Deleting Temp Files

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I want to delete temp files & usually go to the C: drive > Properties > General > Disk Cleanup and select Temporary files, Temporary Internet files, and whatever else I want.

Windows10 also has Windows Settings > Storage > Temporary files. This lets you delete Temporary files, Temporary Internet files, and several other groups of files. It also has a few more categories than Disk Cleanup.

A lot of categories show the same space used with either of these methods. However the Temporary Files and Windows error reports are a lot different.

Disk Cleanup shows 2.46 MB of temp files and Settings > Storage > Temporary files shows 8.59 MB of temp files. I realize not all temp files can be removed because some may be in use, but that’s a big difference. Is one not deleting enough files or is the other deleting too many?

 

• This topic was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by b.

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IMO the reason why there are so many 3rd-party utilities for Windows is that the built-in ones can often be improved upon.

Two suggestions:

1. Change* the environment variables for temp files for both User and System to a single folder (e.g. C:\Temp):

The result is that only one folder needs to be looked at/cleaned instead of two in wildly different filepaths. It also saves a lot of clicking in File Explorer, especially if you pin a shortcut to the folder in File Explorer’s Quick Access list:

2. Use something like the CLI version of CleanSweep2 to clean temp files automatically. Deanna McElveen has showcased the GUI version of this utility in the AskWoody Newsletter but there’s also a CLI version that runs totally hidden. Just set it up to run at Windows startup or logon… or as a scheduled task. (IMO if something needs to be done more than once… try to automate it.)

---

*How to change environment variables for temp files for both User and System

a. Create a folder as the new destination for temp files, e.g. C:\Temp.

b. Press Windows key +R keys at the same time to invoke the Run dialog.

c. Copy/paste: %windir%\System32\SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe into the text field then press the Return/Enter key.

d. When the System Properties dialog appears, click on the Environment Variables button.

e. Amend the filepaths for both User and System temporary file locations, similar to the first screenshot above.

f. Apply/OK the changes, close the dialog and restart the device. You *have* to restart for the changes to take effect because the locations are stored in the registry:

g. (Optional) When the device restarts, clear out the previous locations for temporary files. It’ll be easy… they will no longer be in use.

Hope this helps…

4 users thanked author for this post.

Coldheart9020, CraigS26, BrerBear, TechTango

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Note: It is just so frustrating that the forum’s software automatically removes ‘slashes’ in filepaths from within posts. It’s done it once again. I thought I had corrected them all but have now noticed:

To compound the issue, the post’s ‘Edit’ window has now passed so I’m unable to correct the induced error. Arghhh!

Please change the example filepath to C:\Temp.

(I had to re-edit the last sentence to replace the backslash when it was stripped by the forum software yet again. Arghhh!)

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FTFY There is no italicized “\” so you have to put the < em > on/off flags around the “C:” and the “Temp” and leave the “\” uninalicized.

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Rick Corbett

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Maybe I’m not understanding the backslash problem, but I show them.

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You see the missing ones now because they have been fixed.

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For the first instance it said “To compound the issue, the post’s ‘Edit’ window has now passed so I’m unable to correct the induced error.”

That’s what I thought I posted a picture of.

 

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Rick, what screenshot app do you use?  I like the “tear out” effect.

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Hi @techtango,

My apologies… I don’t get notified of replies (another forum glitch) so I stumbled across your reply by accident.

I use a donation-ware app called Screenshot Captor from the good folks at DonationCoder. I donated and have a lifetime license for this and all other DonationCoder apps.

I use just a tiny fraction of Screenshot Captor’s capabilities… but I use its ‘tear out’ effect all the time (in partnership with ancient PaintShop Pro 7 Anniversary Edition) to reduce the size of my screen captures.

Hope this helps…

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@PKCano – I thank you once again… but IMO this forum software behaviour should have been fixed ages ago.

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I had to fiddle with that one to find out how. Who knows??

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Rick Corbett

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Is this group aimed at the Nov ’21 update for win10 as shown below?

 

Windows 10 version 21H2 – November 2021 Update

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Disk Cleanup shows 2.46 MB of temp files and Settings > Storage > Temporary files shows 8.59 MB of temp files. I realize not all temp files can be removed because some may be in use, but that’s a big difference. Is one not deleting enough files or is the other deleting too many?

