How To Clear Windows Update Cache

Windows updates are crucial for keeping your system secure and running smoothly. However, over time, these updates can leave behind gigabytes of temporary files, cluttering your storage and potentially causing performance issues. The culprit? The Windows Update cache.

The good news is that clearing the Windows Update cache is a simple process with several methods available. Here, we’ll explore three effective ways to reclaim valuable disk space and potentially resolve update-related problems.

Method 1: Disk Cleanup

This built-in tool offers a user-friendly way to clear various temporary files, including the Windows Update cache.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type clean and hit Enter
3. Select the drive you want to clean (usually C:) and click OK.
4. Wait for Disk Cleanup to scan your system.
5. Under Files to be deleted, check the boxes for Temporary Windows installation files and Windows upgrade log files. These are the key components of the Windows Update cache.
6. Click Clean up system files.
7. Select the drive again and click OK.
8. Check the boxes for Temporary Windows installation files and Windows update cleanup.
9. Click OK and wait for the cleanup process to finish.

Method 2: Storage Sense

This newer tool in Windows 10 and 11 automates disk space management, including clearing temporary files like the Windows Update cache.

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage.
2. Click on Free up space now.
3. Wait for Storage Sense to scan your system.
4. Expand Temporary files and check the box for Windows Update cleanup.
5. Click Remove files.

Method 3: Command Prompt

For tech-savvy users, the command prompt offers a more direct approach to clearing the Windows Update cache.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type the following command and press Enter :net stop bits
3. This stops the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), which manages Windows updates.
4. Now, navigate to the Windows Update cache folder:

Download

1. Delete all the files and folders within the Download folder:
2. Finally, restart the BITS service: net start bits

Conclusion

Clearing the Windows Update cache is a simple yet effective way to reclaim disk space and potentially resolve update-related issues. Choose the method that best suits your comfort level and keep your system running smoothly. Remember, it’s recommended to run this maintenance periodically to prevent the cache from accumulating and causing problems.