How to Stop Windows Operating System Update Cache?

Stop Windows Operating System Update Cache

Windows Update is a Microsoft operating service that automatically downloads software and installs software updates for the Windows operating system, for the purpose security fixes, bug fixes, and new features. It helps keep your computer running smoothly, securely, and up-to-date. When your PC is connected to the internal, It automatically searches for updates, downloads them, and installs them on your computer and clears out old junk files and keeps my computer up to date. Sometimes restart is required to complete the process.

Windows Update ensures your computer has the latest version of the operating system and the software it needs to function properly.

Sometimes it fails to download all files and is unable to update windows. This junk installation cache files take the disk space and prevent you from keeping your PC in working order, so it is required to clean up the disk space. There is different way to delete windows update file. 

Disk Cleanup Apps:

Disk Cleanup is a Windows tool that helps you to free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files like downloaded program files, temporary files, windows updated file, unnecessary files and old system files.

Delete the Windows Update cache file using Disk Cleanup:

• In the Start menu, on the search type Disk Cleanup and click on Open.

• One the Disk Cleanup window open, click Cleanup system files to delete unwanted files.

 

•  Again in the Start menu, on the search type Disk Cleanup and click on Run as Administrator.

• Tick on check box Windows Update Cleanup as well as any other files you wish to remove such as Temporary files and click on OK to start delete.

•  If prompted one popup appear” Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?” click on Delete files.

Delete Windows Update Cache Files Manually:

There’s another way you can delete your update cache files on Windows. You can do this by disabling the Windows service (temporarily) and manually removing any downloaded update files in File Explorer.

How to clear your Windows Update cache manually, follow these steps:

•  In the Start menu, on the search  type Run and click on Run as Administrator.

• Type services.msc and click on OK to access the windows various Services menu.

•  In the Services list, scroll down and find Windows Update and double-click on it.
• Select Startup Type: Manual,  Click Stop and OK to stop the Windows Update service manually.

• Right-click the Start menu and click on Run again.

• In Run, type "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" and click OK to open the folder in File Explorer.
  

• Press Ctrl + A to select all of the items in the folder.
• Right-click any of the selected items and click Delete for clearing the cache.

• Open your Recycle Bin folder Press Ctrl + A to select all of the items. Right-click any of the selected items and click Delete  or right click on Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.

To Start Windows Update Cache Files Manually:

• In the Start menu, on the search area type Run and click on Open.

• Type services.msc and click on OK to access the windows various Services menu.

• In the Services list, scroll down and find Windows Update and double-click on it.

•  Click Start to start  the Windows Update service manually. Windows Update starts automatically when it is connected to the Internet.

Delete Windows Update using Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

There is an alternative method for manually clearing your update cache by using Windows PowerShell or the Command Prompt  Apps.

•  In the Start menu, on the search area type CMD or PowerShell and click on Run as Administrator.

• In this terminal window, type sc stop wuauserv and press Enter. This will temporarily disable the Windows Update service on your PC.
•  Next, type del C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\*.* /q and press Enter.
• Finally, type sc start wuauserv and press Enter to restart the Windows Service.