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Some users may want to delete temporary files on Mac and Windows. Caches and temporary files can include things like a web browser’s cache and history, the cache for a messaging app, app-specific temporary files and caches, downloads that aren’t finished, and a lot more.
Most apps will take care of cache management on their own, and Mac OS will also take care of some other cache-type files directly. However, more advanced Mac users can also clear their own cache and temporary files by hand. You might be surprised to learn that Windows and the programmes you run on your computer create temporary files.
This article is meant to help you figure out what these temporary files are for and how they might affect how fast your computer works and how much space is on your internal hard disc. The Windows Temp folder is where most temporary files are kept. The location of this folder varies from computer to desktop computer.
How to delete temporary files on Mac
Using shortcuts
- Go to the main screen (desktop).
- Then, press ‘shift-command-G‘ with the Finder window open.
- Enter the command ‘~/Library/Caches’ into the search box.
- Tap ‘go’.
- Now, a new window will open consisting of Mac’s cached files.
- Now, press and hold ‘command-A’ to select all the folders.
- Then, press ‘command-delete’.
- You will see a message pop-up asking to confirm.
- You require to enter your Mac’s password to complete the action.
Without using shortcuts
- Minimize or close all the windows to see the ‘Finder’.
- Then, tap on ‘go’.
- Below go, choose ‘go to folder’ in the drop-down list.
- Enter the command ‘~/Library/Caches’ into the search box.
- Tap ‘go’.
- Now, a new window will open consisting of Mac’s cached files.
- Now, go back up to the toolbar on the top of the screen.
- Then, tap on ‘edit’.
- Click on ‘select all’.
- Below ‘file,’ in the toolbar on the top of the screen.
- Choose ‘move to trash.’
- You require to enter your Mac’s password to complete the action.
ways to delete temporary files on Windows
Using Run
The first way to manually and completely delete temporary files in Windows 11/10 is to use the built-in Run tool. Here is how to use Run in Windows 11/10 to get rid of temporary files:
- Press the Win + R keys together to open the “Run” dialog box.
- Enter %temp% and Hit “OK”. This will open the Temp folder.
- Select the specific unwanted folders and temp files or select all items by pressing the Ctrl + A keys at the same time.
- Hit the “Delete” key and select “Yes” when prompted. If it pops up a Folder in Use window, simply click Skip to continue to remove the selected temp files.
From Settings
You can also manually delete temporary files in Windows by going to the storage area through the Settings menu. Here’s how to delete temporary files from the settings menu in Windows 10/11:
- Open Windows Settings 10 by pressing the Win + I keys and navigate to System.
- Select “Storage” on the left-hand pane.
- Under the Local Disk (C:) section, choose “Temporary files”. If you are unable to see this option, they may be hidden. So select “Show more categories”.
- You’ll see a list of temp files you can remove. Select all the temporary files you wish to delete and hit “Remove files”.
Via Disk Cleanup
If you’re running out of space on your hard drive, you can also use the Disk Cleanup tool that comes with Windows to look for temporary files that you no longer need and delete them. Let’s look at how to use Disk Cleanup in Windows 11/10 to get rid of temporary files:
- Press the Win+ E keys to launch “File Explorer”. Then Choose “This PC.”
- Right-click on the hard disk and then choose “Properties”.
- On the General tab, hit “Disk Cleanup.”
- Under Files to delete, select the files or folders you wish to delete. Alternatively, you can choose “Clean up system files”, Disk Cleanup will calculate how much space the system can free up safely.
- Press “OK”. Wait for the clean-up to finish and you’re good to go.
From Activating Storage Sense
If you don’t want to manually delete temporary files in Windows 11/10, you can use the Storage Sense feature to do it for you at a set time. You can also go to the official Microsoft support site to know more information about this. Here’s how to turn on Storage Sense in Windows 11/10 to delete temp files automatically:
- Press the Win + I keys to open Settings.
- Navigate to System > Storage.
- Under Storage, click on “Configure Storage Sense or run it now”.
- Turn on Storage Sense. Then check the box next to the “Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using” option.
- After the cleanup settings are adjusted on-demand, click “Clean now” at the bottom, Storage Sense will start freeing up space by deleting most temporary files that have stayed in the recycle bin for more than 30 days.
FAQ
How do I delete temporary files on Mac?
To open the Go to Folder menu, hold down the Shift-Command-G keys. Press Return after typing /Library/Caches/. This will show you all of the caches and temporary files that your Mac has stored. Make sure you know which ones you want to or need to get rid of before you send them to the Trash.
How do I find temporary files on my Mac?
To show the hidden Library folder, pull down the Go menu at the top and hold the Option key. Go to the Library. Open the file called “Caches.” You can choose which caches and temporary files to delete, or you can choose all temporary folders.
Can you delete all cache files on Mac?
Press shift + command + G in the Finder window. In the search box, type /Library/Caches and click Go. You can select all folders by pressing Command + A, or you can select items one by one. Hold down command and delete to remove the files you chose from your Mac’s cache.
Does Windows clear the temp folder?
When the temporary file is no longer needed, the programme that made it should also delete it from Windows 10. But if automatic removal doesn’t happen, temporary files turn into junk files that take up space, slow down your computer, and make it hard to find things.