The “big difference” is almost always the “Windows Update Cleanup” sub category as shown in the Win settings “Temporary files” screen.   Disk clean up will also show this category after you click on the “Clean up system files”.  Screenshot below.  The Win settings version only deletes older Win update files so you can still rollback from the current update.

Not everyone agrees on the “Windows Update Cleanup”.  I’ve used both clean up utilities but only after the current installed win update is working well for 3 weeks on my system.  I’ve never had an issue.

As for a free third party utility I use Glary Disk cleanup.  It’s very old school and shows all the files in the Win Update categories and allows various sorts including a “Date Created” sort.  Glary has a lot of utilities.  Suggest the portable version and don’t run the “Integrator”. Just run the  obvious .exe file.

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I don’t have the “Windows Update Cleanup” category, and I did click on “Clean up system files.

FWIW I do have “Windows upgrade log files”.

I noticed the “Temporary Internet Files” has a locked padlock icon. Does that mean they can’t be deleted even though the box is checked?

 

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Two questions:  Are you using Windows 10?  Does the user you sign in with have  administrator rights?

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I am the administrator & have Windows 10 21H1. Looks like I’m in the 21H2 forum. Sorry about that.

Maybe it’s a 21H1 vs 21H2 difference.

 

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When you run Disk Cleanup, you have to right-click on it and choose “Run as Administrator” because the local “Administrator Group” doesn’t have privileges to run Windows Update Cleanup. That’s why it is not in the list if you just click on it.

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CraigS26

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I’ve been going to File Explorer > right click C: drive > Properties > General > Disk Cleanup.

I now typed “Disk Cleanup” into the bottom Search bar. This brings up a Disk Cleanup App.

On the right side I can click on “Run as administrator”
or
On the left side, right click on “Run as administrator”

A small window opens up – Disk Cleanup : Drive Selection.
I click on the C: drive.

It opens up the usual looking Disk Cleanup window where you check the boxes. However it is missing the “Clean up system files” button.

And there is no “Windows Update Cleanup” category”.

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Thanks to PKC I found the 3.22 GB Win Update Cleanup (per Run as Admin) that TechTango’s PNG shows.

WizTree recently showed 30 GB in Temp and the recurring frustration remains that Disk Cleanup only deals/dealt with 1+ GB. With Multi-Macrium Images I Deleted anything with – 0 kb – and Much of what appeared Unimportant – 20+ GB deletes & all good after weeks.

Since THAT is considered Dangerous, HOW do any of you deal with the (ie) 29 GB that Disk Cleanup doesn’t? Leave as is; Delete per X rationale?

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WizTree recently showed 30 GB in Temp

CraigS26 – Would you please post the full path of the Temp folder your are referencing?

I’m assuming it’s C:\Windows\Temp   (System temp)

Another common one is C:\Users\Trader\AppData\Local\Temp  (User temp)

I’m also a WizTree user (and WizFile).

 

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You may wish to improve further using disk clean-up, see #2471683

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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PKCano

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I still can’t get “Clean up system files” to show up.

This is the last thing I tried –
I have Apps opened in lower left corner.
I right click on Disk Cleanup and select “Open file location”.
This brings up File Explorer which shows about 20 shortcuts.
I right click on Disk Cleanup & select “Run as administrator”.
A small window opens & I select the C: drive.

The screen shot shows the filepath.

Disk Cleanup runs & displays all the boxes to check.
But there is no “Clean up system files” button and there is no “Windows Update Cleanup” category”.

What am I doing wrong?

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BrerBear wrote:

Disk Cleanup shows 2.46 MB of temp files and Settings > Storage > Temporary files shows 8.59 MB of temp files. I realize not all temp files can be removed because some may be in use, but that’s a big difference. Is one not deleting enough files or is the other deleting too many?

The rubric ‘Temporary Files’ is much more encompassing in Storage>Temporary Files than it is in Disk Cleanup. In Disk Cleanup, I have 0 bytes in its ‘Temporary Files’ category. In Storage>Temporary Files, I have 15.3 GB in its ‘Temporary Files’ category. Storage>Temporary Files has all of the categories of Disk Cleanup>Clean up system files, but there is a difference in what files constitute Disk Cleanup>Download Program Files and the files that constitute Storage>Temporary Files>Downloads.

