Old Excel Temp Files Appearing When Copying Folder

Have you ever encountered a situation where you copy a folder in your computer, only to find old Excel temp files appearing in the copied folder? This can be quite frustrating, especially if you are not familiar with these temporary files and their purpose. In this article, we will explain why these files appear when copying a folder and how you can prevent them from showing up.

Understanding Excel Temporary Files

Before we delve into the issue at hand, let's first understand what Excel temporary files are and why they are created. When you work on an Excel file, the program automatically creates temporary files to store your changes. These temporary files have a .tmp extension and are usually hidden from view.

The purpose of these temporary files is to provide a backup in case Excel crashes or your computer unexpectedly shuts down. They allow you to recover your work and prevent data loss. Once you save and close the Excel file, these temporary files are typically deleted automatically.

The Issue: Old Excel Temp Files Appearing When Copying Folders

Now, let's address the issue you are facing. When you copy a folder that contains Excel files, you might notice that old Excel temporary files appear in the copied folder. This can happen for a few reasons:

1. File Explorer settings: By default, File Explorer in Windows is set to show hidden files and folders. Since Excel temporary files are hidden files, they become visible when you copy a folder.
2. Timing of the copy: If you copy a folder while Excel is still open and working on a file within that folder, the temporary files associated with that file may not have been deleted yet. As a result, they get copied along with the other files in the folder.

Preventing Old Excel Temp Files from Appearing

Now that we understand the cause of the issue, let's explore some solutions to prevent old Excel temporary files from appearing when copying folders:

1. Hide Hidden Files and Folders

The simplest solution is to change the File Explorer settings to hide hidden files and folders. Follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E.
2. Click on the "View" tab at the top of the window.
3. In the "Show/hide" section, uncheck the "Hidden items" box.

By hiding hidden files and folders, you won't see the Excel temporary files when copying folders.

2. Close Excel Before Copying

If you want to ensure that no temporary files are copied, make sure to close Excel before copying the folder. This will give Excel the opportunity to delete any temporary files associated with the files you were working on.

To close Excel:

1. Click on the "File" tab in Excel.
2. Select "Close" or use the keyboard shortcut Alt + F4.

Once Excel is closed, you can safely copy the folder without worrying about old temporary files appearing.

Old Excel temporary files appearing when copying folders can be a nuisance, but with the solutions provided in this article, you can easily prevent them from showing up. By hiding hidden files and folders or closing Excel before copying, you can ensure that only the necessary files are copied without any temporary files cluttering your folders.