To delete temporary files in Windows 11, open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, review the categories, and select Remove files. Leave Downloads unchecked unless you intend to delete those personal files. Review Recycle Bin items before selecting that category, too.
This cleanup removes temporary files, thumbnails, and update leftovers. It does not clear every browser or app cache, and Downloads and the Recycle Bin hold your own files, so check those two before you include them.
On Windows 10, the same Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files path works, and so does the Disk Cleanup tool covered below. Our Windows cache and Storage Sense guide shows the older Windows 10 layout. Save your work and close apps before you start.
Before You Choose Files to Delete
Read each category before you check it. Copy anything you want to keep out of Downloads, and restore anything you need from the Recycle Bin. Files deleted from these categories can’t be recovered.
Previous Windows Installation(s) removes Windows.old. If you upgraded recently and want the option to return to your previous Windows version, leave it unchecked. Microsoft warns that deleting the previous installation cannot be undone and removes that rollback option. Our Windows.old removal guide explains that decision.
How to Delete Temp Files in Settings
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Select System, then Storage.
- Open Temporary files. Let the scan finish so you can review the category names, descriptions, and estimated space.
- Check the categories you want to remove, such as Temporary files, Thumbnails, Delivery Optimization Files and Windows Update Cleanup. Leave Downloads and Previous Windows installation(s) unchecked unless you mean to delete them.
- Select Remove files, then select Continue to confirm. Wait for the cleanup to finish.
- Return to Storage to see how much space you freed.
If a category isn’t listed, there are no files of that type to remove. Microsoft’s drive-space cleanup instructions cover the other Windows 11 cleanup options.
Use Cleanup Recommendations for a Broader Review
Open Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations. Review each section, choose specific items, then use its Clean up button. In addition to temporary files, recommendations can include large or unused files, cloud-synced files, and unused apps. Those sections involve different decisions; a document you rarely open can still be valuable.
Check each item before you clean up. Windows can flag a file as unused, such as an old tax spreadsheet, that you still need. Old installers are usually safe to remove.
Set Up Storage Sense Carefully
Microsoft’s Storage Sense documentation explains automatic cleanup and its limits. Review its rules before enabling it, particularly if you use Downloads for long-term storage or the Recycle Bin as a temporary holding area.
- Open Settings > System > Storage. Select Storage Sense to see its cleanup options and turn it on if you want automatic cleanup.
- Choose a suitable schedule under Run Storage Sense. Microsoft says the default schedule runs when disk space is low.
- Review the temporary-file option and the Recycle Bin deletion period. Choose Never for Downloads if you want to manage downloaded files yourself.
- Check the cloud-content setting separately. If it’s on, files you haven’t opened in a while can become online-only. They stay in the cloud, but you need an internet connection and enough space to open them again. Files marked Always keep on this device aren’t affected.
- Select Run Storage Sense now to apply these rules right away, then recheck your free space.
Storage Sense operates on the Windows system drive, usually C:, and settings apply to your user account. Microsoft says it needs you signed in and online for more than ten minutes. Other users manage their own rules. To examine another drive, use Advanced storage settings > Storage used on other drives.
Optional: Clear Your User Temp Folder
Try Settings first. Microsoft’s temporary-files guide also covers manual cleanup. If you go this route, save your work, close your apps, and make sure you’re inside the Temp folder. Don’t delete the AppData folder above it.
- Press Windows key + R, enter
%temp%, and press Enter. File Explorer opens the current user’s temporary-files location. - Check that the address bar ends in AppData\Local\Temp, then press Ctrl + A to select everything in the folder.
- Press Delete. The files go to the Recycle Bin.
- If Windows says a file is in use, select Skip. Those files belong to running apps and can stay.
The separate C:\Windows\Temp folder needs administrator permission. Let Disk Cleanup or the Temporary files screen clear it instead of changing its permissions. To learn what the AppData folder holds, see how to find AppData in Windows 11.
Use the Classic Disk Cleanup Tool
- Search Start for Disk Cleanup and open it.
- Choose drive C: and select OK.
- Select Clean up system files to include Windows Update leftovers, then choose C: again.
- Check the categories you want to remove, select OK, then select Delete Files. The Downloads, Recycle Bin and previous-installation warnings above still apply.
If Space Fills Up Again
Temp files come back as Windows and apps run, so some regrowth is normal. If the drive fills up quickly, find what is using the space with our guide to finding what takes up space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is everything on the Temporary files screen safe to delete?
Not always. The screen can include your Downloads folder, files in the Recycle Bin you might want back, and your previous Windows installation. Temporary files, thumbnails, and delivery optimization files are safe to remove.
Does clearing temp files make Windows faster?
It can help if your drive is nearly full, because Windows needs free space for updates and virtual memory. If you already have plenty of free space, deleting temp files won’t make a noticeable difference.
Do I need to restart after every cleanup?
No. Windows deletes the files right away, so you don’t need to restart. Restart only if Windows asks you to, and save your work first.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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