How to Clear Temporary Files on Windows 11

To clear temporary files on Windows 11, open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, tick the categories you want gone (like Temporary files, Delivery Optimization Files, and Recycle Bin), then click Remove files. You can also turn on Storage Sense to do it automatically. Windows 11 has everything you need built in, so you never have to install a "PC cleaner" just to delete temp files. This guide is for anyone whose C drive is filling up and who wants to reclaim space safely without breaking Windows or losing real documents.

TL;DR

  • The main tool is Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files > Remove files.
  • Read each tickbox; Downloads is listed here too and holds files you saved, so untick it unless you mean it.
  • Storage Sense (Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense) automates this on a schedule.
  • Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) still exists and can clear older Windows Update leftovers.
  • Temp files come back with normal use, so this is recurring maintenance, not a one-time fix.

What counts as a "temporary file" on Windows 11?

Temporary files are exactly what they sound like: data Windows and your apps create while working and no longer need afterward. That includes installer leftovers, update download caches, thumbnail caches, error reports, and browser-style scratch data. Windows can recreate all of it, which is why removing it is safe.

The one thing to watch is that the Temporary files screen mixes truly disposable items with a couple of categories that hold files you might want.

Category What it holds Safe to clear?
Temporary files App and system scratch data Yes
Delivery Optimization Files Cached Windows Update bits Yes
Windows Update Cleanup Old update files Yes
Recycle Bin Files you deleted Yes, if you don't need them back
Downloads Files you saved Only if you've moved what you need

If your drive is full and you're deciding what to tackle first, start with storage full, what should I delete first.

How do I clear temporary files in Settings?

This is the modern, recommended method and it gives you a clear breakdown before anything is deleted.

  1. Open Settings (press Windows + I).
  2. Go to System > Storage.
  3. Click Temporary files.
  4. Wait for Windows to scan, then review each ticked category and its size.
  5. Untick Downloads unless you've already saved what you need elsewhere.
  6. Click Remove files and confirm.

Windows shows how much each category will free, so you can make an informed choice instead of nuking everything blind. The biggest wins are usually Windows Update Cleanup and Delivery Optimization Files after a major update.

Can Windows 11 clear temp files automatically?

Yes, that's what Storage Sense is for. Once on, it clears temp files and empties the Recycle Bin on a schedule so the problem doesn't creep back.

  1. Open Settings > System > Storage.
  2. Turn on Storage Sense with the toggle.
  3. Click Storage Sense to open its options.
  4. Set Run Storage Sense to your preference (for example During low free disk space).
  5. Choose how often to clear the Recycle Bin and the Downloads folder, or set Downloads to Never to be safe.
  6. Optionally click Run Storage Sense now to do an immediate pass.

Storage Sense is quietly the best feature here because it removes the need to remember to clean up. Just be deliberate about the Downloads setting so it never deletes files you're keeping there.

What about Disk Cleanup and update leftovers?

The classic Disk Cleanup tool still ships with Windows 11 and is handy for clearing older update files the Settings screen sometimes leaves behind.

  1. Press Start, type Disk Cleanup, and open it.
  2. Choose your C: drive and click OK.
  3. In the list, tick Temporary files, Thumbnails, and Delivery Optimization Files.
  4. Click Clean up system files to rescan with admin rights.
  5. Now tick Windows Update Cleanup (this can free several gigabytes after upgrades).
  6. Click OK > Delete Files.

Disk Cleanup overlaps with the Settings page but reaches a few extra system categories, so it's worth a run after a feature update. Both are official Microsoft tools, so there's no need for a third-party cleaner for any of this.

Is it safe to delete temporary files on Windows 11?

Yes. Deleting temporary files is one of the safest cleanups on Windows because the system treats this data as disposable and rebuilds it as needed. You won't lose documents, photos, installed programs, or settings. At most, the next launch of an app may be slightly slower while it rebuilds a cache.

Here's the honest split of what each layer does:

  • What Windows 11 does natively: shows temp files by category with sizes, removes them on demand, automates cleanup with Storage Sense, and clears deeper update leftovers via Disk Cleanup. For temporary files specifically, this is genuinely all you need.
  • What a tool adds: built-in tools handle temp files well, but they barely touch the categories that actually fill modern drives, like duplicate and near-identical photos and oversized videos. Cleanor focuses on exactly those heavy media files, the space that stays freed instead of regenerating in a day. That's the work that carries over from cleaning your phone to cleaning your PC's Pictures folder.
  • What no tool can do: no cleaner should promise huge permanent savings from temp files, because they regenerate, and nothing should aggressively delete files in C:\Windows beyond the official, listed categories. Be skeptical of any app advertising one-tap miracles or "registry cleaning."

The practical takeaway: use Settings or Storage Sense for temp files, but go after photos, videos, and duplicates when you need space that lasts.

FAQ

Is it safe to delete all temporary files in Windows 11?

Yes. The items on the Temporary files screen are disposable and Windows rebuilds them as needed. The only caution is the Downloads category listed there, which holds files you saved yourself, so untick it unless you've already moved what you want to keep.

Why do temporary files come back so fast?

Because apps and Windows constantly create scratch data, update caches, and thumbnails during normal use. Clearing temp files is maintenance, not a permanent fix. Turning on Storage Sense lets Windows clear them automatically so you don't have to think about it.

Does clearing temporary files speed up my PC?

Usually only a little, and mainly by freeing disk space rather than directly boosting speed. A nearly full drive can slow a PC down, so reclaiming room helps in that case. For the wider question, see will clearing cache actually speed up my phone, which explains the same principle.

What's the difference between Temporary files and the Recycle Bin?

Temporary files are scratch data the system created; the Recycle Bin holds files you deleted, kept around so you can restore them. Both appear on the Storage screen and both are safe to clear, but only empty the Recycle Bin once you're sure you won't need anything in it.

Where to go from here

Clearing temp files frees a quick bit of space, but if your drive keeps filling up the lasting wins come from photos, videos, and duplicates, not scratch files. Cleanor is built to find duplicate and similar photos plus oversized media that the Storage screen never highlights, so you free space that actually stays free. Start with our guide to clean up phone storage, and if you also use an iPhone, Cleanor for iOS does the same job there. To learn what those mysterious "system" categories really are, read what is system data on iPhone and Android and can you delete it.