Games Won't Start After Deleting the Temp Folder

January 27, 2026 3 answers
Asked by CuriousGamer87
I accidentally deleted the Temp folder in the %localappdata% directory after reading about cleaning temporary files. Now my games won't start, and I'm really not sure how to fix this. Can anyone help me understand what went wrong and how I can get my games working again? Thanks!

Answers

TechSavvy101
It sounds like you've deleted more than just temporary files. Those folders can contain important data that games rely on to run properly. A good fix is to uninstall the games and then reinstall them to restore the missing files. Just be careful next time when cleaning out folders like that; they often have vital components for several apps to function correctly.
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TechieTom
I recommend being careful with CCleaner. They have had security issues in the past, and at one point, their installer had malware. The built-in Disk Cleanup tool in Windows is generally sufficient for cleaning temporary files. I managed to resolve my issue by recreating the Temp folderโ€”I learned that I should delete files inside it, not the folder itself!
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TroubleShooterX
Try rebooting your computer first; sometimes a simple restart can fix issues. If that doesnโ€™t work, you might need to perform a clean install of the games. For future cleaning, consider using tools like Disk Cleanup or CCleaner, but be cautiousโ€”certain folders are system-managed, and it's best not to delete things randomly.
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