How to Clean Temporary Files in Windows 10: A Complete Guide for 2023 and Beyond

Clean Up Temp Files in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2023

Temporary files are files that Windows 10 creates and stores for various purposes, such as software installations, updates, system maintenance, browsing history, cache, and more. While these files can be useful for some tasks, they can also accumulate over time and take up valuable disk space, potentially slowing down your computer’s performance and causing errors. In this blog post, we will show you how to clean temporary files in Windows 10 using different methods, and explain why it is important to do so regularly. We will also cover some tips and tricks to optimize your PC and prevent unnecessary temporary files from piling up in the future. By following this guide, you will be able to free up storage space, improve your system’s speed, and protect your privacy and security.

Why Should You Clean Temporary Files in Windows 10?

Cleaning temporary files in Windows 10 can have several benefits for your PC, such as:

Freeing up disk space: Temporary files can consume a significant amount of storage space over time. Deleting them can free up valuable disk space for your essential files and applications. When your computer has limited free disk space, it can slow down your system’s performance and affect its stability. Removing temporary files can help speed up your PC and prevent crashes and errors.

Improving performance: Some temporary files may contain outdated or corrupted information that can interfere with the proper functioning of your system or applications. Deleting them can help resolve issues and improve performance. For example, clearing the cache of your browser can help it load web pages faster and more accurately.

Protecting privacy and security: Some temporary files may contain sensitive information, such as your personal data, browsing history, passwords, or online activity. Deleting them can reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your data or identity theft. For example, clearing the history of your browser can help prevent others from seeing what websites you have visited or what searches you have performed.

How to Clean Temporary Files in Windows 10 Using Different Methods

There are several ways to clean temporary files in Windows 10, depending on the type and location of the files you want to delete. Here are some of the most common methods you can use:

Method 1: Using Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that lets you quickly delete files that are no longer necessary, including temporary files. To use Disk Cleanup, follow these steps:

Press Windows + S, type “Disk Cleanup”, and select it from the search results.

Choose the drive where you want to delete temporary files. This is usually your system drive (labeled as “C:”).

Disk Cleanup will calculate how much space you can free up.

Check the boxes next to the types of files you want to delete. To delete temporary files, select “Temporary files”. You can also select any other file types that you don’t need, such as “Recycle Bin”, “Thumbnails”, “Downloads”, etc.

Click the “OK” button, and then confirm your action by clicking “Delete Files”.

Disk Cleanup will start deleting the selected files.

Method 2: Using Settings

You can also delete temporary files from the Settings app in Windows 10. This method gives you more options to choose which types of temporary files you want to delete. To use Settings, follow these steps:

Open Settings by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the desktop to open the Start menu, and then clicking the gear icon. Alternatively, press Windows + I.

Click “System”.
Click “Storage”.
Click “Temporary Files” under the Windows (C:) group.

A list of what your system considers temporary files will appear. Check the boxes next to the files you want to delete. You can choose from various categories, such as “Delivery Optimization Files”, “Windows Update Cleanup”, “Windows Defender Antivirus”, etc.

Click “Remove Files”.

Settings will start deleting the selected files.

Method 3: Using File Explorer

If you want to manually delete temporary files from specific folders in Windows 10, you can use File Explorer. This method gives you more control over which files you want to delete, but it also requires more caution and attention. To use File Explorer, follow these steps:

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

Navigate to the folder where you want to delete temporary files. There are several folders where Windows 10 stores temporary files, such as:

C:\Windows\Temp: This folder contains system-related temporary files that are created by Windows or other programs.

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Temp: This folder contains user-related temporary files that are created by Windows or other programs for each user account on your PC.

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache: This folder contains Internet-related temporary files that are created by your browser or other online applications.

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download: This folder contains temporary files that are downloaded by Windows Update.

Select the files that you want to delete. You can quickly select all of the files by pressing Ctrl + A. Selected files are highlighted in blue.

Right-click on any of the selected files. In the context menu that appears, click “Delete”.

