[Solved] What are temporary files? Should I delete or keep them?

Temporary files can take up a lot of space. Where are they, and what are they?

Computers and laptops come with various operating systems. Those that use Windows know that a newly installed OS runs fast and lean. That is, until your computer and the software on it begin creating cache files.

While some cached files, like settings and configuration files, are necessary, others are essentially junk. One such example is temporary files, which can take up a lot of space on your main Windows drive. So, what are they, and should you delete them? Let's find out.

What are temporary files?

Temporary files are files created by applications or the operating system for a specific task. They are used to store data temporarily. The number of temporary files on your computer is usually determined by the programs you have installed and how frequently you use them.

Here's what you need to know about temporary files:

• As mentioned earlier, there aren't any junk or temporary files when you first install an operating system, so your computer will perform better than it would after 10 to 15 days.
• For example, if you have many programs that create temporary files, then you'll have more temporary files than someone who doesn't use as many programs.
• You can't tell which program created which temporary file, because they all follow the same naming convention: “temp” followed by numbers and letters.

Since they are created automatically, temporary files can pile up on a computer even if the user deletes or removes them.

Where are the temporary files?

Temporary files are created in different folders depending on the Windows OS you're using. For example, Windows 8 and 7 create temp files within the Windows folder, while Windows 10 and 11 make them in the Users' AppData directory.

However, you can use one command to find temporary files in all Windows operating systems, and that is:

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard.

Step 2: Type %temp% and press Enter.

Step 3: Wait for the Temp folder to open

Step 4: Completion

As you can see, this folder is full of temporary files, and that's where Windows puts its temporary files.

# 3 Should temporary files be deleted?

The simple answer is: yes, you should delete temporary files. Doing so not only helps free up disk space but also contributes to keeping your computer running smoothly. In summary, deleting temporary files can:

• Boost your computer's performance again
• Get programs/apps functioning properly
• Clean up essential space on your startup drive
• Avoid issues related to drivers

Thus, not only is it safe to delete temp files, but you should do so regularly. So, assuming you use your computer for around 5-6 hours a day, you should delete temp files once a week.

How to Delete Temporary Files

Now that we know the importance of deleting temporary files, let's talk about how to do it. In this section, we'll discuss one of the easiest ways. So, here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Press Windows + R on your computer again.

Step 2: Type %temp% and press Enter.

Step 3: Wait for the Temp folder to open.

Step 4: Press CTRL + A to select all the files.

Step 5. Press Shift + Delete on your keyboard

Step 6: Confirm when prompted

Step 7: Completion

And that's it; that's how you delete your temporary files from your computer.

Conclusions

Now that you're familiar with the main types of temporary files on a PC, you know that deleting them will certainly speed things up. It's important, however, to do this regularly, say once a week or once a month.