How to Delete Temporary and Prefetch Files from Computer

Table of contents:

How to Delete Temporary and Prefetch Files from Computer
How to Delete Temporary and Prefetch Files from Computer

Video: How to Delete Temporary and Prefetch Files from Computer

Video: How to Delete Temporary and Prefetch Files from Computer
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To free up storage space on your computer, you can delete files that you no longer use, such as temporary files or prefetch. Temporary files are files that are created when Windows unnaturally shuts down, and can be safely deleted. Meanwhile, prefetch files are created when a program is run for the first time. It is recommended that you do not delete the file unless your computer is infected with a virus/malware, or if you are an advanced computer user.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Deleting Temporary Files

Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 1
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 1

Step 1. Open Disk Cleanup

This application, which is available by default since Windows Vista, allows you to delete temporary files and prefetch.

  • Follow one of the methods below to open Disk Cleanup:

    • Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
    • Press Windows key+R, then enter “%windir%\system32\cleanmgr.exe” (without the quotes) in the Open field of the Run dialog box.

  • Select the drive you want to clean. Generally, Disk Cleanup is used to clean the system drive (C:, or another system drive according to the settings). After selecting a drive, Disk Cleanup will scan the drive for various types of temporary files. You will see a list of temporary file types that can be deleted after the scan is complete.

    • You may find the Clean up System Files option in the Disk Cleanup window. This option to perform a more thorough system cleanup can only be used by administrators. The Clean up System Files option can reach the deepest parts of the operating system, such as the outdated Windows Update catalog.
    • Check the Temporary Internet Files and Temporary Files options, then click OK.
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 2
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 2

Step 2. Open a Computer or This PC window, then look for a file with the "*.temp" extension on drive C:

. Files with the extension TEMP are temporary files. An asterisk in a search keyword instructs the computer to search for all files with that extension.

Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 3
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 3

Step 3. Look for Free up disk space in Control Panel, then click the Free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files link

Check the Temporary files check box, then click OK.

Method 2 of 2: Deleting Prefetch Files

Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 4
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 4

Step 1. Open Windows Explorer, then click Organize and select Folder and Search Options

On the View tab, select the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option, then click Apply. To close the Folder Options window, click OK.

Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 5
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 5

Step 2. Open your system drive

Generally, the system drive has the drive letter C:, unless you change it yourself. After the contents of the system drive appear, go to the Windows > Prefetch folder, and delete the files with the PF extension you want.

Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 6
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 6

Step 3. Reopen Windows Explorer, then click Organize and select Folder and Search Options

After that, click the View tab.

Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 7
Delete Temporary Files and Delete Prefetch Files from Your Computer Step 7

Step 4. Select the Don't show hidden files, folders or drives option, then click Apply

To close the Folder Options window, click OK.

Tips

  • Clean the Recycle Bin to permanently delete temporary files.
  • Deleting prefetch files can damage or slow down computer performance. Avoid deleting the prefetch file, unless you are an advanced computer user.

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