How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 7

Download Article

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 Tested

Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to remove temporary files from your Windows 7 computer. To do this, you must first enable your computer's "Show Hidden Files" feature, after which point you can delete temporary files from your computer's App folder, Windows folder, and Internet cache.

Deleting the Temp Folder in Windows 7

Open My Computer and click your hard drive.
Click the Windows folder.
Click the Temp folder.
Press CTRL + A to select all.
Press Del to delete the files.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Showing Hidden Files

Download Article

Programs on your computer use files that are in the Temp folders, so you won't be able to delete some temporary files if they're being used by programs.
Open Start

. Click the multicolored Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Advertisement
It's at the bottom of the Start window.
Doing so will search your computer for the Windows Explorer app.
Click

Windows Explorer. It's the folder-shaped option at the top of the Start window.
You'll find this tab in the top-left side of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
It's near the middle of the drop-down menu. This prompts a new window to appear.
This option is at the top of the window.
9
Check the "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" circle. It's in the middle of the page.
- If this option is already checked, your computer is displaying hidden files.
Doing so ensures that you can access and open the Temp folder for your apps and Windows itself.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Deleting Temporary App Files

Download Article

It's in the column of options on the left side of the window.
This hard drive-shaped icon is under the "Devices and drives" heading. Your hard drive is usually the drive labeled "C" here.
You'll find it near the top of the window.
This is the folder with the first few letters of your name (or username if you signed into your computer using an email address).
It's near the top of the window.
This folder is at the top of the window.
Click the Temp folder, which is near the bottom of the window, to select it.
This tab is in the upper-left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Clicking it prompts a new window to open.
You'll find this near the bottom of the window.
It's in the bottom-right corner of the window.
12
Click OK when prompted. This will ensure that everything in the Temp folder is affected by the removal of the "Read-only" protection.
- You may have to click Continue or Skip, or otherwise verify that you want to remove read-only protection from this folder, before continuing.
It's at the bottom of the window. You can now proceed with deleting the Temp folder's contents.
Double-click the Temp folder to open it in Windows Explorer.
Click Organize again and then click Select all, or press the Ctrl and A keys at the same time.
16
Delete the files. Press your computer's Del key, or click Organize and then click Delete in the drop-down menu. Doing so will move the Temp folder's contents into the Recycle Bin.
- You'll need to empty the Recycle Bin in order to permanently remove these files from your computer.
- There may be a couple of system files in the Temp folder. If so, you won't be able to delete these. They'll only take up a few kilobytes of space.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Deleting Windows Temporary Files

Download Article

It's on the left side of the Windows Explorer window.
This will re-open your hard drive's folder.
It's usually near the middle of this window.
You'll find this near the bottom of the window.
5
Remove the Temp folder's read protection. To do so:
- Click Organize
- Click Properties
- Uncheck the "Read-only" box.
- Click Apply
- Click OK when prompted.
- Click OK
Double-click the folder to do so.
Click Organize again and then click Select all, or press the Ctrl and A keys at the same time.
8
Delete the files. Press your computer's Del key, or click Organize and then click Delete in the drop-down menu. Doing so will move the Temp folder's contents into the Recycle Bin.
- You'll need to empty the Recycle Bin in order to permanently remove these files from your computer.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Deleting Internet Explorer Temporary Files

Download Article

Open Start

. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
It's the search field at the bottom of the Start window.
Doing so will search your computer for the Internet Options program.
It's the globe-shaped icon at the top of the Start window.
This option is in the top-left side of the Internet Options window.
It's in the lower-right corner of the "Browsing history" section of the window.
This option is near the bottom-right corner of the window.
Click Organize again and then click Select all, or press the Ctrl and A keys at the same time.
9
Delete the files. Press your computer's Del key, or click Organize and then click Delete in the drop-down menu. Doing so will send the Internet cache folder's files to the Recycle Bin.
- You'll need to empty the Recycle Bin in order to permanently remove these files from your computer.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

It's good to clear your computer's temporary files once a month or so to prevent them from building up.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Using Internet Options' or Disk Cleanup's "clear temporary files" feature won't remove the temporary files from these folders.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0