Windows Update Cleanup in Windows 8

How to Use Windows Update Cleanup in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
Windows Update Cleanup is an option in Disk Cleanup that you can use to have Windows automatically delete Windows updates that you no longer need to free up hard drive space.

This tutorial will show you how to use Windows Update Cleanup to delete outdated Windows updates from the WinSxS folder (component store) to free up hard drive space in Windows 8 and 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

Note   Note
The Windows Update Cleanup option is available only when the Disk Cleanup wizard detects Windows updates that you do not need on the computer.

To let you roll back to previous updates, updates are stored in the WinSxS store even after they are superseded by later updates. Therefore, after you run the Disk Cleanup wizard, you may be unable to roll back to a superseded update. If you want to roll back to a superseded update that the Disk Cleanup wizard deletes, you can manually install the update.




Here's How:

1. Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog, type cleanmgr, and press Enter.

2. If you have more than one hard drive, select the C: drive, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
Windows_Update_Cleanup-1A.jpg

3. Click/tap on the Clean up system files button. (see screenshot below)
Windows_Update_Cleanup-1.jpg

4. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

5. If you have more than one hard drive, then repeat step 2 above.

6. Check the Windows Update Cleanup box, and click/tap on OK.

NOTE: Notice how much space disk space you will gain. This can be GBs.
Windows_Update_Cleanup-2.jpg

7. Click/tap on Delete Files to confirm. (see screenshot below)

Note   Note
If you like, you can view the details of what will be deleted listed in the dism.log below before clicking on "Delete Files".

%SystemRoot%\Logs\DISM\dism.log


Windows_Update_Cleanup-3.jpg



That's it,
Shawn


 

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opens but does nothing

That command opens an extended Disk Cleanup with more options.
I tried this as well as the instructions above but after clicking OK, nothing happened. WinSxS is still bigger than my actual OS and no option for cleaning Windows updates shows up in the normal Disk Cleanup options. Please update or advise on current procedures for maintaining the OS HDD
 
Hello Star Frost, and welcome to Eight Forums. :)

Just to verify, when you opened Disk Cleanup for the Windows "C" drive, did you click on the Clean up system files button?
 
Thank you for the quick reply!

Yes, the C drive is the one selected. I was able to find the option regarding Windows Update Cleanup and such using cleanmgr.exe sageset:10 but when I click OK nothing happens. Even using an elevated cmd, it seems to have no effect. This one has me stumped and Window support has been no help after 2 tries today.
 
Thank you so much for that! WinSxS went from being over 8 gigs to 6.6 and I doubt there is much more I can hope for. Keep fighting the good fight, Brink.
 
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