Where Audacity stores temporary files and why you might move them

Audacity creates temporary files while you work — copies of audio as you edit, undo history, and recovery data. By default, these files go into a system folder that Windows or macOS manages, usually buried several folders deep. If your main drive is running low on space, or if you have a second drive that's faster or has more room, you can tell Audacity to put those temporary files somewhere else instead.

Moving the temp directory is useful when your main drive is nearly full and you're working with long audio files. A single hour of stereo audio can create several gigabytes of temporary data while you're editing. If Audacity runs out of space mid-project, it will crash or freeze rather than warn you first.

Key Takeaways

  • Audacity stores temporary files in a hidden system folder by default, which you can change through the Preferences menu.
  • The temp directory should be on a drive with at least 10 to 20 gigabytes of free space if you work with long audio files.
  • You can point Audacity to an external drive, a second internal drive, or any folder you have permission to write to.
  • After you change the setting, close and reopen Audacity for the change to take effect on new projects.
  • Existing temporary files in the old location will not move automatically — you can delete them manually once you confirm Audacity is using the new folder.

How to change the temp directory in Audacity on Windows

Open Audacity and go to the menu bar. Click Transport, then scroll down to Preferences (or press Ctrl+comma). The Preferences window will open with a list of categories on the left side.

Look for Directories in the category list and click it. You will see a section labeled Temporary Files with a folder path and a button that says Choose. Click the Choose button. A file browser window will open. Navigate to the folder where you want Audacity to store temporary files — this could be a second hard drive, an external drive, or any folder on your computer that you have write permission for.

Once you have selected the folder, click Open or Select Folder (the button name varies by Windows version). The path will appear in the Preferences window. Click OK at the bottom of the Preferences window to save the change. Close Audacity completely and reopen it for the new setting to take effect.

How to change the temp directory in Audacity on macOS

Open Audacity and click the Audacity menu in the top menu bar (not the File menu). Select Preferences. The Preferences window will open with a list of categories on the left.

Click Directories in the category list. Under the Temporary Files section, you will see a folder path and a button labeled Choose. Click Choose. A file browser will appear. Navigate to the folder where you want temporary files stored — this can be on an external drive, a second internal drive, or any folder you have permission to write to.

Select the folder and click Open. The path will update in the Preferences window. Click OK to save the change. Quit Audacity completely (Command+Q) and reopen it. The new temporary directory will be active on your next project.

Choosing the right location for your temp folder

The best location for temporary files is a drive with plenty of free space — ideally at least 10 to 20 gigabytes available, depending on the length and number of audio files you work with. If you have a second internal drive, that is often faster than an external USB drive. An external drive works, but USB 2.0 connections are slower than USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt, and slower temp storage can make Audacity feel sluggish when you undo or redo edits.

Avoid putting temporary files on a network drive or a cloud-synced folder like Dropbox or OneDrive. Audacity writes to temp files constantly while you work, and network delays or sync conflicts can cause crashes or data loss. A local drive — whether internal or external — is always safer.

If you are using an external drive, make sure it stays connected while you work. If Audacity cannot reach the temp folder mid-project, it will crash. Once you finish a project and export your final audio file, you can safely disconnect the drive.

Cleaning up old temporary files after you move the directory

When you change the temp directory, Audacity does not move the files that are already in the old location. Those old temporary files will sit there taking up space until you delete them manually. However, do not delete them when ready — wait a few days and work on a couple of projects with the new temp directory to make sure Audacity is using the new location correctly.

To find the old temporary files on Windows, open File Explorer and type %appdata%\Audacity in the address bar. Look for a folder called SessionData or Temp. On macOS, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and type ~/Library/process Support/Audacity. Look for a folder with a name like SessionData.

Once you have confirmed that Audacity is working smoothly with the new temp directory, you can delete the contents of the old temp folder. Right-click the folder and select Delete, or drag it to the Trash. This will free up space on your main drive.

What to do if Audacity cannot find the temp directory

If you move or delete the folder that Audacity is pointing to, Audacity will show an error message the next time you open it or try to save a project. The error will say something like "Could not find the temporary directory" or "Temporary files directory does not exist."

To fix this, open Preferences again (Transport > Preferences on Windows, or Audacity > Preferences on macOS), go to Directories, and click Choose next to Temporary Files. Select a new folder that exists and that you have permission to write to. Click OK and reopen Audacity. If the folder you chose is on an external drive, make sure the drive is plugged in before you start Audacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a USB flash drive for temporary files?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended. Flash drives are much slower than hard drives, and Audacity writes to temp files constantly while you edit. Using a flash drive will make Audacity feel slow and unresponsive. A second internal hard drive or an external drive connected via USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt is much better.

What happens to my projects if I change the temp directory?

Your saved Audacity projects (.aup3 files) are not affected. Only the temporary working files change location. If you have an unsaved project open when you change the setting, save it first, close Audacity, change the directory, and reopen Audacity.

Do I need to move the temp directory if I have plenty of disk space?

No. If your main drive has 50 gigabytes or more of free space and you work with audio files shorter than an hour, the default location is fine. Moving the temp directory is mainly useful when your main drive is nearly full or when you work with very long files.

Can I use a network drive or cloud folder for temporary files?

No. Network drives and cloud-synced folders like Dropbox or OneDrive are too slow and unreliable for Audacity's constant temp file writes. Audacity will crash or freeze if it cannot write to the temp folder quickly. Always use a local drive.