How to Clean Up the WinSxS Folder in Windows and Free Up Disk Space

The WinSxS folder is located in the system directory of Windows and contains essential system files, updates, and component backups. Over time, this folder can take up a significant amount of space on your system drive, which can be especially problematic on older or less powerful devices. Cleaning this folder can help free up space, but it must be done with caution to avoid damaging the system.

Why Does the WinSxS Folder Take Up So Much Space?

The WinSxS folder stores:

  • Windows update files;
  • Backups of system components;
  • DLL libraries and other essential files.

When updates are installed, Windows doesn’t delete old versions of files but keeps them for potential system recovery or rollback. While this helps prevent issues during system failures, it also leads to an accumulation of data over time.

Safe Ways to Clean Up the WinSxS Folder

1. Using the Disk Cleanup Tool

The simplest and safest way to clean up is by using the built-in Disk Cleanup tool. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.
  2. Select your system drive (usually C:).
  3. Click on the Clean up system files button.
  4. Check the box for Windows Update Cleanup and click OK.

This method will remove outdated updates, freeing up a substantial amount of disk space.

2. Using the DISM Command

DISM (Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool) is a powerful command-line utility that allows you to manage Windows images and perform cleanup tasks.

Run the following commands in Command Prompt as an administrator:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase
  • /AnalyzeComponentStore — analyzes the contents of the folder and shows potential cleanup space;
  • /StartComponentCleanup — removes obsolete components;
  • /ResetBase — deletes all previous versions of components, keeping only the current versions.

Be cautious with the /ResetBase command, as it makes rolling back updates impossible.

3. Cleaning Up Old System Restore Points

System restore points can also occupy a lot of space as they store backup copies of files. To clean up old restore points, follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R and type sysdm.cpl.
  2. Go to the System Protection tab and click Configure.
  3. Select the Delete option to remove all restore points except the most recent one.

What Not to Do When Cleaning Up the WinSxS Folder

Do not attempt to delete files from the WinSxS folder manually. This can cause system instability, prevent updates from being installed, or even render Windows completely unusable. Always use the official tools and methods outlined above.