Disk Cleanup says that the Download Program Files it removes are ActiveX controls and Java applets. For me that’s 0 bytes. Storage>Temporary Files>Downloads says that it removes ALL of the files in the personal Downloads folder. For me, that’s 4.05 GB. So, if ALL of the boxes are ticked in Storage>Temporary Files, these additional 4.05 GB in my personal Downloads folder would be freed up. Without the Downloads box ticked in Storage>Temporary Files, the same amount of space would be freed up as when all of the boxes are ticked in Disk Cleanup>Clean up System files.

I think that’s where the major difference lies: Are ALL of the files in your personal Downloads folder included in the clean up (via Storage>Temporary Files)? Or not (via Disk Cleanup>Download Program Files)?

I see the same amount of space for Windows Update Cleanup in Disk Cleanup>Clean up System Files>Windows Update Cleanup and in Storage>Temporary Files>Windows Update Cleanup — 3.17 GB. So, for me, at least, the same amount of space would be freed up either way.

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Try Bleachbit. It’s pretty powerful, so check what you want to delete very carefully.

https://www.bleachbit.org/

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TechTango wrote:

CraigS26 – Would you please post the full path of the Temp folder your are referencing? I’m assuming it’s C:\Windows\Temp (System temp) Another common one is C:\Users\Trader\AppData\Local\Temp (User temp) I’m also a WizTree user (and WizFile).

Sorry for the “loose” use of  Temp. It’s actually your 2nd type that I Deleted from and That was from a Thread I found in (ie) MS Answers Forum. No Thread said it was OK to Delete beyond Disk Cleanup but that day with Macrium I felt like trying it with -0- .temps and things i recognized as (ie) deleted apps, etc. . So far no issues.

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WCHS wrote:

BrerBear wrote:

Disk Cleanup shows 2.46 MB of temp files and Settings > Storage > Temporary files shows 8.59 MB of temp files. I realize not all temp files can be removed because some may be in use, but that’s a big difference. Is one not deleting enough files or is the other deleting too many?

The rubric ‘Temporary Files’ is much more encompassing in Storage>Temporary Files than it is in Disk Cleanup. In Disk Cleanup, I have 0 bytes in its ‘Temporary Files’ category. In Storage>Temporary Files, I have 15.3 GB in its ‘Temporary Files’ category. Storage>Temporary Files has all of the categories of Disk Cleanup>Clean up system files, but there is a difference in what files constitute Disk Cleanup>Download Program Files and the files that constitute Storage>Temporary Files>Downloads.

Disk Cleanup says that the Download Program Files it removes are ActiveX controls and Java applets. For me that’s 0 bytes. Storage>Temporary Files>Downloads says that it removes ALL of the files in the personal Downloads folder. For me, that’s 4.05 GB. So, if ALL of the boxes are ticked in Storage>Temporary Files, these additional 4.05 GB in my personal Downloads folder would be freed up. Without the Downloads box ticked in Storage>Temporary Files, the same amount of space would be freed up as when all of the boxes are ticked in Disk Cleanup>Clean up System files.

I think that’s where the major difference lies: Are ALL of the files in your personal Downloads folder included in the clean up (via Storage>Temporary Files)? Or not (via Disk Cleanup>Download Program Files)?

I see the same amount of space for Windows Update Cleanup in Disk Cleanup>Clean up System Files>Windows Update Cleanup and in Storage>Temporary Files>Windows Update Cleanup — 3.17 GB. So, for me, at least, the same amount of space would be freed up either way.

In Disk Cleanup, I have 5.81 MB in its ‘Temporary Files’ category.
In Storage>Temporary Files>Temporary Files, I also have 5.81 MB.

Disk Cleanup > Downloaded Program Files is 0 bytes.
Storage>Temporary Files>Downloads indicates 231 MB.

If all the boxes, except the Downloads box, are ticked in Storage>Temporary Files, the Total Selected is 2.26 GB.

However I don’t have a “Windows Update Cleanup” category. See attached.
Disk Cleanup>Clean up System Files>Windows Update Cleanup does not exist.
Makes no difference if I run as administrator or click on “Clean up system files”.

If I go to Disk Cleanup>Clean up System files, near the top it says “You can use Disk Cleanup to free up 2.26 GB of disk space on (C:) . That does match the Storage>Temporary Files figure.

The image in TechTango’s post # 2471614 shows 3.53 GB in the text near the top and 3.22 GB in the “Windows Update Cleanup” category.

Is your Disk Cleanup showing 3.17 GB (or whatever it is now) in both places?

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