Full Temp folder triggers Low Disk Space error in Windows 11

If you used Disk Cleanup to free up space on your device and then see a Low Disk Space error due to your Temp folder filling up with application (.appx) files that are used by Microsoft Store on Windows 11/10. In this post, we will offer the steps you can take to clear the Temp folder of .appx files so that you can regain storage space on your Windows 10 computer.

A temp directory or temporary folder is a directory on a storage medium, such as on a hard drive, used to store temporary files. Commonly, this directory is named TEMP and may contain files ending with .tmp.

AppX is the application distribution file format. Files with an APPX extension are basically an application package ready for distribution and installation.

Traditional computer applications have relied on clunky installers called wizards to sort out and set up the components of a program, but this paradigm does not work well across multiple mobile platforms. The AppX approach is particularly effective for distributing applications suited for multiple devices, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

Full Temp folder with .appx files triggers Low Disk Space error in Windows 11/10

If you’re faced with this Low Disk Space problem, you’ll need to follow the below methods to fix the issue.

Reset Microsoft Store and run Windows Store troubleshooter
Clear the Store cache
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Let’s get into the details of each method.

1] Reset Microsoft Store and run Windows Store troubleshooter

To reset the Microsoft Store on Windows 11, open the Settings app. Click on the Apps tab and select Installed apps. Scroll down and find System components under Related settings. You will see Microsoft Store in the list of System components. Click on the three-dot button beside it and select Advanced options. Scroll down to the Reset section and click on Reset.

To run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter on Windows 10 to reset the Microsoft Store, do the following:

Select Start >Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
Then scroll down and select Windows Store Apps from the list,
Select Run the troubleshooter.

2] Clear the Store cache

To clear the Microsoft Store cache, do the following:

Press the Windows Logo Key + R to open the Run dialog box
In the Run dialog box, type wsreset.exe and hit Enter.

A blank Command Prompt window will open, and after about ten seconds the window will close and the Store will open automatically.

3] Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

To run the Windows Update troubleshooter on Windows 11,

Open the Settings app
Select the System tab and click on Troubleshoot
Click on Other troubleshooters
Now, click on Run beside Windows Update to run the troubleshooter

To run the Windows Update Troubleshooter on Windows 10, do the following:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
Then scroll down and select Windows Update from the list.
Select Run the troubleshooter.

Reboot your computer and see if you are still experiencing the Low Disk Space issue.

Also read: Temporary files not deleting in Windows 11/10

How to fix low disk space in Windows 11?

When you see a low disk space error on Windows 11, in that case, you need to clear the temporary files, delete non-essential files, remove unwanted programs, and use features like Storage Sense, Cleanup recommendations, change where the files are being saved, move your personal files to external hard drives, or upload them to cloud storage.

Why are my temporary files taking up so much space?

Temporary files are common on Windows 11/10 PCs. If they are taking up so much space on your PC, see what programs are resulting in more of temporary files and uninstall them if they’re not useful to you. If you use heavy programs like Adobe products, you need to upgrade your hard disk to make space for its temporary files.