Solved Disk Clean-up replacement for 'Windows Update Clean-up' files

wiganken · Jan 10, 2024

I know that Disk Clean-up is being deprecated but I find it useful for deleting 'Windows Update clean-up' files. After yesterday's Patch Tuesday updates there are 3.99GB of files found for deletion. See photo.
I am trying to ditch Disk Clean-up (because of its deprecation) and use Settings>Storage instead to find the same thing but I can't see 'Windows Update clean-up' files anywhere.
I also use 'Privacy Eraser Free' but this has no option to search for and delete Windows Update files.

Surely there must be a way to find and delete 'Windows Update clean-up' files other than using Disk Clean-up? Ideally using Windows tools but would consider a 3rd party cleaner as long as it can find and delete these specific files. 4GB is disk space I would like to reclaim.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

trumpy81 · Jan 10, 2024

Here are a couple of ways to clear the Windows Update files:

5 Methods to Delete Windows Update Files in Windows 10

Here are 5 different methods to delete Windows Update files in Windows 10. This helps you remove the updates downloaded by you and temporary update files.

www.ilovefreesoftware.com

These are for Windows 10, but should be usable in Windows 11 also.

HTH

BruceR · Jan 10, 2024

wiganken said:
I am trying to ditch Disk Clean-up (because of its deprecation) and use Settings>Storage instead to find the same thing but I can't see 'Windows Update clean-up' files anywhere.
...
Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Settings, System, Storage, Temporary files:

@Brink: This should be in a tutorial, but I can't find it anywhere.

BamaInArk · Jan 10, 2024

I wonder if that one is just a subset of Disk Cleanup?

TheQuickFox · Jan 10, 2024

I still use the original disk cleanup for this in Windows 11 23H2. If it ain't broke: Don't fix it. It's no longer in disk properties but still in the start menu. Run it as admin to cleanup system files like Windows Update.

Wisewiz · Jan 10, 2024

I don't have Windows Update Clean-up in either my Disk Cleanup or my System > Storage > Temporary Files. Wonder why. When I load Disk Cleanup (Admin), it shows in the status bar that Windows Update Cleanup is being checked, but then there's no WUC in the list.

wiganken · Jan 10, 2024

@BruceR - Thanks. That works for me. I never thought to look in 'Temporary files'.

@Wisewiz - Have you been tweaking your Windows OS? That might explain why you don't see 'Windows Update Clean-up'. Just a thought. I don't know how to fix it though.

BruceR · Jan 10, 2024

BamaInArk said:
I wonder if that one is just a subset of Disk Cleanup?

I think it's directly equivalent.

Wisewiz said:
I don't have Windows Update Clean-up in either my Disk Cleanup or my System > Storage > Temporary Files. Wonder why. When I load Disk Cleanup (Admin), it shows in the status bar that Windows Update Cleanup is being checked, but then there's no WUC in the list.

Neither can clean up what is no longer there.

Wisewiz · Jan 10, 2024

BruceR said:
Neither can clean up what is no longer there.

Truer words were never spoken. But there are many entries in the list with 0 values.

Brink · Jan 10, 2024

BruceR said:
Settings, System, Storage, Temporary files:

View attachment 83668

@Brink: This should be in a tutorial, but I can't find it anywhere.

Here you go: :shawn:

Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to free up drive space with Disk Cleanup in Windows 11. You can use Disk Cleanup on a regular basis to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your drives, which can free up drive space and help your PC run better. It can delete temporary files and system...

www.elevenforum.com

BruceR · Jan 10, 2024

Brink said:
Here you go:

Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to free up drive space with Disk Cleanup in Windows 11. You can use Disk Cleanup on a regular basis to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your drives, which can free up drive space and help your PC run better. It can delete temporary files and system...

www.elevenforum.com

Thanks. I apparently searched Tutorials for clean-up instead of cleanup.

In Option Two the Downloads folder is no longer included (which appears in screenshots at Steps 6 and 7).

BruceR · Jan 10, 2024

Wisewiz said:
Truer words were never spoken. But there are many entries in the list with 0 values.

Fair point for Disk Cleanup. I don't think you ever get zero values under Temporary Files in Settings.

Brink · Jan 10, 2024

BruceR said:
In Option Two the Downloads folder is no longer included (which appears in screenshots at Steps 6 and 7).

You can still use the Delete files in my Downloads folder if they have been there for over Storage Sense setting to automatically delete them.

Turn On or Off Storage Sense in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Storage Sense to automatically free up system drive space for your account in Windows 11. Storage Sense can automatically free up drive space for you by getting rid of items that you don't need, like temporary files and items in your Recycle...

www.elevenforum.com

Stigg · Oct 4, 2024

Is Disk Clean-up still going to be removed from Windows 11? I still use it.

Brink · Oct 4, 2024

Stigg said:
Is Disk Clean-up still going to be removed from Windows 11? I still use it.

Still available for now at least.

Solved Disk Clean-up replacement for 'Windows Update Clean-up' files

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐞𝐤

My Computers

Administrator

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computer

Administrator

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Administrator

My Computers

Similar threads