how to clean temporary files from C drive

Preparing for Cleaning

Ensure you have administrative privileges on your computer.

Close all running programs and save any important files.

Save any open files in the programs you are currently using.
Close all programs running on your computer.

Disconnect from the internet temporarily to avoid interference.

Click on the network icon in the taskbar.
Select 'Disconnect' from the available network connections.

Create a backup of important files and documents in case of accidental deletion

Open the folder where your important files and documents are stored.
Select the files and documents you want to backup.
Right-click and choose 'Copy'.
Create a new folder in a different location and name it as your backup folder.
Open the backup folder and right-click inside it.
Choose 'Paste' to paste the copied files and documents into the backup folder.

Check for any pending updates or installations and complete them before proceeding

Click on the 'Start' button and open 'Settings'.
Go to 'Update & Security'.
Click on 'Check for updates'.
If any updates are available, click on 'Install' to complete the installation process.

Disable any scheduled tasks or automatic backups to prevent interruptions during the clean-up process

Open the 'Task Scheduler' by typing 'Task Scheduler' in the search bar and selecting it from the results.
In the Task Scheduler window, expand 'Task Scheduler Library' and select 'Task Scheduler Library'.
Disable any tasks or backups that are scheduled to run during the clean-up process.

Disable any running antivirus or security software temporarily to avoid conflicts

Open the antivirus or security software on your computer.
Look for an option to temporarily disable the software.
Disable the antivirus or security software.

Make sure you have enough free disk space to accommodate the temporary files you are about to clean

Open 'This PC' or 'My Computer' on your desktop.
Check the available disk space for the C drive.
Ensure that there is enough free space to accommodate the temporary files you are about to clean.

Cleaning Temporary Files

Open the "Start" menu and search for "Disk Cleanup" or "cleanmgr.exe".

Select the C drive or the drive where your operating system is installed.

Wait for the tool to calculate the space that can be freed.

Check the boxes for "Temporary files" and any other desired file types.

Click on the "OK" or "Clean up system files" button.

Confirm the action by clicking "Delete Files" or "OK" when prompted.

Wait for the process to complete and close the Disk Cleanup utility.

Select the option to clean up system files

Wait for the tool to recalculate the space that can be freed

Check the boxes for additional categories of temporary files, such as "Windows Update Cleanup" or "Downloaded Program Files"

Review the amount of disk space that will be freed up and make sure it aligns with your expectations

Click on the "OK" or "Clean up system files" button again to proceed with the cleaning process

Confirm the action by clicking "Delete Files" or "OK" when prompted for a second time

Wait for the extended cleaning process to complete and close the Disk Cleanup utility

Restart your computer to ensure that all temporary files have been properly removed

Clearing Temporary Internet Files

Open your preferred web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Edge).

Locate the browser's settings or options menu.

Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window (Chrome).
Click on the three-line menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window (Firefox).
Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the browser window (Edge).

Look for the "Privacy" or "History" section.

Scroll down the menu and look for the "Privacy and Security" section (Chrome).
Scroll down the menu and look for the "Privacy & Security" section (Firefox).
Scroll down the menu and look for the "Privacy, search, and services" section (Edge).

Find the option to clear browsing data or history.

Click on "Clear browsing data" (Chrome).
Click on "Clear history" (Firefox).
Click on "Choose what to clear" (Edge).

Select the desired time range (e.g., last hour, last day, all time).

Check the box for "Temporary internet files" or a similar option.

Click on "Clear" or "Delete" to remove the temporary files.

Click on "Clear data" (Chrome).
Click on "Clear Now" (Firefox).
Click on "Clear" (Edge).

Close and reopen the browser for changes to take effect.

Clear cookies and cache in the browser settings

Go to the browser settings and find the option to clear cookies and cache.
Click on the option to clear cookies and cache.
Confirm the action to clear cookies and cache.

Disable or remove any browser extensions or add-ons that may be storing temporary files

Go to the browser's extensions or add-ons settings.
Disable or remove any extensions or add-ons that may be storing temporary files.

Ensure that the browser is set to automatically clear temporary files on exit

Go to the browser settings and find the option for clearing temporary files on exit.
Enable or check the option to automatically clear temporary files on exit.

