This wikiHow teaches you how to delete temporary files from a Windows 7 computer. To delete them, you must first enable the "Show Hidden Files" feature. After that, you can delete temporary files from your computer's application, Windows, and internet cache folders.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Showing Hidden Files
Step 1. Close any open programs if possible
Programs on the computer use files that are stored in the “ Temp This means that you cannot delete temporary files if they are still in use by the respective program.
Step 2. Open the “Start” menu
Click the multicolored Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Click the text field
It's at the bottom of the "Start" window.
Step 4. Type in windows explorer
The computer will search for the Windows Explorer program afterwards.
Step 5. Click
"Windows Explorer".
This option is indicated by a folder icon at the top of the “Start” window.
Step 6. Click Organize
It's in the top-left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 7. Click Folder and search options
It's in the middle of the drop-down menu. A new window will be opened after that.
Step 8. Click the View tab
It's a tab at the top of the window.
Step 9. Mark the circle "Show hidden files, folders, and drives"
This circle is in the center of the page.
If the option is checked, the computer can show hidden files
Step 10. Click Apply and select OK.
Thus, you can access and open the folder Temp ” for each installed application and the computer's own operating system.
Part 2 of 4: Deleting Application Temporary Files
Step 1. Click My Computer
It's in the options column on the left side of the window.
Step 2. Double-click the computer hard drive
This hard drive icon is usually under the " Devices and drives " section. The hard drive that needs to be selected is generally labeled with the letter “C”.
Step 3. Double-click the Users folder
This folder is at the top of the window.
Step 4. Double click your user folder
This folder contains the first few letters of your name (or username if you logged into your computer using an email address).
Step 5. Double-click the AppData folder
This folder is at the top of the window.
Step 6. Double-click the Local folder
This folder is at the top of the window.
Step 7. Select the Temp folder
Click the folder Temp ” at the bottom of the window to select it.
Step 8. Click Organize
It's in the top-left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 9. Click Properties
It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Once clicked, a new window will open.
Step 10. Uncheck the "Read-only" box
This box is at the bottom of the window.
Step 11. Click Apply
It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
Step 12. Click OK when prompted
With this option, the removal of “Read-only” protection will be applied to all contents in the “folder. Temp ”.
You may need to click the “ Continue " or " Skip ”, or verify the removal of read-only protection from the folder before continuing.
Step 13. Click OK
It's at the bottom of the window. Now you can delete the contents of the folder Temp ”.
Step 14. Open the Temp folder
Double click the folder Temp ” to open it in Windows Explorer.
Step 15. Select all files in the folder
Click on the option again Organize " and select " Select all ”, or press the Ctrl and A keys at the same time.
Step 16. Delete the file
Press the Del key on the computer or click " Organize " and select " Delete ” from the drop-down menu. After that, the contents of the folder “ Temp ” will be moved to the Recycle Bin.
- You may need to empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete these files from your computer.
- There may be some system files stored in the “Temp” folder. If so, you cannot delete the files. Usually these files only take up a few kilobytes of space.
Part 3 of 4: Deleting Windows Temporary Files
Step 1. Click the My Computer tab again
This tab is on the left side of the Windows Explorer window.
Step 2. Double-click the hard drive
The hard drive folder will reopen.
Step 3. Double-click the Windows folder
This folder is usually in the middle of the window.
Step 4. Scroll down and select the Temp folder
This folder is at the bottom of the window.
Step 5. Remove read only protection on Temp folder
To remove protection:
- Click " Organize ”.
- Click " Properties ”.
- Uncheck the " Read-only " box.
- Click " Apply ”.
- Click " OK ” when prompted.
- Click " OK ”.
Step 6. Open the Temp folder
Double-click the folder to open it.
Step 7. Select all files in the folder
Click on the option again Organize " and select " Select all ”, or press the Ctrl and A keys at the same time.
Step 8. Delete the file
Press the Del key on the keyboard, or click " Organize " and select " Delete ” from the drop-down menu. After that, the contents of the folder " Temp ” will be moved to the Recycle Bin.
You may need to empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete these files from your computer
Part 4 of 4: Deleting Internet Explorer Temporary Files
Step 1. Open the “Start” menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click the text field
This search field is at the bottom of the "Start" window.
Step 3. Type in internet options
After that, the computer will search for the Internet Options program.
Step 4. Click Internet Options
It's a globe icon at the top of the "Start" window.
Step 5. Click the General tab
This tab is in the upper-left corner of the “Internet Options” window.
Step 6. Click Settings
It's in the lower-right corner of the "Browsing history" section of the window.
Step 7. Click View files
It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
Step 8. Select the file
Click back" Organize " and select " Select all ”, or press the Ctrl and A keys at the same time.
Step 9. Delete the file
Press the Del key on the keyboard, or click " Organize " and select " Delete ” from the drop-down menu. After that, the contents of the internet cache folder will be moved to the Recycle Bin.
