Clean Temp Files Windows 11: Safe Ways to Free Up Space

Temporary files pile up from installers, updates, browsers and apps, and on a small SSD they can eat several gigabytes. Windows 11 has three safe tools to clear them out, all built in. This guide explains how to clean temp files in Windows 11 using Settings, how to make Storage Sense do it automatically, when Disk Cleanup is still useful, and which “cleanup” habits do more harm than good.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2.

Method 1: Temporary files in Settings

1. Open Start > Settings > System > Storage.
2. Select Temporary files. Windows scans the drive; this can take a minute.
3. Tick the categories you want to remove. Each shows how much space it uses.
4. Select Remove files and confirm.

Microsoft’s free-up-space page recommends this route for most people.

What the categories mean

Category	What it is	Safe to remove?
Temporary files	Files apps created and no longer need	Yes
Windows Update Cleanup	Old copies of updated system files	Yes, once the PC runs fine; you cannot uninstall those updates afterwards
Delivery Optimization Files	Update files shared with other PCs	Yes
Thumbnails	Cached picture previews	Yes; they rebuild
Temporary Internet Files	Edge cache	Yes
Previous Windows installation(s)	Windows.old after an upgrade	Yes, but you lose the option to go back
Recycle Bin	Files you deleted	Check first
Downloads	Your Downloads folder	Check first; it often holds installers and documents you still want

Leave Downloads and Recycle Bin unticked unless you have looked inside. Many people lose files by ticking everything.

Method 2: Storage Sense (automatic)

Storage Sense cleans up on a schedule so you do not have to remember. Microsoft describes it as a feature that frees up space by getting rid of files you do not need, like temporary files and items in the Recycle Bin.

1. Open Settings > System > Storage.
2. Turn on Storage Sense.
3. Select Storage Sense to configure it:
   • Cleanup of temporary files: keep this ticked.
   • Run Storage Sense: every day, week, month, or when disk space is low.
   • Delete files in my Recycle Bin if they have been there longer than a set time.
   • Delete files in my Downloads folder if they have not been opened for a set time; set this to Never unless you use Downloads only for throwaway files.
   • Locally available cloud content: OneDrive files not opened for a while can become online-only, freeing space while staying available.

Select Run Storage Sense now to run it immediately.

Method 3: Disk Cleanup

The classic Disk Cleanup tool is still in Windows 11:

1. Search Start for Disk Cleanup and open it.
2. Choose the drive (usually C:).
3. Select Clean up system files to include update and system items.
4. Tick the categories and select OK.

It covers much the same ground as the Settings page. It is useful if Settings is slow to scan, or to remove large update leftovers after a feature update.

Cleanup recommendations

On the same Storage page, Cleanup recommendations suggests large or unused files, files synced to the cloud and apps you have not used for a while. Review each list; nothing is removed until you select it. For apps, see uninstall apps in Windows 11.

What not to do

• Do not delete files by hand from C:\Windows, C:\Windows\WinSxS or Program Files. Deleting system files manually can break updates or Windows itself.
• Avoid “PC cleaner” and registry cleaner apps. They often remove things Windows needs, add little space, and bundle unwanted software. The built-in tools are enough.
• Do not disable the page file or hibernation just to save space without understanding the effect; see enable hibernate for what the hibernation file is for.

Deleting the contents of the %temp% folder by hand is possible, but files in use are skipped and the Settings page does the same job more safely.

How often to clean up

There is no need to clean temporary files every day. A sensible routine:

• Let Storage Sense run monthly, or when disk space is low, with temporary file cleanup on.
• After a feature update has run fine for a couple of weeks, remove Previous Windows installation(s) and Windows Update Cleanup to recover several gigabytes.
• Once in a while, look at Cleanup recommendations for big files and unused apps.

Some caches, such as thumbnails and browser data, come straight back after cleaning because Windows and apps need them to run quickly. Removing them repeatedly gains nothing and can make the PC feel slower for a while as they rebuild. Browser cache in particular is better managed from the browser’s own settings if a website misbehaves.

If free space keeps disappearing quickly, something is writing large files: a sync app, a backup tool saving to the wrong drive, or a game library. The Storage page’s categories show where the space is going, so you can fix the cause instead of cleaning repeatedly.

When space is still short

If the drive is still nearly full after cleaning:

• Find what is big in Settings > System > Storage > Show more categories.
• Move photos and videos to an external drive or cloud storage.
• Uninstall large games and apps you no longer use.
• Consider a larger SSD; see upgrade laptop SSD.

Our Windows 11 storage settings guide covers the whole Storage page, and check SSD health is worth a look on an older drive. If updates fail for lack of space, see Windows 11 update failed.