How To Delete Old Windows Update Files In Windows 11

Microsoft regularly updates the Windows 11 operating system to fix bugs, improve security, and add features. Windows 11, by default, automatically checks for updates and installs them whenever available in the background.

When Windows 11 downloads and installs new updates, it does not delete the previously downloaded update files. That is, older Windows Update files are preserved even after downloading and installing newer updates so that users can uninstall updates and go back to the previous ones if the latest updates are problematic.

Over time, older Windows Updates files can take up a significant amount of drive space. Cleaning up old Windows Updates files can free up a good amount of disk space.

The following are the two easy ways to delete old Windows Update files in Windows 11.

Method 1 of 2

Delete old Windows Update files via the Settings app in Windows 11

Step 1: Open the Settings app using search or any other method.

Step 2: On the left side, click System. Now, on the right side, click Storage.

Step 3: Here, in the Store Management section, click Cleanup recommendations.

Step 4: Click Temporary files to view available cleanup recommendations. Here, click the See advanced options link to see all cleanup recommendations.

Step 5: Finally, select the Windows Update Cleanup recommendation, deselect other cleanup recommendations that you do not wish to clean up, and then click the Remove Files button to delete the old Windows Update files.

Method 2 of 2

Delete old Windows Update files in Windows 11

Step 1: Open the Disk Cleanup utility by typing Disk Cleanup in the Start/taskbar search field and then hitting the Enter key.

Step 2: Once the Disk Cleanup tool is launched, ensure that the Windows 11 installation drive is selected, although it selects the correct drive by default.

Click the OK button to run the tool.

Step 3: When you get the following dialog with the results, click the Clean up system files button and select the Windows 11 installation drive again, and then click the OK button to run the tool again to remove unnecessary system files, including old Windows Update files.

Step 4: Finally, in the Files to delete section, select the Windows Update Cleanup checkbox and deselect other checkboxes if you are not interested in cleaning up other files.

Step 5: Click the OK button and then click the Delete files button when asked for confirmation to delete the old Windows Update files.