Windows Update cleanup
Also known as: old Windows Update files, WinSxS update cleanup, remove update files
Windows Update cleanup removes the superseded files left behind after installing updates — old component versions kept for rollback. It can free several gigabytes and is done through Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense, not by deleting files by hand.
- Removes superseded update components
- Run via Disk Cleanup > Clean up system files
- Never delete WinSxS files manually
Why update files pile up
After each update, Windows keeps the previous versions of system components in case you need to uninstall the update. These accumulate in the component store (WinSxS) and can add up to several gigabytes once an install is known to be stable.
To clear them, run Disk Cleanup, click Clean up system files, and check Windows Update Cleanup. Storage Sense removes these automatically over time, so you rarely need to act manually.
The safe way to do it
Never delete files inside the WinSxS folder directly — doing so can break Windows or future updates. Use Disk Cleanup, or run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup from an elevated Command Prompt, which safely removes only superseded components.