Windows temporary files
Also known as: temp files Windows, %temp% folder, Temp folder
Windows temporary files are short-lived data that the system and apps create while running — installers, update caches, crash logs, and scratch files. Most are safe to delete; Windows recreates anything it still needs the next time it runs.
- Found in %temp% and C:\Windows\Temp
- Cleared via Settings > System > Storage
- Safe to delete; Windows rebuilds what it needs
Where temp files live
The main locations are the per-user temp folder (open Win + R, type %temp%) and the system temp folder at C:\Windows\Temp. Apps also scatter their own caches across AppData. Together these can grow to several gigabytes over time.
The easiest safe way to clear them is Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, which lists each category with a size and a checkbox. Disk Cleanup removes the same data.
Is it safe to delete?
Generally yes. Temporary files are, by definition, expendable, so clearing them never removes documents, accounts, or installed programs. A file in use stays locked and is skipped, so close active apps first to clear as much as possible.