Where Does Windows Store Downloaded Updates?
Windows SoftwareDistribution Download cache for update files, and when clearing it is safe.
Last updated
Windows Update stages downloads in a Download folder under SoftwareDistribution. Several gigabytes there after Patch Tuesday is normal.
Clear it only with the Update service stopped. Disk Cleanup with Windows Update Cleanup ticked does the same job without the service dance.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
Needs admin. Stop the Windows Update service first if deleting by hand, then restart it. Never delete the whole SoftwareDistribution tree, only Download contents.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to delete the Download folder contents?
Yes with updates idle. Windows re downloads what it still needs. Use Disk Cleanup to avoid stopping services yourself.
Why is SoftwareDistribution huge?
Staged installers plus history. The DataStore beside Download tracks state; leave that file alone.
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