Edit

%TEMP% folder that includes the logon session ID is deleted unexpectedly

  • Article

This article provides workarounds for an issue where the %TEMP% folder that includes the logon session ID is deleted in Windows Server with Desktop Experience installed.

Applies to:   Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019
Original KB number:   4506040

Symptoms

In Windows Server that has Desktop Experience installed, the %TEMP% folder that includes the session ID is deleted if you remain logged on to the computer for more than seven days. Therefore, some applications that have to access %TEMP% don't work correctly after that time.

To determine the %TEMP% folder path and verify that the folder was deleted, run the following commands. Example output is shown.

C:\Users\Administrator>set TEMP
TEMP=C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\1

C:\Users\Administrator>dir %TEMP%
Volume in drive C has no label.

Volume Serial Number is C861-D3EF

Directory of C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp

File Not Found

You don't experience the issue in the following scenarios:

  • The %TEMP% folder isn't included the logon session ID. For example, C:\Users\<User Account>\AppData\Local\Temp.
  • %TEMP% folder isn't empty.
  • Nobody logs on to the server, or any user session is ended within seven days.

%TEMP% folder is deleted by SilentCleanup (cleanmgr.exe) or Storage Sense (storsvc.exe)

This behavior is by design.

The %TEMP% folder is deleted by the SilentCleanup task (cleanmgr.exe) when the logon session exceeds seven days. SilentCleanup is scheduled daily together with Automatic Maintenance.

When Storage Sense (storsvc.exe) is enabled, the %TEMP% folder may be deleted. Storage Sense is disabled by default, but it may be enabled when the C drive runs out of free space.

To work around this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Remove %TEMP% entry from Folder value (recommended) or modify the LastAccess value.
  2. Disable Storage Sense (if Storage Sense is enabled).
  3. Disable low free disk space warning.
  4. Disable Storage Sense by using Group Policy (Windows Server 2022 only).

Step 1: Remove %TEMP% entry from Folder value or modify LastAccess value

Remove %TEMP% entry (recommended)

  1. Open Registry Editor. Select Start > Run, type regedit, and then select OK.

  2. Locate and then select the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Temporary Files

  3. Right-click Folder, and then select Modify.

  4. In the Value data box, delete the %TEMP% entry, and then select OK. For example:

    Value before editing:

    %TEMP%|%WINDIR%\Temp|%WINDIR%\Logs|%WINDIR%\System32\LogFiles

    Value after editing:

    %WINDIR%\Temp|%WINDIR%\Logs|%WINDIR%\System32\LogFiles

  5. Exit Registry Editor.

Note

After you make this configuration, you must manually delete the %TEMP% folder to avoid exhausting free space.

You can also modify the LastAccess value alternatively.

Modify the LastAccess value

Note

For Windows Server 2019, install April cumulative update first, and then follow these steps.

  1. Open Registry Editor. Select Start > Run, type regedit, and then select OK.

  2. Locate and then select the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Temporary Files

  3. Right-click LastAccess, and then select Modify.

  4. In the Value data box, type a value in days. The default value is 7. The maximum value that can be set is the number of days from January 1, 1601 to the present.

  5. Exit Registry Editor.

Note

After you make this configuration, the LastAccess value controls the period during which cleanmgr.exe deletes files in all temporary folders. If the LastAccess value is set too high, this may exhaust free space.

In addition to the cleanmgr.exe settings, make the following settings for Storage Sense.

Note

After you make the configuration for Storage Sense, be careful not to run out of free space on the C drive.

Step 2: Disable Storage Sense (if Storage Sense is enabled)

  1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Storage.
  2. Turn off Storage Sense.
  3. Exit Settings.

Step 3: Disable low free disk space warning

When the C drive runs out of free disk space, Storage Sense may be enabled. You can disable low free disk space warning by using the following steps:

  1. Open Registry Editor. Select Start > Run, type regedit, and select OK.

  2. Locate and select the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  3. Go to Edit, and select New > DWORD Value.

  4. Enter NoLowDiskSpaceChecks and press Enter.

  5. Right-click the NoLowDiskSpaceChecks value, and select Modify.

  6. Type 1 in the Value data box and select OK.

  7. Close Registry Editor.

  8. Restart the computer.

Step 4: Disable Storage Sense by using Group Policy (Windows Server 2022 only)

For Windows Server 2022, you also need to disable Storage Sense by using Group Policy as follows:

  1. Open Group Policy Editor. Select Start > Run, type gpedit.msc, and select OK.

  2. Locate the following policy:

    Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Storage Sense

  3. Edit the Allow Storage Sense policy to Disabled.

  4. Close Group Policy Editor.

Reference

For more information about Storage Sense, see Manage drive space with Storage Sense.