5 Ways To Find Excel Temporary Files Location

In the world of Microsoft Excel, temporary files can be a mystery to many users. These files are created by Excel to store data temporarily while a workbook is open, and they can be incredibly useful in certain situations. However, finding the location of these temporary files can be a daunting task. In this article, we will explore five ways to find the location of Excel temporary files.

Temporary files in Excel are used to store data that is not yet saved or is being processed. These files are usually deleted when the workbook is closed, but sometimes they can remain on your computer. Knowing the location of these temporary files can be helpful if you need to recover data from a corrupted workbook or if you want to delete unnecessary files to free up disk space.

Method 1: Using the Windows Temporary Files Folder

One way to find Excel temporary files is to look in the Windows temporary files folder. This folder is used by Windows to store temporary files created by various applications, including Excel. To access this folder, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type %temp% in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
3. In the Temp folder, look for files with the .tmp or .xlsb extension. These files are likely to be Excel temporary files.

Method 2: Using the Excel Options Dialog Box

Another way to find the location of Excel temporary files is to use the Excel Options dialog box. This method is specific to Excel and allows you to view the location of temporary files for the current workbook. To access the Excel Options dialog box, follow these steps:

1. Open Excel and click on the File tab.
2. Click on Options to open the Excel Options dialog box.
3. In the Excel Options dialog box, click on the Advanced tab.
4. Scroll down to the "General" section and look for the "Temporary files" option.
5. Click on the "Temporary files" option to view the location of temporary files for the current workbook.

Method 3: Using the Windows Registry

The Windows Registry is a database that stores settings and options for Windows and installed applications, including Excel. You can use the Windows Registry to find the location of Excel temporary files. To access the Windows Registry, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options
4. Look for the "TempFiles" value in the right-hand pane. This value specifies the location of temporary files for Excel.

Method 4: Using the Command Prompt

You can also use the Command Prompt to find the location of Excel temporary files. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
3. In the Command Prompt, type the following command: echo %temp%
4. Press Enter to execute the command. This will display the location of the temporary files folder.

Method 5: Using a Third-Party Tool

Finally, you can use a third-party tool to find the location of Excel temporary files. There are several tools available that can help you locate temporary files, including CCleaner and Temp File Cleaner. These tools can scan your computer for temporary files and provide you with a list of files that can be deleted.

Gallery of Excel Temporary Files

We hope this article has helped you find the location of Excel temporary files. Whether you're looking to recover data from a corrupted workbook or simply want to free up disk space, knowing the location of temporary files can be incredibly useful. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.

Gallery of 5 Ways To Find Excel Temporary Files Location