Windows 11 updates can consume a significant amount of storage, sometimes up to 15GB. Each time an update becomes available, Windows downloads and stores the necessary files for installation. Even after the update is installed, old files are retained for rollback purposes. This can quickly take up disk space, so it’s a good idea to periodically clear the update cache to free up storage on your computer.
1. Manually Clear the Update Cache
Clearing the update cache manually is straightforward, especially if you’re not comfortable using tools or command lines. Here’s how to do it:
1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type `services.msc` and press Enter.
2. Find Windows Update Service and double-click on it.
3. In the Windows Update Properties, click Stop.
4. Press Windows Key + R again and paste the following path, then click OK:
`C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download`
5. In the SoftwareDistribution folder, press CTRL + A to select all files. Right-click and choose Delete.
6. After deleting the files, empty the Recycle Bin.
7. Open the Run dialog again by pressing Windows Key + R, type `services.msc`, and press Enter.
8. Find Windows Update Service and double-click on it, then click Start to restart the service.
2. Clear Update Cache Using Disk Cleanup Tool
You can also use the Disk Cleanup tool in Windows 11 to clear the update cache. Follow these steps:
1. In the Windows 11 search bar, type Disk Cleanup and open the app from the search results.
2. When the Disk Cleanup tool opens, click Clean up system files.
3. Uncheck all other options and check Windows Update Cleanup.
4. Click OK.
5. On the confirmation prompt, select Delete Files.
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3. Clear Windows Update Cache Using Command Prompt
If you’re comfortable with command-line tools, you can use Command Prompt to clear the Windows Update Cache. Here’s how:
1. In the search bar, type CMD, right-click the Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
2. In the Command Prompt, execute the following commands to stop the Windows Update services:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
3. Navigate to the update cache folder by executing:
cd %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
4. To delete the update cache, run the following command:
del /f /s /q *.*
5. After clearing the cache, restart the Windows Update services by running:
net start wuauserv
net start bits
4. Create a Script to Clear Windows Update Cache
If you want an easier way to clear the update cache, you can create a batch script. This will allow you to run the necessary commands automatically whenever you need to free up disk space.
1. Open Notepad on your Windows 11 PC.
2. Copy and paste the following script into Notepad:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
cd %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
del /f /s /q .
net start wuauserv
net start bits
3. Go to File > Save.
4. In the Save As window, select Desktop. Enter a name for your file and add `.bat` to the end (e.g., `ClearUpdateCache.bat`). In the Save as type drop-down, select All Files and click Save.
5. A batch file will be created on your desktop. To run it, right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
By following these methods, you can easily clear the Windows Update cache and free up valuable disk space on your computer. Learn more
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