C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download Taking Up Too Much Space: How to Deal with the Issue?

Question

Specfically this Folder [fa19a79487f317513ef8fb8c46ce8077], it takes up over 10GB.
What's its Purpose? When deleting, it will always come back and slows down everything.
How should regular users deal with this issue?

Answer 1

Hi @Jitjai

After you have installed all the pending updates, it is safe to delete all the files and folders under
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\

Stop the Update Service while you clean up the folder:

Enter net stop wuauserv into an elevated command prompt

Manually clean up C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\

Enter net start wuauserv into an elevated command prompt

As soon as the service starts again, some folders will be re-created. This is ok.

You will find that the folder size grows again over time.

I hope this answers your question.

Thanks.

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Answer 2

Hi,

Thank you for posting question to Microsoft Q&A forum.

The folder that you've mentioned stores Windows Update downloads that have been applied to your machine. Once all updates are installed, of course, you can stop Automatic Updates Services temporarily, delete the downloads folder, and restart those services.

But it is not recommended to delete the folder. Once you delete it, Windows Update will take longer than usual to detect and update your computer because the WUAgent must check and re-create the Datastore information. The next time you install new Windows Updates, it will take time to process and complete as the system of your computer will check the logs that supposed to be saved on those folders.

For your reference:
software distribution files that occupy a lot of space, can they be erased
Windows\SoftwareDistribution Folder Cleanup Automation
Help needed with C:\WINDOWS\Softwaredistribution taking up disk space

Best regards,

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