TFC

TFC (Temp File Cleaner) was a small utility that cleared out temp folders for all user accounts — temp, browser caches, Java, and system temp directories — across every profile on a Windows machine. It showed the amount removed for each location and required a reboot afterward.

The original 2009 version of this page recommended TFC for routine maintenance. TFC is no longer maintained and is not suitable for Windows 8.1, 10, or 11. On modern systems it can destabilize things by force-stopping Explorer and other running apps.

What to use instead

For temp-file cleanup on current Windows releases, use the built-in tools described in Cleanup Windows Hard Disk:

• Settings → System → Storage → Temporary files — the modern, recommended way
• Storage Sense — automatic cleanup on a schedule
• Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr) — the classic tool, still available

These cover the same ground TFC did — temp files, browser caches, Windows Update leftovers — without killing running applications or requiring a reboot.

Historical note

TFC only cleaned temp folders. It did not clean URL history, prefetch, or cookies. Depending on how often someone cleaned their temp folders, their system hardware, and how many accounts were present, it could take anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or more. Be sure to save any unsaved work before running any cleanup tool.

If you are still on Windows 7 or earlier and want a third-party temp cleaner, look for a tool that explicitly supports your OS version and has been updated recently. For Windows 10 and 11, the built-in Storage tools are all you need.

Download

Kept for reference. Be sure to save any unsaved work before running TFC, and only use it on the older Windows versions it supports.

TFC.exe [438 KB]