How to delete temporary files on Windows 11

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-delete-temporary-files-on-windows-11/ · Checked October 2026 · Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

6 of 6 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Windows

Shown on

Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 (build 26200.9457), Microsoft Cloud PC

App

Settings

Path

Settings › System › Storage › Temporary files › Remove files

Real screenshots

6 of 6 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Temporary files

   Press Windows + I, click System, then Storage, then Temporary files.

   Windows scans and lists each kind of file with its size.

   Done

2. 

   Check what is ticked

   Each entry explains what it is.

   On our Cloud PC Delivery Optimization Files took 2.16 GB, Temporary Internet Files 12.2 MB and Thumbnails 9.01 MB, and Total selected showed 2.18 GB.

   Done

3. 

   Scroll to the end of the list

   On our Cloud PC the list went on with Temporary files (1.56 MB), DirectX Shader Cache (32.0 KB) and Windows error reports and feedback diagnostics (24.5 KB), all ticked.

   Below them, Updates (13.2 MB) is a separate section with no tick box and a View update settings link.

   Done

4. 

   Click Remove files

   Untick anything you want to keep, then click Remove files at the top.

   We did not click it on our Cloud PC.

   Done

5. 

   Open the Temp folder

   Right-click the Start button, choose Run, type %temp% and click OK.

   Done

6. 

   Delete what is inside

   File Explorer opens your user's Temp folder in AppData, Local. Close your apps, press Ctrl + A and Delete; Windows skips files still in use, and you can click Skip for those.

   On our Cloud PC the folder held 19 items; we deleted nothing.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Temporary files row Microsoft lists temporary files under Settings, System, Storage, Cleanup recommendations too, next to Large or unused files, Files synced to the cloud and Unused apps. Source: Free up drive space in Windows
• Previous Windows installation is listed Microsoft says it shows for 10 days after an upgrade. Deleting it removes the Windows.old folder, and you can no longer go back to the previous version. Source: Free up drive space in Windows
• Your PC runs Windows 10 Microsoft's Windows 10 steps say that if your system doesn't have Storage Sense, you can type disk cleanup in the search box on the taskbar, choose the drive and tick the types of files to delete. Source: Free up drive space in Windows

If this does not work

• A Low Disk Space error comes back Microsoft says the Temp folder can fill up with Microsoft Store app files. It suggests the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter under Other troubleshooters, then wsreset.exe from Run, and a restart. Source: Free up drive space in Windows
• The free space did not go up Microsoft says deleted files stay in the Recycle Bin until you empty it. Source: Free up drive space in Windows
• Updates still shows a size On our Cloud PC Updates has no tick box on the Temporary files page; it offers a View update settings link instead.

About this guide

Windows and apps leave temporary files behind: update downloads, thumbnails, caches and the contents of the Temp folder. Removing them frees space and does no harm, because Windows makes new ones when it needs them.

The screenshots are our own, taken on Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 running as a Microsoft Cloud PC, a Windows PC that runs in the cloud.

Good to know

Downloads is not in the Temporary files list on our PC. Check your Downloads folder yourself before removing anything there.

To let Windows do this by itself, switch on Storage Sense: how to free up disk space on Windows 11.

In short: Settings, System, Storage, Temporary files, Remove files. Then Run, %temp%, select all, Delete, skip files in use.

📷 Camera Lab: the same 6 scenes photographed with 11 phones, side by side.