How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10: A Quick Guide

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Free up disk space & speed up your PC by deleting temporary files

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: March 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Using Disk Cleanup
|
• Using Storage Settings
|
• Using the Command Prompt
|
• Using the Run Dialog
|
• FAQ
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Windows 10 creates temporary files while you use certain apps to speed up certain processes. However, your PC can create hundreds of temporary files in a day, which takes up hard drive space and can even slow down your computer. This wikiHow will show you how to clear temporary files from your Windows 10 PC and answer some common questions about temporary files on Windows.

Quick Steps

1. Search "Disk Cleanup" in the Windows search bar.
2. Open the Disk Cleanup app,
3. Select the drive you want to clean and click Ok.
4. Check "Temporary Files" and Temporary Internet Files."
5. Click Ok.
6. Click Delete Files.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Using Disk Cleanup

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1. 
   1
   Open Disk Cleanup on your Windows PC. The easiest way to clean up temporary files on your Windows 10 or 11 computer is to use the Disk Cleanup app. Use the following steps to open it:

   • Press the Windows key and type disk cleanup.
   • Click Disk Cleanup in the search results.
2. 
   2
   Select the drive you want to clean and click OK. The drive you use the most will have the most temporary files. In most cases, this will be the "C:" drive.

   • If you aren't given the option to select a disk, you probably only have one disk drive on your computer.
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3. 
   3
   Select the file types you want to delete and click OK. Suggested boxes to delete are selected by default. Ensure the boxes next to "Temporary Internet Files" and "Temporary Files" are checked, then click OK.

   • You’ll see how much space they will free up below the right side of the columns.
4. 
   4
   Click Delete Files. This confirms that you want to delete the files permanently. The files will be promptly removed from your computer.

   • For more tips on speeding up your device, check out our guides on how to speed up a slow Windows computer for free and fix common issues slowing down your computer.
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Section 2 of 5:

Using Storage Settings

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1. 
   1
   Open your Windows Settings

   

   . You can click the Start icon and then the gear to open Settings.
2. 
   2
   Navigate to the storage settings. To get there, click System, and then click Storage.
3. 
   3
   Click the drive where Windows is installed. It usually has a Windows logo over the drive icon and might be called “This PC” or "OS C:".
4. 
   4
   Click Temporary Files. The number here represents how much space the temporary files are taking up. The next page shows you all the files that are considered temporary files, including files in the Downloads folder, files in the Recycle Bin, and thumbnails.
5. 
   5
   Click to check the boxes next to the files you want to delete. Ensure the boxes next to "Temporary Files" and "Temporary Internet Files" are selected.
6. 
   6
   Click Remove files. It's at the top of the page above the checkboxes.
7. 
   7
   Click Continue. This confirms you want to remove the files and starts deleting them. You’ll see a progress bar of the deletion process.
8. 
   8
   Turn on Storage Sense (optional). While you're in the Storage Settings menu, make sure the toggle switch next to "Storage Sense" is on if you want to clean out your temporary files automatically when your disk space is low. It will also empty the Recycle Bin automatically.

   • If you click Storage Sense in the Settings menu, you can set how often you want your computer to delete your temporary files and empty the Recycle Bin automatically. By default, it will only delete your temporary files when your storage space is low and empty the Recycle Bin once every 30 days.
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Section 3 of 5:

Using the Command Prompt

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1. 
   1
   Open the Command Prompt. The Command Prompt is the Windows command-line Interface that allows you to perform Windows operations using text commands. You can easily clear temp files with a quick Command Prompt command. To get started:

   • Click the WIndows Start button.
   • Type CMD.
   • Click Command Prompt.
2. 
   2
   Type del /q/f/s %TEMP%\* and press ↵ Enter. This command will delete all your temporary files.
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Section 4 of 5:

Using the Run Dialog

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1. 
   1
   Press ⊞ Win+R to open the Run box. This is the most involved method of clearing your temporary files, as you'll be clearing the files manually.
2. 
   2
   Type %temp% in the Run box and press ↵ Enter. You’ll be directed to the folder that contains all the temporary files.
3. 
   3
   Select all files and folders. To do so, press Ctrl + A to select all files at once. This will highlight all the folders.
4. 
   4
   Press the Del key. This will move all the temporary files to the Recycle Bin.

   • If you need to free up storage space, empty the Recycle Bin. To do so, right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop and click Empty Recycle Bin.
   • If Storage Sense is turned on, Windows will empty the Recycle Bin automatically every 30 days.
   • All those files are moved into the Recycle Bin and can be restored if needed. To restore the files, open the Recycle Bin and click Restore all items at the top.
   • For more Windows file management, check out our guide on finding hidden files and folders.
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Section 5 of 5:

FAQ

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1. 
   1
   What are temporary files? Temporary files are files that programs use to store temporary information. This allows the programs to run more efficiently and saves your progress as you work. For example, when you open a Microsoft Word document, Windows creates a temporary copy of the file every few minutes so you don’t lose anything important if you forget to save your document.
2. 
   2
   Is it harmful to clear temporary files? No, it is completely safe to delete your temporary files in Windows. You may lose your history and need to log in again, but Windows and your applications will not be harmed by deleting your temporary files.
3. 
   3
   Why should I delete temporary files? Deleting temporary files can help you free up hard drive space on your computer and help your computer run faster and more efficiently, especially if you are low on disk space.
4. 
   4
   Are temporary files junk files? Not necessarily. Temporary files can help speed up tasks by storing temporary data. They can also save your data in the event of a crash. Temporary files only become junk files if they are sitting on your computer, taking up space, and not being used.
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