Can’t delete temporary files in Windows 10? Here is why it happens and how to solve it. Learn step-by-step ways to fix Disk Cleanup issues and forcefully delete temporary files.
Sometimes when you try to clean up space on your Windows 10 computer, you may notice that Disk Cleanup cannot delete temporary internet files. This can be a little confusing, especially when you expect those files to be gone after running the tool. The truth is, there are a few common reasons why these files refuse to disappear. Take a look at the table below to see the main causes explained in simple words:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Files in use | If your browser or apps are still running, the temp files remain locked and can’t be deleted. |
| Permission issues | Some files need administrator rights, so standard user accounts may fail to remove them. |
| Corrupted or stuck files | Damaged cache files may not respond to normal deletion attempts. |
| Disk Cleanup limitations | The built-in tool sometimes skips or fails to remove all temp internet files. |
Deleting temporary files in Windows 10 is generally safe and recommended. These files are only used for short-term purposes and are not essential for your system or applications. Removing them can free up storage space and help your computer run more efficiently.
There are several reasons to clean up temporary files regularly. First, they can take up a significant amount of disk space, so deleting them gives you more room for important files and programs. Second, a buildup of temporary files can slow down your PC, and clearing them can improve system performance and reduce lag. Finally, some temporary files may contain sensitive information, such as browsing history or cached login details, so deleting them helps protect your privacy.
To effectively delete temporary internet files, you can try deleting web browsing information in the Control Panel and setting not to keep browsing history. Please follow the detailed steps below:
Steps 1. Select Control Panel in the Start menu, click "Network and Internet" and "Internet Options" in order.
Step 2. In the "Internet Properties" window that pops up, tick "Delete browsing history on exit". Click "Settings" and set the website file data.
How to delete temporary internet files on Windows 10? You can also clean up temporary internet files from the root - delete cache and temporary files in different browsers. There's a universal formula: enter the browser settings/select Internet/find the option to clear temporary files. Here, we take Chrome and Firefox as examples.
Please refer to the following operations to delete temporary internet files in Chrome:
Step 1. Click the three-dot logo in the upper right of the main interface, then click "More Tools" and "Clear Browsing Data".
Step 2. Select "Browsing history", "Download history", "Cookies and other site data" and "cached images and files" in the pooped up window.
Step 3. Click on "Clear Data" to remove all selected options.
The way to delete internet files in Firefox is similar.
Step 1. Get into the interface of "Settings".
Step 2. You can see "Privacy & Security", click it.
Step 3. Find "Cookies and Site Data", click "Clear Data".
After trying the previous methods, you should be able to deal with temporary internet files that won’t delete in Windows 10. For a faster and more thorough solution, you can use a professional tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup, a free and easy-to-use computer cleaner.
This tool can scan your PC and remove temporary internet files completely. It can also detect and delete system junk and registry junk files that often slow down Windows. With just a few clicks, you can free up space and keep your computer running smoothly.
In addition, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup offers other useful features, such as wiping a hard drive, resizing or formatting partitions, giving you more control over your system.
Free Up Disk Space To Keep Your PC Running Smoothly and Efficiently
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup. Click the "Clean Junk Files" tab.
Step 2. Click the "Scan Now" button to start the process of scanning junk files.
Step 3. After the scan process is finished. All system junk files (including recycle bin files, temporary files, log files, invalid shortcuts, and so on) and registry junk files (including DLL registry, system registry, and program registry) will be displayed.
Step 4. You can also click the button behind to view the junk files details.
Step 5. And, you can click the button behind to locate the file.
Step 6. By default, the program will select some junk files to clean up, for example, temporary files, log files, and so on. You can also manually check to select more or uncheck to deselect fewer listed junk files. Or, click "Select All" to select all junk files to clean up if you need to clean up all.
After selecting junk files that are not needed anymore, you can click the "Clean Now"button to start the cleanup.
Step 7. The process of the cleanup might take time, and the selected files will be cleaned up. After the process is finished, you will get a cleanup completed window displaying how many files you have cleaned and not yet cleaned.
If you cannot delete temporary files in Windows 10, it is usually due to files being in use, permission issues, corrupted data, or Disk Cleanup limitations. Regularly deleting temporary internet files is safe and can help clear disk space, improve PC performance, and protect your privacy.
To remove these files, you can use the Control Panel, browser settings, or a professional tool to forcefully delete temporary files. Tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Cleanup can scan and remove all temporary internet files, system junk, and registry junk efficiently, ensuring your computer stays fast and organized.