What does temporary files mean? How to clear Temporary Internet Files Temporary Internet files. Deleting other files

Many users sooner or later face the problem of running out of free space on their system disk. We have already talked about how to produce a complex and, now let’s turn our attention to one of the most active “eaters” of disk space - Temp folder.

Where is the Temp folder in Windows 7/10

Since the specified folder is a system folder, to display it you must enable the display of hidden files and directories. To do this, in top menu Windows Explorer 7 select the “Service” item, and then go to “Folder Options...”

On Windows 10, to enable display hidden folders go to Explorer and click on top File – Change folder and search options.

On the “View” tab, again activate the “Show hidden files, folders and drives” item.

That's it, now we can easily find the Temp folder. IN Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10 it is located in the catalog AppData user profile, specifically at:

C:\Users\User_name\AppData\Local\Temp

If you have several accounts on your computer, then each of them has its own Temp folder. You can find out which account you are currently working under using the Start menu. From here it’s easy to go directly to the current user’s folder.

Let's perform this transition on our computer. Next we will follow the path AppData - Local.

Now let's find the Temp folder and see its size ( RMB - Properties).

For us it turned out to be 8.6 GB, not so much, but for owners of a small HDD or SSD, every megabyte is worth its weight in gold. Moreover, there are examples when the size of Temp reached several tens or even hundreds of gigabytes.

What is stored in the Temp folder and can its contents be deleted?

IN system folder Temp stores temporary application files and the operating system(Temp is short for Temporary, which translates as “temporary”). Intermediate files and document fragments created during the operation of programs and the OS are placed here. As a rule, they are all deleted after completion of certain operations or after a certain period of time. But in some cases, unnecessary components remain in the Temp folder forever, accumulating and leading to its strong growth.

Cleaning the Temp directory

There are several ways to clean out the Temp folder.

Manually

The easiest way to reduce the size of the Temp folder is to manually delete its contents, as if it were regular user data. Select all files (Ctrl+A), and then press Shift+Del. If some files are currently in use by the system, they cannot be deleted and a corresponding message will appear on the screen. In this case, simply click “Skip”, after checking the “Perform this action for all current objects” checkbox.

If files in the Temp folder can be deleted manually without fear of disrupting the system, then the folder itself should not be touched.

Using the Disk Cleanup utility

Windows has built-in disk cleaning tools, including the temporary files directory. We'll find it through search bar"Start" menu, the standard "Disk Cleanup" utility and run it.

Let's select drive C or any other drive from the list if the OS is installed on it.

The program will analyze local disk and determine the amount of space that can be freed by deleting unnecessary files. Here we are primarily interested in the “Temporary files” item, since this includes the contents of the Temp folder.

In our case, the size of temporary files was 11.4 GB. To remove them, check the box in the right place and click the “OK” button.

After the operation is completed, check the size of the Temp folder. For us it decreased from 8.6 GB to 188 MB, i.e. We cleared over 8 GB of free space.

CCleaner

There are many specialized utilities that allow you to optimize Windows operation. For the most part, they have the necessary functionality for cleaning the system partition. For example, it works great with this function free application CCleaner. We launch it, go to the “Cleaning” section, put the necessary checkboxes in the left column and click the “Analysis” button. Next, we start cleaning with the appropriate button.

So, now we have figured out what this Temp folder is, whether it is possible to delete its contents and how to do this. If you have anything to add on this topic, please leave a comment below.

While working in the Windows operating system, the computer accumulates a large number of temporary files. Temporary files are not always automatically deleted from your computer by applications that use temporary files.

In this article, we will look at how to delete temporary files in Windows to free up additional free space on your computer's disk. Temporary files are created when working on a computer: during installation or operation of programs, installation of operating system updates, etc. After the application is completed, these files are no longer needed. In most cases, temporary files are automatically deleted from your computer.

Some temporary files are not deleted; such files uselessly take up space on the disk, so it is better to delete them using the built-in tool of the operating system, or a program for cleaning and optimizing the computer, for example, using the program, etc. After deleting temporary files, a additional free space that was previously occupied by temporary data.

Now we will look at how you can delete temporary files in Windows 10 in three ways: manually, using the built-in operating system tool, using the Disk Cleanup utility.

Manually clearing temporary files in Windows

Where are temporary files stored? Temporary files are stored on the computer in a special folder in the operating system and in a corresponding folder in the user profile.

In order to clear temporary files, you need to enter these folders, and then manually delete the contents of these folders:

C:\Windows\Temp C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp

After this, restart your computer.

This method works in operating rooms Windows systems 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.

How to clear temporary files in Windows 10

Deleting temporary files in Windows 10 is done using a disk content analysis tool.

