Top 3 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Temporary Files Not Deleting

The Windows operating system and the software installed on it often create temporary files (or temporary files, for short) on your computer. These files have their advantages and tend to have negative effects on your PC in the long run. Accumulated temporary files can consume storage space on your computer’s hard drive as they can sometimes reach a few gigabytes. Deleting them can free up storage space and therefore speed up your PC’s performance.

Deleting temporary files is as easy as navigating to Settings> System> Storage> Temporary files. This will scan your PC for redundant temporary files which can be deleted to reclaim storage space on your device. Despite its simplicity, some users report that temporary files remain on their PC after being deleted through Windows Settings menu.

You can fix this problem by updating your PC’s operating system. It is quite possible that the bug is related to the version of this version of the operating system. If the temporary files are still not deleted through the Settings menu, refer to the methods below to delete them from your computer.

1. Use Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a disk maintenance utility built into Windows operating system to help users erase unwanted system files from their PC hard drive. Of course, it will not appear on the desktop like other programs. If the Windows Settings menu refuses to delete temporary files, you can use the Windows Disk Cleanup utility; it scans and deletes temporary files just as well.

Step 1: Launch the Windows Run box (Windows key + R), type control in the Open dialog box and press OK.

This will launch the control panel.

2nd step: Tap “System and Security”.

Step 3: Select Administrative Tools.

This will launch a new Administrative Tools window.

Step 4: Double-click Disk Cleanup.

Step 5: In the Disk Cleanup window, press “Clean up system files”.

The Disk Cleanup utility will analyze how much space you can free up on your computer.

Step 6: Check the files you want to delete in the “Files to delete” section and press OK to continue.

Step 7: Tap Delete Files on the confirmation prompt to continue.

2. Use the command prompt

You can also use the command prompt to delete temporary files on your PC if the Windows Settings menu does not. It’s even a little easier and less complicated than using Windows Disk Cleanup.

Step 1: Launch the Windows quick access menu using the Windows logo + X keyboard shortcut and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”.

2nd step: Paste the command below into the Command Prompt console and press Enter on your keyboard.

del /q /f /s %temp%* && del /s /q C:Windowstemp*

The above is a combined command line that removes both temporary user files and temporary system files from your Windows computer. Here’s a breakdown of the command line.

del /q /f /s %temp%* —— this deletes temporary users files.

del /s /q C:Windowstemp* —— this deletes temporary system files.

Note: We recommend that you close all active applications and restart your PC before running this command.

3. Use third-party applications

Another way to easily remove temporary files that are not deleted from Windows Settings menu is to use third party storage optimization software / tools. Some of these tools are free and will effectively erase temporary files from your Windows computer with just one click.

CCleaner is an app that we have tried, tested and found to be effective. CCleaner is a comprehensive system optimizer and privacy tool that helps Windows users uninstall apps, remove junk files, fix system errors, and more.

Download CCleaner for Windows

Here is how to use CCleaner to delete temporary files from your Windows computer.

Step 1: Launch CCleaner and navigate to the Custom Cleanup section.

2nd step: Check the temporary files you want to delete and uncheck all other options in the left menu of the application.

Step 3: Press the Analyze button.

This will scan your PC for temporary files.

Note: We recommend that you close other applications before this process.

Then you will see a preview of the temporary files that have been detected.

Step 4: Press the Run Cleaner button to delete temporary files from your computer.

Be meticulous about it

Although the above-mentioned methods delete temporary files on your computer when the Windows Settings menu fails, you recommend that you use methods # 1 and # 3 (that is, Disk Cleanup and third-party applications). This is because you can select / choose the temporary files that you want to delete. With method # 2 (Command Prompt option), there is no freedom to choose which files to delete because all temporary files will be erased from your PC after running the command line. Let us know which method (s) worked the magic for your computer or any help.