Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space

Windows uses a system directory called winSxS to store windows installation files as well as backup files or update files. However, these files occupy quite a lot of space on the system drive. So you should delete the folders, this file will go to free up your windows computer space.

Windows uses a system directory called winSxS to store windows installation files as well as backup files or update files. However, these files occupy quite a lot of space on the system drive. So you should delete the folders, this file will go to free up your windows computer space.

1. Use Disk Cleanup to delete old updates from the SxS folder

1. First open the Disk Cleanup tool by entering the disk cleanup into the Search box on the Start Menu or on the Taskbar and pressing Enter. On the list of search results, click Disk Cleanup.

Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 1Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 1

2. On the Disk Cleanup tool window, click the Cleanup system files button .

Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 2Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 2

3. Check Windows Update Cleanup.

Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 3Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 3

 

4. Finally, click OK to finish.

2. Use the Command Prompt to delete the SxS folder

If you want to see how much space the SxS folder takes, you can use the Command Prompt.

1. Open Command Prompt under Admin. To do this, enter cmd in the Search box on Start Menu or search in the Taskbar. On the search results list, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Alternatively, right-click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen, select Command Prompt (Admin).

Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 4Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 4

2. On the Command Prompt window, enter the command below and press Enter:

Dism.exe / online / Cleanup-Image / StartComponentCleanup

Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 5Wipe the winSxS folder to free up windows space Picture 5

Wait a few minutes for DISM tool to analyze the directory. Once completed, you will see how much space the SxS folder will take.

3. To delete the SxS folder, enter the following command into the Command Propmt window:

Dism.exe / online / Cleanup-Image / StartComponentCleanup

You can also use other commands to uninstall Windows updates and service packages to free up free space. Use the following command:

Dism.exe / online / Cleanup-Image / StartComponentCleanup

The execution of the command depends on the system and the file size you delete.

Refer to some of the following articles:

  1. How to download Windows 10 Anniversary Update update?
  1. Here's how to uninstall Windows 10 to return to using Windows 7 or 8.1
  1. Summary of several ways to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode

Good luck!

 

4 ★ | 1 Vote