How to Automatically Delete Trash and Temporary Files on Windows 10

graphic designer 4562741 640
graphic designer 4562741 640

This article describes the steps to automatically delete trash and temporary files in Windows 10.

Regularly deleting trash and removing unwanted temporary files from your Windows 10 computer helps improve its performance and free up more space on your hard drive.

Although it can be done manually, it’s better just to set it and forget it so that you don’t have to keep being reminded to empty the recycle bin and temporary Internet files.

These files are created automatically by applications in the background. These temporary files are then used by applications to improve performance by using the downloaded data.

However, these downloaded files can also create problems if not regularly removed.

Follow the steps below to empty the recycle bin and transparent temporary files automatically.

First, click the Start button and select Settings as shown below

windows 10 default apps installation location

Then select Systems from the Settings ==> Storage on the left of the items list. Under Storage sense, change the button to On.

Doing this will automatically free up space by removing files you don’t need, like temporary files and content in your recycle bin.

windows 10 storage sense

To immediately clear out temporary files and empty your recycle bin, click More storage settings, then click Clean now.

microsoft storage sense

You can also immediately delete a file permanently without sending it to the trash first. To permanently delete a file:
First, select the item you want to delete.

Press and hold the Shift key, then press the Delete key on your keyboard. Because you cannot undo this, you will be asked to confirm that you want to delete the file or folder.

This is how one sets up Windows 10 to automatically empty the trash and purge temporary files from his/her desktop.

I hope you like this, and please come back soon.

Posted by
Richard W

I love computers; maybe way too much. What I learned I try to share at geekrewind.com.

2 Comments

  1. any of the given processes are not working.

  2. Greg R. Bentley

    My email trash has over 2,980, I can not delete.

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