After you have installed all the pending updates, it is safe to delete all the files and folder under c. How to reduce the size of your winsxs folder on windows 7 or 8. Sep 19, 2019 go to the software distribution folder c. Folder windows\softwaredistribution\download january 2009. Windows\softwaredistribution folder cleanup automation. How to delete softwaredistribution folder from a windows 10 pc. Folder windows\softwaredistribution\download please note. The %windir%\ softwaredistribution \ download folder is automatically maintained by the wuagent. Rename or delete software distribution folder in windows 10. To delete the content inside the softwaredistribution folder, do the following.
Want to reduce winsxs folder size posted in windows 7. Rename or delete the software distribution folder in windows 108 7. There is a negative side when you delete your software distribution folder, though. Even if you delete files otherwise, they will get automatically. Now we can proceed with the deleting the contents of the software distribution folder. If you delete the whole folder, it will automatically be downloaded again, along with the files needed for windows update.
Rename or delete the software distribution folder in windows. How to clear the softwaredistribution folder on windows 10. The software distribution folder in windows 108 7 is located in the following location in file explorer. Please remember to be considerate of other members. Any problem in these folders can create issues regarding windows update. Rename or delete the software distribution folder in windows 10 8 7 1. This article explains how windows uses the softwaredistribution folder and covers cleaning the folder to help free up disk space. Is it safe to delete the sub folders in software distribution. The software distribution folder in the windows operating system is a folder in the windows directory. On your pc theres a folder called software distribution that stores temporary files during windows updates. There are mixed views across the board about deleting this folder, but my view is that if you stop automatic updates, delete the folder then restart automatic updates that works and has worked many time before for me. Feb 21, 2019 since the win10 anniversary update, i have a duplicate softwaredistribution folder on my b drive which is where i store all my files. The software distribution folder in windows 108 7 is situated in the c. How to delete softwaredistribution folder from a windows 10.
Mar 05, 2018 so while looking at the purpose of softwaredistribution you might be interested in knowing whether is it safe to delete this folder or can we rename softwaredistribution folder in windows 10 to some other name. Theres never a good reason to manipulate or delete files andor folders in there, unless you really have an issue with windows update. Open the command prompt as administrator, then run the following commands to restart the. First of, never ever delete the softwaredistribution folder. Oct 12, 2011 delete softwaredistribution folder, now asking for updates again hello, i have a question regarding windows updates and the folder softwaredistribution in windows folder. Just like softwaredistribution folder these folders contain many important windows update components. The temporary update files go to the softwaredistribution folder, in the download folder, sometimes this folder needs a cleanup. How to delete software distribution folder on windows 10. The software distribution folder in windows 108 7 is situated in the following location in file explorer. You can always rename the folder back to softwaredistribution by following the steps above and change the second line to rename c. This means that every windows update you install increases the size of your winsxs folder.
How to clear the softwaredistribution folder on windows. All the files in the softwaredistribution should be deleted. Do not post advertisements, offensive materials, profanity, or personal attacks. This can be caused by some update files being downloaded and become corrupt. How to delete or rename software distribution folder on. You can delete the softwaredistribution folder, the contents of the eventcache folder, and the. You wont be able to get rid of files that are in use. Softwaredistribution folder delete in windows tek eye.
Type in net stop wuauserv without the quotes and press enter. Windows update fails after messing with softwaredistribution. When this happens, all you need to do is restart your computer. How to delete windows update files windows 7 10 the size of the folder where windows update files are stored is becoming a concern about u sers. This command will start the cryptographic services again. Click start, click run, and type cmd without the quotes and press enter. However, if you have an issue with a stuck windows updates, then deleting this folder can often resolve those problems.
What is software distribution folder and how to delete or. Oct 12, 2015 c windows softwaredistribution datastore. The largest consumer of disc space on windows clients are all the outdated and redundant files installed in the component store are stored in the winsxs directory. If you dont want to delete the content inside of the folder, you can alternatively, rename the folder to troubleshoot windows update problems. Software distribution folder resetrenameempty like a boss software distribution folder contains all the downloaded updates and if it messed up with several incomplete downloaded items, it refuses to sync with microsoft server and doesnt allow you to update your windows 1087. Delete softwaredistribution folderfix windows update error. Ive never had a problem deleting the contents of this folder, but i just realized that the disk cleanup wizard, even if i set it to delete windows update files, doesnt touch it. Cleanup of software distribution folder alt it consulting. In this windows 10 guide, well walk you through the steps to delete the content inside the softwaredistribution folder.
