Delete Temporary Files

This window shows the temporary folders and files created by 7-Zip in the user's "Temp" folder on a Windows system. The user can delete temporary files in this window.

This window can be opened from the 7-Zip menu Tools / Delete Temporary Files....

Typically, the current user's temporary folder in Windows has the following path:

C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Temp\

where user_name is the name of the current user.

7-Zip can create temporary folders in the "Temp" folder with the following names:

7zO{HEX_DIGITS} : (for example, 7zO6789ABCD) : 7-Zip creates such a temporary folder, and 7-Zip extracts the file to this folder, when the user opens an archive in 7-Zip and tries to open any file from the open archive. 7-Zip typically deletes this folder and temporary file, when the user closes the external program that was launched to open file extracted from the archive.
7zE{HEX_DIGITS} : (for example, 7zE6789ABCD) : 7-Zip creates such a temporary folder and extracts files from the archive into this folder when the user performs a drag-and-drop operation from an open archive in 7-Zip to Explorer. 7-Zip waits for Windows to copy the extracted files from the created temporary folder to the destination folder, and then 7-Zip deletes the temporary files and folder. Note: the folder 7zE{HEX_DIGITS} can be created also for some other 7-Zip operations.

In some cases 7-Zip doesn't delete temporary files automatically. Such case is possible if 7-Zip had to close the archive, when external application still works with open file extracted from this archive. Thus, such temporary files can take up space in the "Temp" folder indefinitely.

The "Delete Temporary Files" window shows all temporary folders created by 7-Zip in user's Temp folder. It shows only folders that use 7-Zip's name patterns such as 7zO{HEX_DIGITS} or 7zE{HEX_DIGITS}. Therefore, the "Delete Temporary Files" window does not display temporary folders and files, created by other programs (not 7-Zip).

If the list of folders in the window is empty, this means that there are no 7-Zip's temporary files. And you can close this window without additional actions.

If you see some folders in the list, you can check the displayed temporary folders and files.

Note : the value in column "Modified" indicates when the temporary folder was created. And you can evaluate at what point in time you performed certain operations with these files.

By default, the sort order of items in the list can be set to the column "Modified", but you can change the sort order by clicking the column names.

If some folder has only one sub-item (a folder or file inside another folder), 7-Zip shows the name of that sub-item in the "Name-2" column in the same row where it displays the folder name. For example, in one Name-2 column you can see the names of files opened inside different archives.

Note: It's possible that you had another copies of temporary files in you main archives. But it is also possible that some files have been changed. And the temporary copy may be different from your main copy inside the archive. You can compare Size and Modified timestamp values of the files.

If you want to copy some temporary files to another location, you can do this using Explorer or 7-Zip File Manager. You can select desired folder item or empty space in the list and use the context menu command which will open the selected folder or selected file in another program.

Context menu commands in the list of files:

Open Outside: opens the selected folder using Explorer or opens the selected file using Windows.
Open Outside : 7-Zip : opens the selected folder or selected file using another copy of 7-Zip File Manager.

If you are sure that you do not need some of the shown temporary files and folders, you can select them and delete them with the "Delete" button. Note that this command permanently deletes files. And these files will not be placed to Recycle Bin. Thus, you will not be able to recover these deleted files.

Note: If you have an open archive in the main 7-Zip window, and some file was opened from this open archive, and then you open "Delete Temporary Files" window, 7-Zip shows the temporary folder and files created for currently open archive. Do not delete temporary files related to the currently open archive, because 7-Zip can still use these temporary files.

Notes from this site

Not part of the 7-Zip manual. Written by this site; examples checked with 7-Zip 26.04.

Can I delete the 7zO and 7zE folders?

The vendor page says you can delete leftovers you no longer need: open Tools > Delete Temporary Files..., select them and press Delete. The window can be opened while an archive is open, but the folder for the archive that is currently open must not be deleted (see Common mistakes). The window lists only folders with 7-Zip's own name patterns, 7zO or 7zE plus hex digits, in your Temp folder (typically C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Temp\). 7-Zip normally removes these folders itself when you close the program that opened the file; leftovers remain if 7-Zip had to close the archive while that program still had the file open. This page applies to Windows only; the vendor text does not mention these folders for 7zz on Linux or macOS.

Before you delete

The Modified column is when the folder was created; sort by it to find old leftovers.

The Name-2 column shows the single file or folder inside, so you can tell which archive's file it was.

Compare Size and Modified with your copy in the archive: the temporary copy may be the only place an edit exists.

To keep a file, copy it out with Explorer or the File Manager first.

From a script

The manual describes only the Delete Temporary Files window and gives no command-line equivalent, and no script was run for this page, so none is published. The name patterns above (7zO or 7zE plus hex digits) are what the window uses to decide which folders are 7-Zip's.

Common mistakes

Deleting a copy you edited and never saved back into the archive: the delete is permanent and nothing goes to the Recycle Bin.

Deleting the folder of the archive that is open in the main window; 7-Zip may still use it.