Confirm the action if prompted.

To permanently remove these files, right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select “Empty Recycle Bin”.

Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your PC and Prevent Unnecessary Temporary Files

Cleaning temporary files in Windows 10 can help you free up disk space and improve performance, but it is not a one-time solution. Temporary files will keep accumulating as you use your PC, so it is advisable to clean them regularly. Here are some tips and tricks to optimize your PC and prevent unnecessary temporary files from piling up in the future:

Schedule Disk Cleanup to run automatically: You can use the Task Scheduler tool in Windows 10 to set up Disk Cleanup to run automatically at regular intervals, such as weekly or monthly. This way, you don’t have to remember to run it manually every time. To schedule Disk Cleanup, follow these steps:

Press Windows + S, type “Task Scheduler”, and select it from the search results.
Click “Create Basic Task” on the right pane.
Give a name and description for your task, such as “Disk Cleanup”.
Click “Next”.
Choose how often you want the task to run, such as “Weekly” or “Monthly”.
Click “Next”.
Choose the day and time when you want the task to start.
Click “Next”.
Choose “Start a program” as the action for your task.
Click “Next”.
Click “Browse” and navigate to C:\Windows\System32.
Select the file named “cleanmgr.exe” and click “Open”.
In the “Add arguments” box, type “/sagerun:1” (without quotes).
Click “Next”.

Review your task settings and click “Finish”.

Use Storage Sense to automatically delete temporary files: Storage Sense is a feature in Windows 10 that automatically deletes temporary files when your disk space is low or at regular intervals. You can enable and customize Storage Sense from the Settings app. To use Storage Sense, follow these steps:

Open Settings by clicking the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the desktop to open the Start menu, and then clicking the gear icon. Alternatively, press Windows + I.

Click “System”.

Click “Storage”.

Under the Storage Sense group, toggle on the switch that says “Storage Sense can automatically free up space by getting rid of files you don’t need, like temporary files and content in your recycle bin”.

Click “Configure Storage Sense or run it now”.

Adjust the settings according to your preferences. You can choose how often Storage Sense runs, how long it keeps temporary files, how long it keeps files in your Recycle Bin or Downloads folder, etc.

Click “Clean Now” if you want to run Storage Sense immediately.

Use a third-party tool to clean temporary files: Many third-party tools can help you clean temporary files in Windows 10 more efficiently and thoroughly than the built-in tools. Some of these tools are:

CCleaner: CCleaner is a popular and trusted tool that can clean temporary files, browser cache, cookies, registry errors, and more. It also has features such as startup manager, uninstaller, duplicate finder, etc. You can download CCleaner for free from its official website.

Glary Utilities: Glary Utilities is another powerful tool that can clean temporary files, junk files, registry errors, browser history, and more. It also has features such as disk defrag, file shredder, malware remover, etc. You can download Glary Utilities for free from its official website.

Wise Disk Cleaner: Wise Disk Cleaner is a simple and easy-to-use tool that can clean temporary files, junk files, browser cache, cookies, and more. It also has features such as disk defrag, file shredder, etc. You can download Wise Disk Cleaner for free from its official website 3.

Conclusion

Cleaning temporary files in Windows 10 is an important task that can help you optimize your PC and protect your privacy and security. By following this guide, you will be able to clean temporary files using different methods, such as Disk Cleanup, Settings, File Explorer, or third-party tools. You will also learn some tips and tricks to prevent unnecessary temporary files from piling up in the future. We hope you found this guide helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.

References:

Microsoft Docs: Disk Cleanup (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/disk-cleanup-in-windows-8a96ff42-5751-39ad-23d6-434b4d5b9a68)

Tom's Hardware: How to Clean Up Temporary Files in Windows 10 (https://www.tomshardware.com/news/how-to-do-clean-installation-windows-10,36160.html)

Microsoft Docs: Delete Temporary Files (https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/deleting-temporary-files/8396e07e-2909-4d4c-a3d3-edb831ff6224)

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