Temporary files (tmpclaude-*-cwd) created in project directory instead of scratchpad
Resolved 💬 2 comments Opened Jan 14, 2026 by fernandoxavier02 Closed Feb 27, 2026
Description
Claude Code creates temporary files with pattern tmpclaude-*-cwd in the user's project working directory instead of the designated scratchpad directory.
Current Behavior
When running Claude Code, files like tmpclaude-fe6b-cwd, tmpclaude-5204-cwd, etc. are created in:
- Project root directory (e.g.,
d:\Rhema App\) - Subdirectories where bash commands are executed (e.g.,
d:\Rhema App\functions\)
These files accumulate over time (100+ files in my case) and clutter the project directory.
Expected Behavior
These temporary files should be created in the scratchpad directory that Claude Code already defines:
- Windows:
%TEMP%\claude\{project-hash}\{session-id}\scratchpad\ - Example:
C:\Users\win\AppData\Local\Temp\claude\d--Rhema-App\0e2459b9-3549-4685-b4b1-5e1e8810abdc\scratchpad
Workaround
Currently mitigated by:
- Adding
tmpclaude-*-cwdto.gitignore - Manually deleting files:
rm -f tmpclaude-*-cwd
Environment
- OS: Windows 11
- Claude Code: Latest version (VSCode extension)
Impact
- Clutters project directory
- Confuses users who see unknown files appearing
- Files not automatically cleaned up between sessions
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