal constant. It is part of the installed unit configuration and can be changed by the distribution or an administrator. A file that is already older than the configured age may therefore remain until the next successful activation.
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How to inspect the effective rules
Start with administrator overrides, then inspect packaged and runtime rules:
- List and read files in
/etc/tmpfiles.d/. These are the first place to look for a locally chosen age, an exclusion, or a custom path rule. - Review applicable files in
/run/tmpfiles.d/and/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/to understand distribution and package defaults. - Use the installed
tmpfiles.dmanual page to interpret each rule’s type, path, mode, ownership and age fields. A rule that looks similar to another can have a different type or an age field that changes its behavior.
When two rules address the same path, precedence follows the system’s tmpfiles.d search and override rules. Do not edit a vendor file merely to make a temporary change: package upgrades can replace it. Put a deliberate administrator override in /etc/tmpfiles.d/, document why it exists, and verify that the resulting configuration still matches your security and storage requirements.
How to run or verify cleanup manually
systemd-tmpfiles --clean applies the age-based cleanup rules currently installed. Running it can delete files immediately if they already satisfy a rule, so inspect the configuration first and avoid experimenting in a directory containing irreplaceable data. The command is normally run with appropriate privileges by the service.
After changing a rule, restart systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service so safe runtime changes are applied to the next cleanup operation. Also check the timer and service status afterward. A failed service, a disabled timer, a syntax error in a rule, or a read-only filesystem can all make the observed behavior differ from the policy you intended.
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Age-based cleanup is only one explanation. Use the following checks to separate the common cases.
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The file reached the configured age
Compare the file’s timestamps with the age in the applicable rule, then check the last service run in systemctl status systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service. Remember that the threshold is checked when cleanup runs, so deletion may occur sometime after the nominal age.
The directory is volatile
If findmnt /tmp reports tmpfs, a reboot, shutdown, unmount or mount recreation can discard all contents. This is independent of the 10-day policy.
A local rule is more aggressive
Search /etc/tmpfiles.d/ for rules covering /tmp, a subdirectory or the file’s application-specific path. An administrator may have selected a shorter age, enabled boot-time removal or added an explicit cleanup rule.
An application removed or replaced it
Programs often create lock files, sockets, caches and scratch files in /tmp. An application can unlink its own file, replace it atomically, clean a directory on startup or use a private temporary directory. If the systemd logs do not line up with the disappearance, inspect the application’s logs and service configuration.
A different environment owns the path
Containers, sandboxes, chroots and remote sessions can have their own mount namespace and cleanup policy. You may be looking at a host’s /tmp from one process and a container’s separate /tmp from another. Check the process namespace and container configuration before changing host policy.
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How to keep data that must survive cleanup
Do not treat /tmp as durable storage. Put long-lived data in an application-specific directory on a persistent filesystem, with explicit ownership, permissions and backup behavior. Debian’s release guidance recommends moving data that must live longer than the temporary-file policy or adding a deliberate exemption.
An exemption should be narrow: target the exact directory or file pattern, choose an age that reflects the application’s retention requirement, and confirm that the path cannot grow without bound. A broad exemption for all of /tmp defeats the storage and security reasons for cleaning it. After installing the rule, run a configuration check using the local manual’s guidance, restart the cleanup service, and monitor disk usage.
For data that only needs to survive a reboot but is still disposable, /var/tmp may be more appropriate than /tmp, but it remains subject to the host’s policy. It is not a substitute for a persistent application data directory or a backup.
How distributions and hosts differ
When comparing two Linux machines, compare these properties rather than relying on the distribution name alone:
| Property | Questions to answer | Why it changes the result |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanup mechanism | Is systemd-tmpfiles active, or is a legacy scheduled utility used? |
Different tools use different rule formats, schedules and defaults. |
| Age threshold | What age is configured for /tmp, /var/tmp and relevant subdirectories? |
A local or vendor rule can be shorter, longer or absent. |
| Timer cadence | When will the cleanup service run next? | An item can outlive its threshold until the next successful run. |
| Boot-time behavior | Are there rules intended for --boot processing? |
Selected paths may be removed during startup. |
| Mount type | Is /tmp persistent storage or tmpfs? |
Volatile mounts lose contents when the mount lifecycle ends. |
| Local overrides | What is defined in /etc/tmpfiles.d/ and generated under /run/tmpfiles.d/? |
Administrator and runtime rules can override packaged defaults. |
This is why two otherwise similar servers can retain the same file for different lengths of time. The only reliable answer for a specific host comes from its active mount, timer and rules.
A safe diagnostic workflow
- Record the exact path and the file’s timestamps before changing anything.
- Run
findmnt /tmpto determine whether the directory is volatile. - Check
systemctl list-timers systemd-tmpfiles-clean.timerand the cleanup service status. - Read the relevant files in
/etc/tmpfiles.d/, then consult/run/tmpfiles.d/and/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/. - Check application, container and service logs if the systemd timeline does not explain the deletion.
- Move durable data out of
/tmp; if an exception is unavoidable, create a narrow documented rule and verify its effect.
The practical answer is therefore conditional: with unmodified upstream systemd policy, expect /tmp files to become eligible after 10 days and /var/tmp files after 30 days, with removal performed on a cleanup run. Your machine may delete them sooner, later, at boot, at unmount or through another tool, so inspect its configuration before relying on any temporary file.
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