Clean Windows Temporary Files

Step 1

%temp%

browser-cache

installer-cache

session.tmp

Step 1

Clean the user temp folder

Press Win + R, type %temp%, then press Enter. Select the files inside the folder and delete what Windows allows. Skip anything that says it is in use.

Step 2

C:\Windows\Temp

cache.tmp

setup.log

old-package.tmp

Step 2

Clean the Windows temp folder

Press Win + R again, type temp, then press Enter. Delete the temporary files that Windows allows, then skip locked files.

Step 3

C:\Windows\Prefetch

APP-9F2A.pf

SETUP-41D0.pf

Rebuilds automatically

Step 3

Clear Prefetch cache

Press Win + R, type prefetch, then press Enter. Approve the administrator prompt if it appears, select the contents, and delete what Windows allows. Windows will rebuild this cache automatically.

Step 4

Recent Items

setup.lnk

downloads.lnk

Shortcuts only

Step 4

Clear Recent shortcuts

Press Win + R, type recent, then press Enter. Delete the shortcuts in this folder. This clears recent file history shortcuts, not the original files.

Step 5

Disk Cleanup

Temporary files

Thumbnails

Recycle Bin

Step 5

Use Disk Cleanup

Search Disk Cleanup from Start, select your Windows drive, then clean temporary files, thumbnails, DirectX shader cache, and recycle bin items if needed.

Step 6

Recycle Bin

Review first

Empty selected items

Space recovered

Step 6

Empty Recycle Bin

Right-click Recycle Bin and choose Empty Recycle Bin after checking that you do not need anything inside it.

Step 7

Restart required

Save your work

Apply changes after reboot

Step 7

Restart before reinstalling

Restart Windows before reinstalling or opening setup tools. This gives Windows a clean session and clears locked temporary files.