Consider using a third-party software or application to clean temporary internet files more thoroughly

Research and find a trusted third-party software or application that specializes in cleaning temporary internet files.
Download and install the software or application.
Follow the instructions provided by the software or application to clean temporary internet files.

Removing Temporary Files from Recycle Bin

Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
Double-click on the icon to open the Recycle Bin window.

In the Recycle Bin window, click on the "Empty Recycle Bin" option.

In the Recycle Bin window, locate and click on the "Empty Recycle Bin" option.
This option is usually located at the top of the window.

Confirm the action by clicking "Yes" or "OK" when prompted.

A confirmation dialog box will appear.
Click on the "Yes" or "OK" button to confirm the action.

Wait for the process to complete, which may take some time.

The process of emptying the Recycle Bin may take a few moments.
Wait for the process to complete before proceeding.

Close the Recycle Bin window when finished.

Once the process is complete, you can close the Recycle Bin window.
Click on the "X" button in the top-right corner of the window to close it.

Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop

Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
Right-click on the icon to open a context menu.

Select the "Empty Recycle Bin" option from the drop-down menu

In the context menu, locate and hover over the "Empty Recycle Bin" option.
Click on the option when it is highlighted to initiate the emptying process.

If prompted, confirm the action by clicking "Yes" or "OK"

If a confirmation dialog box appears, click on the "Yes" or "OK" button to confirm the action.
This step may be necessary depending on your system settings.

Monitor the progress of the file deletion process

The system will display a progress bar or status indicator.
Observe the progress to ensure that the file deletion process is complete.

Once the process is complete, close the Recycle Bin window

When the file deletion process is finished, you can close the Recycle Bin window.
Click on the "X" button in the top-right corner of the window to close it.

Verifying Clean-Up

Open the Disk Cleanup utility again as mentioned in Section 2.

Verify that the "Temporary files" option shows no significant space.

Open the Disk Cleanup utility again as mentioned in Section 2.
Check the "Temporary files" option to see if it is empty or has very little space occupied.

Check the browser's history or temporary files to ensure they are empty.

Open the browser's settings or preferences.
Navigate to the history or temporary files section.
Verify that the history or temporary files are empty.

Confirm that the Recycle Bin is empty.

Open the Recycle Bin on the desktop.
Verify that there are no files or folders present in the Recycle Bin.

Check the system's performance to ensure that it has improved after cleaning the temporary files

Observe the overall performance of the system.
Check if there is any noticeable improvement in speed or responsiveness.

Run a full system scan using an antivirus software to ensure that no malware or viruses are present

Open the installed antivirus software.
Run a full system scan.
Check the scan results to ensure that no malware or viruses are detected.

Check the available disk space on the C drive to ensure that it has increased after cleaning the temporary files

Open the File Explorer.
Navigate to the C drive.
Check the available disk space and compare it to the previous value.

Restart the computer to ensure that all changes are properly applied and that the system functions normally

Click on the Start menu.
Select the Power option.
Choose Restart.
Wait for the computer to restart and boot up.

Test the internet connection to ensure that it is working properly after reconnecting to the internet

Open a web browser.
Navigate to a website.
Check if the webpage loads properly and there is a stable internet connection.

Check the functionality of any specific programs or applications that were experiencing issues before cleaning the temporary files

Open the programs or applications that were experiencing issues.
Check if the issues are resolved and if the programs or applications are functioning properly.

Make a note or record the date and time of the clean-up for future reference

Open a text editor or a note-taking application.
Record the date and time of the clean-up for future reference.

Reconnecting to the Internet

Reconnect to the internet by enabling Wi-Fi or connecting the Ethernet cable.

Open your web browser and ensure you have a stable internet connection.

Test various websites to confirm successful connectivity.

Note: It's always recommended to double-check all the steps and be cautious while deleting files.

Check for any software updates or security patches that may be required for a stable internet connection

Clear your browser cache and cookies to ensure a smooth browsing experience

Disable any proxy servers or VPNs that may be interfering with your internet connection

Run a speed test to ensure that your internet connection is functioning at an optimal level

Check for any browser extensions or add-ons that may be causing issues with your internet connection and disable them if necessary

Restart your computer to ensure that any changes made during the cleaning process are fully implemented

Contact your internet service provider if you continue to experience connectivity issues after following these steps