How to delete downloaded Windows Update files

1. Open the Windows Start menu and select "Computer."
2. Double-click the "C:" drive icon. ...
3. Scroll down the folder menu and double-click the "Software Distribution" folder.
4. Open the "Download" folder. ...
5. Answer "Yes" when the deletion confirmation dialog box appears to move the files to the Recycle Bin.

1. How do I delete Windows 10 update files?
2. Is it OK to delete Windows update files?
3. How do I delete downloaded Windows updates that failed to install?
4. Where are the Windows update files stored?
5. How do I manually clean Windows update files?
6. What happens if you delete everything in your Downloads folder?
7. What Windows files can I delete?
8. Is it safe to delete temp files Windows 10?
9. How do I clean up Windows system files?
10. How do I fix a failed Windows update?
11. How do I get rid of bad Windows updates?
12. Is it safe to delete software distribution folder?

How do I delete Windows 10 update files?

How to Delete Downloaded Windows Update Files in Windows 10

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Go to C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download. ...
3. Select all files of the folder(press the Ctrl-A keys).
4. Press the Delete key on the keyboard.
5. Windows may request for administrator privileges to delete those files.

Is it OK to delete Windows update files?

Windows Update Cleanup: When you install updates from Windows Update, Windows keeps older versions of the system files around. This allows you to uninstall the updates later. ... This is safe to delete as long as your computer is working properly and you don't plan on uninstalling any updates.

How do I delete downloaded Windows updates that failed to install?

Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download, and delete all contents. 3. Open CMD, and type in net stop wuauserv.
...
Replies (2) 

1. Search for Disk cleanup from the taskbar and select it from the list of results.
2. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of. ...
3. Select OK.

Where are the Windows update files stored?

By default, Windows will store any update downloads on to your main drive, this is where Windows is installed, in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. If the system drive is too full and you have a different drive with enough space, Windows will often try to use that space if it can.

How do I manually clean Windows update files?

Open the Recycle Bin on the desktop and right-click the Windows Update files you just deleted. Select "Delete" form the menu and click "Yes" to confirm you want to permanently remove the files form your computer if you are sure you no longer need them.

What happens if you delete everything in your Downloads folder?

What happens when you clear your downloads folder? One of the effects of clearing your downloads folder is that it clears up space on your computer. Downloading files takes up your computer's storage space. Clearing up your download folders creates more storage space for future file downloads.

What Windows files can I delete?

Now, let's look at what you can delete from Windows 10 safely.

• The Hibernation File. Location: C:\hiberfil.sys. ...
• Windows Temp Folder. Location: C:\Windows\Temp. ...
• The Recycle Bin. Location: shell:RecycleBinFolder. ...
• Windows. old Folder. ...
• Downloaded Program Files. ...
• LiveKernelReports. ...
• Rempl Folder.

Is it safe to delete temp files Windows 10?

The temp folder provides workspace for programs. Programs can create temporary files there for their own temporary use. ... Because it's safe to delete any temp files that aren't open and in use by an application, and since Windows won't let you delete open files, it's safe to (try to) delete them at any time.

How do I clean up Windows system files?

In the search box on the taskbar, type disk cleanup, and select Disk Cleanup from the list of results. Select the drive you want to clean up, and then select OK. Under Files to delete, select the file types to get rid of. To get a description of the file type, select it.

How do I fix a failed Windows update?

Methods to fix Windows Update failing errors

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter tool.
2. Restart Windows Update related services.
3. Run the System File Checker (SFC) scan.
4. Execute the DISM command.
5. Temporarily disable your antivirus.
6. Restore Windows 10 from a backup.

How do I get rid of bad Windows updates?

To uninstall a Feature Update, head to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and scroll down to Go Back to the Previous Version of Windows 10. Click the Get Started button to start the uninstallation process.

Is it safe to delete software distribution folder?

It is generally speaking safe to delete the contents of the Software Distribution folder, once all files required by it have been used for installing Windows Update. Even if you delete files otherwise, they will get automatically downloaded.