How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 11: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Dealing with temp files isn’t much fun, but it’s a fair dinkum must if you want your PC to stay quick as a whip. Sometimes these files build up without you noticing, especially after Windows updates or when installing and uninstalling apps. Clearing them out can free up a good chunk of space and give your system a bit of a boost — but it’s not always dead easy, especially with Windows 11’s new layout. So, here’s a pretty straightforward way to do it, plus some other options that might save you a headache. Just a heads-up: sometimes Windows can be a bit stubborn about deleting certain files, or you might forget to check what’s safe to toss. Happens to the best of us.

How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 11

Method 1: Using Storage Settings

Righto, the classic move: head into Settings. Why’s it handy? Well, Windows 11 changed up the layout, but the idea’s the same. You get a simple interface to see what’s gobbling up space and pick what to delete. Good to use when your drive is getting full or if your PC’s feeling a bit slow. Expect to see less clutter and maybe a few more megabytes freed up. Sometimes, the first go doesn’t clear out as much as you’d like, but doing it a couple times usually gets the job done.

• Open Settings — you can click the Start menu and hit the gear icon, or press Windows + I.
• Click on System, then select Storage. If it doesn’t open straight away, a quick restart can help Windows catch all the latest info.
• From there, click on Temporary Files. On some setups, you might see categories like Downloads, Recycle Bin, etc., but focus on the bits labelled ‘Temporary Files.’

Method 2: Using Disk Cleanup (Oldie but a Goodie)

Believe it or not, Windows still has the trusty Disk Cleanup tool tucked away — funny how it’s still kicking around behind all the new menus. This tool often does the trick faster for a quick tidy-up, especially if you’re a bit wary of deleting something useful. It’s handy if you want a straightforward clean without digging through settings. Usually, it clears a fair bit of space pretty quick, but you’ve gotta be careful with what you select to delete. On some machines, this might be the only way to get rid of stubborn temp files that Windows’ shiny new UI doesn’t always catch.

• Type Disk Cleanup into the search bar, and start it up. Sometimes, you’ll want to run it as admin — right-click and choose Run as administrator.
• Select your main drive (usually C:) and click OK.
• Check the boxes for Temporary Files, System Created Windows Error Reporting, and any other junk you reckon you can trash. Dabble with the options depending on what you’re comfy deleting.
• Hit Clean up system files if you wanna go the full hog — this adds more options but is safer since it involves system files.

Yep, the interface’s a bit old-school, but it gets the job done. I’ve seen it clear tens of gigabytes on some PCs, so it’s worth a bash if Windows isn’t playing nice with the Settings menu.

Option 1: Enable Storage Sense for Automatic Cleaning

This is the next step if manual cleanup feels like a pain or you’d rather Windows sorted it for you. Storage Sense automatically deletes temp files, old downloads, and even empties the Recycle Bin on a set schedule. Good if your drive fills up quick or you just forget to tidy up now and then. Setting it up is a piece of piss, but don’t set it and forget it if you’re working on something big — it’s better to have a quick look now and then to see what’s getting wiped.

• Head into Settings again, then System, then Storage. Scroll down to Storage Sense.
• Switch it on, then click Configure Storage Sense or run it now.
• Pick how often you want it to run — daily, weekly, monthly, or when your disk’s nearly full — then choose what you want it to delete (like temp files, Recycle Bin contents, etc.).
• Click Run Storage Sense now to give it a go.

This kind of thing can save heaps of time, and if you forget, Windows sorts the clutter out itself. Sometimes it doesn’t delete everything in one hit, but it definitely keeps the bloat at bay.

What about Command Line or PowerShell?

If you’re into scripting or just don’t want to muck about in menus, you can clear temp files via PowerShell. It’s more direct but a bit punchy if you’re not sure what you’re doing — typical Windows. To give it a crack, open PowerShell as Admin and run:

Remove-Item -Path "$env:TEMP\*" -Recurse -Force

This takes out most of your user temp files. For system-wide temp files, try:

Remove-Item -Path "$env:WINDIR\Temp\*" -Recurse -Force

Be bloody careful though — sometimes it might delete things in use, depending on permissions. Best to close all your apps first.

Heads-up: Watch what you’re deleting

For some reason, Windows sometimes tags files as temp even if you’re pretty sure they’re still needed. So, if you’re mid-project or downloading stuff, double-check what you’re about to delete. Accidentally tossing out part of a project or vital update files can cause more trouble than it’s worth. When in doubt, uncheck anything you’re not 100% sure about.

Summary

• Open Settings, then go to System > Storage.
• Click on Temporary Files and have a gander.
• Use Disk Cleanup for the old-school approach.
• Enable Storage Sense to keep things tidy automatically.
• If you’re game, run some PowerShell commands for a quick manual flush.

Final words

Cleaning out temp files in Windows 11 isn’t brain surgery — it’s just a bit of a pain locating the best way sometimes. Mixing the built-in tools (like Storage Settings or Disk Cleanup) with a quick manual check now and then will keep your system running smooth as. A reboot after cleaning never hurts either — it helps Windows catch up. Not all that flash, but it does the trick.

Hopefully, this helps save someone a bit of time. Remember, always double-check what you’re deleting — better safe than sorry, hey?