Enter the “Start” menu, go to “Settings”, “System”. Next, go to the “Storage” section.

Then click on the “C” drive to get information about how much disk space the partitions take up hard drive(or several hard drives).

In the This PC (C:) window, scroll to bottom part window. Here you will see the “Temporary Files” section and the amount of space they occupy on your computer’s disk.

The user has the ability to select items to delete:

• Temporary files are files left over from running applications in certain folders.
• The “Downloads” folder - this contains files downloaded from the Internet.
• Emptying the Recycle Bin - permanently deletes files previously deleted to the Recycle Bin.

Select the necessary items to clear temporary files, then click on the “Delete files” button.

After this, Windows 10 temporary files will be deleted from your computer.

Cleaning up temporary files using Disk Cleanup

Using the built-in Disk Cleanup utility, you can delete temporary files in all versions of the Windows operating system.

To run the tool, follow these steps:

1. Press the "Windows" + "R" keyboard keys and then enter the command: "cleanmgr" (without quotes).
2. In the window that opens, select the drive that you want to clean (drive “C”). Next, in the Disk Cleanup window, select the items that you want to remove from the disk, and then click the OK button.

1. Confirm deletion.

After the cleaning process is completed, temporary Windows files will be deleted from the computer.

Conclusions of the article

To free up space on the computer's hard drive, the user can delete temporary files in Windows different ways: manually clean folders using the built-in Windows tools 10, using the Disk Cleanup utility.

How to delete temporary files in Windows 10 (video)

Temporary files in Windows OS are formed as a result of storing intermediate information, for example, data from the clipboard, data from the launch of certain programs, etc. Much of this information is deleted automatically and does not take up disk space. However, the remaining one tends to accumulate, taking up space on the system disk, thereby slowing down Windows.

Clearing temporary files

Over time, the Temp folder, where by default all junk or not so much is stored important information, can begin to take up tens of gigabytes on your hard drive. You cannot delete this folder, as this could have fatal consequences for the entire operating system.

Cleaning programs have been developed specifically to clean this folder and other sections of the system where “junk” files may be located. Cleaning can also be done using the built-in functionality of Windows. Let's consider all the available options.

Option 1: CCleaner

CCleaner is a very popular free program to clean your computer from junk files and optimize its operation. The main advantage is the ability to customize cleaning in the way you need, as well as remove data from non-system applications. The program also features a user-friendly interface, which is translated into Russian.

Instructions for its use are as follows:

Option 2: Advanced SystemCare

Also another powerful, but less popular program for optimizing computer performance. To clean the system from temporary files, it will be enough free version, however, the program contains constant advertisements asking you to switch to the paid PRO version.

Instructions for clearing temporary files using Advanced System Care as follows:

Option 3: AusLogics BoostSpeed

This program has wide functionality and is more suitable for advanced users. The interface is more or less convenient, translated into Russian. AusLogics BoostSpeed is a free program, but it also has paid version, which is actively imposed on users along with other not particularly useful advertising.

Deleting temporary Windows files using this program looks like this:

Option 4: Standard Disk Cleanup

This standard remedy, which is found in almost all modern Windows version(7, 8, 10). This tool may not be as effective as the programs discussed above, but it can also get rid of temporary files.

The instructions for this option are as follows:

1. Open "Conductor" or "My computer". The second option is preferable.
2. Here, right-click on the system drive. From context menu select "Properties".




3. Go to the tab "General". It usually opens by default.
4. Click on the button "Disk Cleanup".



5. The disk space scanning process will begin. Wait.




6. A window with detected objects will open. Here you need to mark those that you want to delete. In this case this is the point "Temporary files". Click "OK" to start cleaning.



7. Another window will appear asking for your confirmation to delete files.

Option 5: Windows 10 Cleanup Tool

Deleting temporary files can be done using standard tools in Windows 10. Unfortunately, this method not suitable for other operating systems.

The step-by-step instructions are as follows:

Using these methods, you can delete temporary files on your computer that fill up space on the system drive and also slow down your computer. Some may recommend deleting the Temp folder, but this is not recommended, as there is a risk of damaging the computer.

Any operating system we use to work creates Temporary files, which are constantly stored on our hard drive - Windows7 is no exception.

First, let's take a closer look at the concept of a temporary file. So, temporary file is a set of data that an application or operating system does not want to keep in RAM while translating data from different environments. Thus, temporary files are data that are not intended to be stored for a long time, unlike documents you create using applications.

