How to Find Temporary Files and Delete Them

During daily work, temporary files are created by various applications and operating systems to store data temporarily. Over time, these files can accumulate and take up valuable storage space. Cleaning temporary files not only helps reclaim storage but also improves the overall performance of your device.

Thus, in this article, we will guide you on how to find and delete temporary files on your Windows PC, helping you optimize your computer's speed and efficiency.

What files can be called temp files?

Temporary files are created by different applications and processes on your Windows PC. They are used to store data temporarily, often during the execution of specific tasks. These files can include cache files, log files, downloaded updates, and other temporary data. While necessary during their respective jobs, they become redundant once the task is completed. Failing to remove these files can lead to cluttered storage and potential performance issues.

Is it OK to delete temporary files?

Deleting temporary files is generally safe and recommended. These files serve a temporary purpose and are not essential for the functioning of your device or applications. Removing them can free up valuable storage space and improve overall system performance.

Here are a few reasons why you should regularly clean up these files:

• Reclaim storage space: Temporary files can occupy a significant amount of storage space on your computer. By deleting them, you free up valuable disk space for essential files and applications.

• Improved system performance: Accumulated temporary files can slow down your system's performance. Removing them can help speed up your PC and reduce lag times.

• Enhanced privacy: Some temporary files may contain sensitive information, such as browsing history or cached login credentials. Deleting these files ensures that your personal data remains secure.

How to find temporary files in Windows computer?

Most apps will place temporary files in the C:UsersAppDataLocal folder.Temp – here is most likely where your computer saves temporary files. It is safe to empty the Temp folder and erase any temporary files found there. But we can’t ensure all temp files are saved in this folder, some might spread around in a deep storage path.

It’s essential to exercise caution when deleting temporary files. Make sure that you are only deleting files from designated temporary file directories and not removing any critical system files or important data. It's always a good practice to double-check the files you are deleting and confirm that they are indeed temporary files.

4 ways to delete temporary files on Windows 10/11

To help you clean up temp files on your Windows PC, in this part, we’ll introduce 4 ways for your reference.

Way 1. Using the Disk Cleanup to delete temp files

Windows provides a built-in "Disk Cleanup" tool that makes it easy to find and delete temporary files. Here's how to use it:

Step 1. Type "Disk Cleanup" in the search bar and press "Enter".

Step 2. Select the target drive and click“OK”.

Step 3. Then, tick the Temporary files and click "OK" to delete them.

Way 2. Using Storage Settings to remove temp files

In Settings, Storage can also help users remove temporary files.

Step 1. Open the start bar and turn to "Settings" > "System" > "Storage".

Step 2. Click “Temporary files”.

Step 3. All temp files will be listed, and you can click “Remove files” to delete these temp files.

Way 3. Empty the temp file folder to delete temp files

You can also directly find the temp file folder and empty it.

Step 1. Press “Windows + R”, type in “%temp%” and hit Enter.

Step 2. If there are many temp files, you can select the temp files and delete them.

Way 4. Run CMD to clean temp files

Delete temporary files in Windows with Command Prompt will permanently remove those files. They won’t be stored in Recycle Bin, so you need to make sure you choose the right files.

Step 1. Open “CMD” or “Command Prompt” from either the “Start” menu or by entering the code “cmd” in the Run Dialog Box and then pressing the “Enter” key from the keyboard.

Step 2. In the CMD window, write down the command “del /q/f/s %TEMP%\*” and press Enter.

/q performs the operation without prompting for confirmation
/f ignores the read-only attribute and forces deletion
/s deletes content from all subfolders

Way 5. Scan all junk files and safely delete them

Just clean up temp files, you may need to use at least 2 tools, and you can’t expect a wholesale removal of temp files and other junk files manually. In this case, a convenient cleanup tool will be very useful, AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard can prove highly advantageous. This free disk and partition manager is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7/XP, allowing users to efficiently manage disk and system resources.

One of the notable features of this software is the "PC Cleaner" function, which conducts a thorough scan of all disks and the system to identify and filter out junk files stored in deep locations. Once the scanning process is complete, users can simply review the identified files and initiate a comprehensive cleanup by clicking a single button.

Step 1. Click "Free up" and "PC Cleaner" at the top menu.

Step 2. Then, click "Start Scan" in the new pop-up window.

Step 3. After that, you can see temp files under System Junk Files. Tick it and click “Clean All” to delete it.

Step 4. When you see a correct symbol displayed in the interface, you can click "Back" to leave the function.

Final words

In this article, we have explored the importance of finding and deleting temporary files on your Windows PC. By following the step-by-step guide and implementing best practices, you can optimize your computer's performance and enjoy a smoother user experience.

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a handy tool for you to safely and conveniently manage PC and disks. Besides cleanup storage space, it can also clone disk, convert a disk to MBR/GPT without data loss, test disk speed, and so on.