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Temporary files in Windows

System folderWindows 10, 11Safe to delete: Partly
Checked against official documentationLast reviewed 1 min read

Temporary files are files that Windows and programs create while they work, such as unpacked installers, caches and intermediate data. The main locations are the user folder %TEMP% (C:\Users\<name>\AppData\Local\Temp) and C:\Windows\Temp. Most of them can be deleted safely once the program that created them has closed.

1Why they pile up

Programs are supposed to delete their temporary files, but crashes, interrupted installs and updates often leave them behind. Over months the folders can grow to several gigabytes.

2What Windows offers

Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files lists categories such as Temporary files, Windows Update Cleanup, Delivery Optimization files, Recycle Bin and Downloads with their sizes. Storage Sense can remove temporary files automatically.

Downloads and Recycle Bin also appear in that list: they contain your own files, so check them before ticking.

3Files in use

Files that a running program still uses cannot be deleted; Windows skips them. This is normal and does not mean the cleanup failed.

How to clean temporary files

  1. Close open programs.
  2. Open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files.
  3. Tick 'Temporary files' and other categories you understand; leave 'Downloads' unticked unless you checked it.
  4. Select 'Remove files'.
  5. Optional: press Win+R, type %temp% and delete the remaining files manually; skip the ones that are in use.

Cautions

  • Do not delete the Temp folders themselves, only their content.
  • Check the Recycle Bin before you empty it: items removed from it are gone.

Sources

  1. Free up drive space in Windows (Microsoft Support) support.microsoft.com
  2. Manage drive space with Storage Sense (Microsoft Support) support.microsoft.com

Note: Rain Cleaner shows each temporary-file category with its size and reason before cleaning.

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