On occasion windows updates fail and refuse to install some updates. On my computer is size is around 1 mb, but its size. I noticed that every day files get added to the cdrive under c. Verify that the new software distribution folder created when you restart the update service is approxiamtely. Delete corrupt windows update folder windows forum spiceworks. Rename or delete the software distribution folder in windows 1087. Id love to clear this space, as its a lot when im running a 128 ssd as my windows drive. How to delete software distribution folder on windows 10 youtube. When deep cleaning windows to recover disk space, performing a softwaredistribution folder cleanup is one task that may help. Because, when windows doesnt find this folder, it will automatically create a new one. After deleting catroot2 folder contents, type the below given command and hit enter key. The software distribution folder in windows 1087 is situated in the following. Solved wsus software distribution folder wont delete. Once youve rebooted, you can go back to the softwaredistribution folder to delete its contents.
If all of the updates have been installed successfully, then you can either wait another week and that folder will clean itself up, or you can delete the contents of the \windows\softwaredistribution\download folder but frankly, i dont think freeing up 1. It contained the folder download taking almost 2 gb of space. Mar 05, 2018 how to delete softwaredistribution folder in windows 10. If windows update isnt working, it could be caused by a problem with the softwaredistribution folder, and here well show you how. The softwaredistribution folder is where automatic updates are stored. As an alternative option, well also show you the steps to rename the folder. If you only want to remove cached updates, do not delete it, and utilize one of the methods below. There is the regular softwaredistribution folder under c. I have had my windows 7 64bit installation for a while now, and i have a problem, that is the winsxs folder is taking up.
Go back to services window, then rightclick windows update and then select start. Yes, it is safe to delete, but the next time when windows checks for updates, it will. To get regular windows update, both the catroot2 and catroot folders are important. Is it safe to delete files under microsoft community. Jun 26, 2018 scroll down and look for softwaredistribution folder then rightclick it and then select delete. Microsoft windows operating system use softwaredistribution folder to download and manage the updates applicable to your os and applications. Clean up the softwaredistribution folder in windows to free up disk space.
Its useful to delete the contents of the folder when windows updates is. How to delete windows update files windows 7 10 get it. The winsxs folder contains every operating system file. How to delete the software distribution folder on windows 10. Actually, its safe to delete files found in the software distribution folder, so long as it has already done its job with windows update. Apr 08, 2007 if you are talking abou the softwaredistribution folder that is in c. Rebooting will start the two services we stopped, but if you dont want. As you can see, your software distribution folder was c. You may want to delete software distribution folder. Can i safely delete the \windows\softwaredistribution folder.
It is located in the windows directory, where it temporarily stores files used for updating windows software. Since the win10 anniversary update, i have a duplicate softwaredistribution folder on my b drive which is where i store all my files. Rename or delete the software distribution folder in. How to clear the softwaredistribution folder on windows 10 and. You will have to shut down windows updates then restart the computer, so you can delete everything. If ever you are not able to delete some files, it may be in use. Stop the windows update service and background intelligent transfer services open a elevated command prompt and type. Software distribution folder resetrenameempty like a boss. Now go back to automatic updates properties window and start the service after the service is started a new softwaredistribution directory is created and now you can delete. How to rename or delete software distribution folder on windows. If this happens you can delete or rename the folder and it will be recreated in the same location.
Restart your device and do the steps again in order to delete all files. When windows installs updates, it drops the new windows component in the winsxs folder and keeps the old component in the winsxs folder. If you delete this folder, it will automatically be recreated next time windows updates check for updates. Apr 29, 2020 and generally, wuagent windows update agent manages this folder. In windows 7 and windows 810, there is a new folder under c. It also stores older versions of all dll and component files and can grow to be quite large. Under typical situations, you should leave this folder alone. Open your windows command prompt in admin mode run as admin and there enter the following commands one by one which will eventually stop the windows update service and the background intelligent transfer service. If you have renamed the folder to something like softwaredistribution. You can delete the folder doing the following steps.
Of course, you can open the folder and clear out its contents manually. Feb 15, 2019 safe to delete softwaredistribution folder, windows 10 delete softwaredistribution folder, softwaredistribution bak delete, softwaredistribution or softwaredistribution. Delete or rename software distribution folder on windows. On the offchance that the datastore and the download folder get desynchronized, it may be necessary onetimeonly to delete any content in the download folder that is over 10 days old. I think this, coupling with the fact that ive tried to do a lot of fixes to make. You can also use this method to reduce space used on your servers.
505 242 852 430 610 1140 37 1048 314 1086 1488 812 1221 1077 1036 1490 286 1487 1079 639 912 967 253 28 509 1340 4 1017 226 326 1390 73