{"id":428,"date":"2016-04-20T09:50:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T09:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/?p=428"},"modified":"2018-10-22T13:12:23","modified_gmt":"2018-10-22T13:12:23","slug":"cant-delete-temporary-files-in-windows-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/20\/cant-delete-temporary-files-in-windows-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Can&#8217;t Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Windows 10 users sometimes encounter several issues with the temporary files:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An access denied error appears when you choose to delete temporary files.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_429\" class=\"thumbnail wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"width: 310px\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/image003.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/image003-300x178.png\" alt=\"Error Message\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/image003-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/image003.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption wp-caption-text\"><strong>Error Message<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For unknown reasons, Disk Cleanup utility will show temporary files occupy 0 KB of disk space even though in reality they contain hundreds of junk files inside temporary directories that are eating up a significant amount of storage space.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/download\/ibx\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-505 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/temp-files-windows-10.png\" alt=\"temp files windows 10\" width=\"510\" height=\"47\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/temp-files-windows-10.png 510w, https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/temp-files-windows-10-300x28.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>ST Cleaner download w\/ Verisign digital certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><b>Use Unlocker Tool<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlocker is the right tool to deal with file deletion issues. Specify a file or folder that you cannot delete and this tool will automatically terminate it within seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Exit All Applications<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">File deletion operation cannot be performed if the file is in use. This happens when one or more programs are using temporary files to retrieve runtime information. If a particular program name is displayed in error description, close the program. If the program is unknown, exit all open applications, including apps minimized to system tray. Click the Upward Arrow on the far right corner of the <\/span><b>Taskbar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, right-click an application icon and choose <\/span><b>Exit <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Stop Background Processes\/ Services<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Background processes and services largely go unnoticed. Plenty of background tasks use temporary files to store information. You will not be able to delete temporary files unless you stop the corresponding service\/ background process.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Press <\/span><b>Windows Key <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">+ <\/span><b>X<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; choose <\/span><b>Search<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> option.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Type <\/span><b>services.msc <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the <\/span><b>Search<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Box, and open the <\/span><b>Services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tool.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You will now see a long list of services. Click the <\/span><b>Status<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> column head so that all services will be rearranged.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Stop all unnecessary, Non-Microsoft services. To terminate a service, right-click it and select the <\/span><b>Stop<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> option.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>End &amp; Re-open File Explorer<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kill <\/span><b>Explorer.exe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> process using the <\/span><b>Task Manager<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reload it again and then try deleting temporary files.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Press <\/span><b>Windows Key <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">+ <\/span><b>X<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; choose <\/span><b>Task Manager<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Click <\/span><b>More details<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> icon at the bottom of the user interface. This will expand the window size and display hidden tabs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Click the <\/span><b>Details <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tab.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Scroll down; right-click <\/span><b>explorer.exe <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and choose <\/span><b>End Task<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> option.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> After a while, press <\/span><b>Windows Key <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">+ <\/span><b>R <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">keys simultaneously to open up the <\/span><b>Run<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dialog.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Type <\/span><b>explorer.exe <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as the <\/span><b>Run command<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and then click <\/span><b>OK<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Now try deleting the temporary files.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Reboot your System<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have been facing trouble deleting a temporary file and can\u2019t figure out the application, process or service behind it, just restart your PC. Restarting will fix your issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Perform Clean Boot<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use clean boot troubleshooting option. It boots your computer in a limited state with minimal programs and drivers. This invaluable tool will prevent programs that access temporary files and folders, hence no error will be displayed while deleting the file(s).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Check Folder Protection Settings<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At times, administrative permissions are required to view or delete folder contents. Go to the parent directory containing temporary files and provide appropriate folder security permissions.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click <\/span><b>File Explorer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> icon on the <\/span><b>Taskbar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Right-click the parent folder containing temporary files and choose <\/span><b>Properties<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Click the <\/span><b>Security<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tab &gt; <\/span><b>Edit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> button.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Select all of the following checkboxes under the <\/span><b>Allow<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> column:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full control<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modify<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read &amp; execute<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List folder contents<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special permissions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Click <\/span><b>OK <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">| <\/span><b>OK<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Use Command-lines<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the file cannot be deleted in normal mode, use command-lines with necessary administrative permissions. Fire up an elevated Command Prompt and use the following commands in the same sequence (as provided) with appropriate changes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Press <\/span><b>Windows Key<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> + <\/span><b>X<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; choose <\/span><b>Command Prompt (Admin)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Use the following command to change active directory:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b>CD &lt;Folder Path&gt;<\/b><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b>CD C:\\Windows\\Temp<\/b><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the following command to delete all temporary files from the active directory:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b>DEL \/S \/Q *.&lt;EXTENSION1&gt; *. &lt;EXTENSION2&gt;<\/b><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b>DEL \/S \/Q *.TEMP *.TMP *.LOG *.DMP<\/b><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the following command to delete a subfolder containing temporary files along with its subfolders. Do not delete system-created temporary folders.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b>rmdir &lt;Folder Path&gt; [\/s]<\/b><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><b>rmdir C:\\Windows\\Temp\\001 [\/s]<\/b><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Use Short Folder Name<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A long folder name may not be compatible with Windows. Make sure that the folder extension does not exceed 3 characters and file name is also short. For example: 8 characters<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Check Unsupported Characters<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure there are no unsupported characters in the folder path. For example <\/span><b>\\\/:*?\u201d&lt;&gt;|<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Add Folder to \u201cRename During Next Boot\u201d List<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Session Manager in <\/span><b>Registry Editor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> contains a list of all files to be renamed or moved during the next Windows boot process. Refer to<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/kb\/102985\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this article<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for complete detailed information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Change UAC Settings<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Configure the <\/span><b>Control Panel<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> settings to disable <\/span><b>User Account Control (UAC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> notifications.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type <\/span><b>User Account Control<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><b>Search Box <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on the <\/span><b>Taskbar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Open <\/span><b>Change User Account Control settings<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the <\/span><b>Search Results<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Move the slider to the extreme bottom and select the <\/span><b>Never Notify<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> option.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Click <\/span><b>OK<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Windows 10 users sometimes encounter several issues with the temporary files:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[271,274,276,272,277,275,273,270,197],"class_list":["post-428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-solutions","tag-background-services","tag-clean-boot","tag-command-lines","tag-file-explorer","tag-folder-name","tag-folder-protection-settings","tag-reboot","tag-temporary-files","tag-windows-10"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=428"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1805,"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/428\/revisions\/1805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stcleaner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}