Possible actions with temporary files

In theory, Temporary files should be deleted by the process that created them. However, this data sometimes exists longer than originally intended. Often, operating systems are equipped with advanced functionality for influencing Temporary files. This is both the ability to set a unique name for a temporary file, and the ability to create additional parameters, requiring the deletion of data immediately after recording. But in fact, not all applications remove Temporary files properly after completion of work. Time passes, and the directories with Temporary files grow to impressive sizes. Of course you can clean it HDD manually, but this is definitely associated with a lot of inconvenience in some cases when a lot of people work on the same computer.

Removing temporary files

If you are serious about making the most of the functionality of your operating system, it is important and necessary to configure automatic cleaning of Temporary files in Windows7. This will not take up a lot of your time, but will help you save it in the future when working.

So, in order to set up automatic cleaning of Temporary files, you need to select one temporary directory reserved for all accounts. The algorithm of your actions looks something like this:

Step 1- Open the environment variable control panel and change the time parameters by setting the path - C:/Windows/Temp.

Step 2- Save the code: pushd %TEMP% && rd /s /q. > nul 2>&1

pushd %WinDir%\TEMP && rd /s /q. > nul 2>&1 in any text editor. We save by specifying the permission - cmd - in any selected folder of a user with administration rights, and the file name is not important.

Step 3- call command line, copy gpedit.msc there and click OK.

Click on the computer configuration, bringing up the script configuration panel and then start - finish. We call the properties of the “Shutdown” tab, using the “Add” function we set the path to the file we previously saved. We apply all the changes made. Now the same algorithm of operations should be repeated with the user configuration parameters.

Ready - automatic cleaning Temporary files are configured.

Some time after purchasing a new hard drive, you notice that the space on it is almost gone, you are perplexed, because you bought it a year or a couple of years ago. What can be done in this situation? In this chapter, we will remove everything unnecessary from your hard drive that takes up significant space. so let's get started. Let's break disk cleaning into several steps:

1. Deleting temporary files
2. Deleting other files
3. Temporary Internet files
4. Outlook Express database compression

Removing unused components

Many people never bother to look at which of the installed Windows components are used and which are not. Are you using Microsoft Fax Services? If not, then you can save about 3.7 Mb. Are you using Internet Explorer, but not MSN Explorer? So delete the last one and save about 13.5 Mb, etc. Games take up about 12.1 Mb.

To remove Windows components, do the following:

1. Open Control Panel (Start -> Control Panel)
2. Open Install/Remove Programs
3. Click the button Installing Windows Components
4. Select the components you want to remove and click OK

Deleting temporary files

When Windows crashes or freezes, you have to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to reboot, at which point some temporary files remain on your hard drive. Some installation chains also leave temporary files behind.

These files remain in the directory \Documents and Settings\ your username\Local Settings\Temp

you can use Conductor to find and delete these files. To be on the safe side, do not delete files with today's creation date; these files may be used in this moment(you will most likely receive an error message when trying to delete these files)

You can also check your hard drive for temporary files in other places. This is done like this:

1. Open Conductor and select logical drive(For example: C:\)
2. Click F3 what will open Search
3. In the search bar for files and folders, enter *.tmp
4. Click Find

Deleting other files

You can also delete other files. Here is a list of extensions that can be removed:

• .dmp- Dump file. When Windows crashes, a memory dump is created. If you don't use these files, feel free to delete them to save some space
• .bak - Backup files; When created new file, some programs save previous versions by adding the .bak extension to the file name. BE CAREFUL WHEN DELETTING THESE FILES
• .cnt- Help files; These files are created when navigating through help files
• .fts- Help files; These files are created when you search the help files
• .gid- Help files; When you run the help files, they create GID for the future more quick access to this help file
• .old- Old files; see.bak
• .~mp- Temporary file; see.tmp
• .$$$ - Old files; see.bak
• .000 - Old files; see.bak

To be on the safe side, advice. you won't have to delete files from the trash for a couple of weeks. If no problems arise, you can empty the Trash. If Windows or any other program reports that a file is missing, then simply go to the trash, find this file, right-click on it and click Restore. This will return this file to its original place.

Temporary Internet files

Another reason for disappearing hard drive space is Temporary Internet Files. These files are created to speed up browsing the Internet; they store pages, graphics and other files in the browser cache. Deleting these files can free up a lot of space. This is done like this:

1. Launch Internet Explorer, go to the menu Settings -> Internet Settings
2. On the tab Are common click the button Delete files In chapter Temporary Internet files
3. Delete all your offline files

Outlook Express database compression When you delete mail in Outlook Express, it is not actually deleted. When upgrading to a newer version of the program, you may find that a lot of your “old” mail has “returned”.

You can run this feature from Outlook Express: go to menu File -> Folders. You can choose Compression or Compress all folders. The difference is that the first item will compress only the folder currently in use.