Guides / Free up space
Temporary Files
Clears out leftover temporary files that programs forgot to delete. Your documents and downloads are never touched.
When to use it
- Your drive is getting full.
- As part of regular upkeep.
How to use it
- Open Brightfix and go to Free up space.
- Choose Temporary Files. Brightfix checks first and changes nothing yet.
- Read the list. Each item says what it is and what will happen.
- Tick what you want, then choose the button to go ahead.
What it changes
Deletes old files from the temporary folders Windows and programs use.
What it never does
- Never touches Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads or OneDrive.
- Never follows a shortcut or link out of a temporary folder into your files.
- Skips files a program is still using.
Undo
Deleted temporary files cannot be brought back, which is fine: programs recreate what they need. A restore point is made first.
Advanced details
- Looks in your account's %TEMP% and C:\Windows\Temp only.
- Sizes are measured as space on disk, so the number shown is what you get back.
- Junctions and symbolic links are skipped, never walked.
Every action is logged with the time, the command, the result and the exit code.