How To Delete Windows Update Files

The size of the folder where windows update files are stored is becoming aconcern nigh users. The largest consumer of disc infinite on Windows Clients are all the outdated and redundant files installed in the Component Store are stored in the WinSxS directory. If yous are wondering if it is rubber to delete windows update cache files or clean upwardly windows updates that you do not need whatsoever more on your computer, our first suggestion is: Delete windows update files should be usedONLYas a last resort for the reason that it is not generally recommended to manually alter any contents on the C:\Windows drive. Inorth conclusion, pcharter use this fix at your own gamble only after you accept gone through all other options to get the Windows Updates to apply successfully. If your Windows Update is non working properly or not working at all or if you lot detect that the size of this folder has really grown large, then you tin consider deleting the Software Distribution folder in Windows 10/8/7.

Where is the location for windows 7 and windows 10 update files? Their location in windows 7 and windows x can be institute on the following path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Delete windows update files

And so how do we cleanup clean windows update and delete or reset Windows Update files and history? Nosotros are presenting today the manually method and the automated 1:

Delete windows update files manually (Windows 7 / 10)

Stop the Windows update service before we tin can clear the update cache. To practice that, search for "Services" in the Start menu and open it. If y'all are using your system as a standard user, then open up information technology as an administrator using the right-click bill of fare.

Run every bit ambassador Windows Services
In one case the Services window has been opened, find the service "Windows Update," right-click on it and and so select the option "Stop." This action stops the Windows update service

Stop Windows Update Service
After stopping the service, press "Win + R," enter the below path and press the Enter button. This is the binder where Windows stores all the files related to Windows updates.C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\

Open up SoftwareDistribution Folder
Once you are in this folder, open the "Download" binder, select all the files in information technology and merely press the Delete key on your keyboard to delete all the files. Y'all might be prompted for administrator permissions; simply click on the "Continue" button to consummate the process.
Open the Services window once again and commencement the "Windows Update service again by right-clicking on it and so select the option "Offset."

Delete windows update files automatically (Windows 7 / ten)

If you want to skip all the manually steps mentioned you can merely create a .bat or .cmd script to automatically delete windows update files. Open east new text file, copy the following commands and paste. After that, salvage the text file as .bat or .cmd. Do non forget to run the script equally administrator:

net stop wuauserv

rmdir %windir%\softwaredistribution /s /q

regsvr32 /southward wuaueng.dll

regsvr32 /southward wuaueng1.dll

regsvr32 /s atl.dll

regsvr32 /s wups.dll

regsvr32 /s wups2.dll

regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll

regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll

cyberspace starting time wuauserv

Windows Update Cleanup

Windows Update Cleanup Procedure Manually (Windows vii / ten)

1. Click on Starting time – Get To My Estimator – Select Arrangement C – Right click and and so select Deejay Cleanup
  
  Run Disk Cleanup
2. Deejay Cleanup scans and calculates how much infinite yous will exist able to free on that drive
  
  Disk Cleanup Running
3. Later on that, yous need to select Windows Update Cleanup and press OK
  
  Delete windows update files
4. If nothing is institute for Windows Update Cleanup to perform, it will not show up as an choice. Subsequently performing that, y'all may non be able to uninstall whatsoever of the updates currently applied. However, if y'all need to coil back to a previous version, you tin can however manually apply the previous version of the update. If you highlight Windows Update Cleanup, you're presented with the following details
  
  Windows Warning almost Windows Updates
When you click ok, Disk Cleanup runs and cleans up the unnecessary files on your machine. You tin can see it running the Windows Update Cleanup as part of this below

The process will start so you lot need to wait. If you bank check into the Task Manager – Processes you will discover: cleanmgr.exe started. After the whole process is finished you need to restart your PC. You will be not prompted to reboot. Nevertheless, when you lot next reboot, yous'll see Windows configuring Windows updates on shutdown and Cleaning up on startup. Information technology might accept a while so don't panic! The larger the cleanup, the longer it volition accept.

Windows Update Cleanup

Configuring Windows Updates
Windows Update Cleanup Automatically (Windows 7 / 10)

With this method y'all volition be able to automate the whole process mentioned above, for example when y'all have let's say 100-200 users.

If you lot want to use the whole procedure automatically for all your PC in your domain y'all need to use PsTools: PsExec.exe. Below you tin can find all the steps:
- Copy the Clean-up .bat script mentioned to a higher place in every PC in your domain using SCCM. You can copy it into D drive.
@repeat on

echo Config cleanmgr flag 5100.

%SystemRoot%\System32\reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Update Cleanup" /5 StateFlags0011 /t REG_DWORD /d 0x2 /f > d:\log1.txt

%systemroot%\System32\cleanmgr.exe /sagerun:11 > d:\log2.txt
- Open CMD as Ambassador and run:
PsExec.exe @cleanup_list.txt >>cleanup_list_log.txt -c D:\PSTools\CleanUp_Update_V1.3.bat

cleanup_list.txt: List with all PC in you domain.

cleanup_list_log.txt: The log created later the run

D:\PSTools\CleanUp_Update.bat Clean-up script copied before on all PC