Windows 11 Disk Cleanup will not Remove Windows Update Cleanup

Anonymous
2022-05-16T16:04:16+00:00

I recently ran disk cleanup on Windows 11 Pro to clear about 2 gig of Windows Update files. This has always worked in the past, but, now, it acts like it's working except that the process moves much too quickly compared to how it used to work. If I run it again, it says that the same amount of space is still present and available to be deleted.

I have tried all of the posted (here, in Microsoft docs, and elsewhere on the net) to try to resolve this issue, but nothing has worked. Those include renaming the Software distribution folder, rebooting and removing the old one, checking services to make sure the proper ones are running, running SFC and DISM and going through the Microsoft published process of manually resetting the Windows Update and cleanup systems.

I have a four computer peer to peer network. Three computers are on Windows 11 and one on Windows 10. The Windows 10 computer is working properly, but all three of the Windows 11 machines are exhibiting this problem. Is this something that Microsoft is aware of or is it a temporary thing because of the problems with the recent updates?

Any suggestions are welcome, but I have tried all of the things previously posted about this problem. Thanks.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

98 answers

Sort by: Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2022-09-04T03:37:13+00:00

    Although i feel stupid by saying it, but Windows update cleanup does not only delete update files but it compresses and keeps them as well. So, im thinking that it says the same amount before disk cleanup is run as afterwards because the files are already compressed and none exist over whatever the internal limit is. Basically, im thinking now that this is by design and normal. It would be nice to have someone from Microsoft chime in and say so though to ease peoples minds, as well as my own doubts, lol

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-09-04T06:04:54+00:00

    I've never seen it keep the files. Whenever I ran the cleanup there were always zero left over, never any amount at all. Maybe things have changed. If so it would be nice for Microsoft to let us know.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2022-09-04T17:17:13+00:00

    Hello bro same thing is happening with my laptop too if it get fixed in yours tell me to how to do it

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2022-09-04T17:53:25+00:00

    Will do!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2022-09-06T15:50:27+00:00

    one can hope the next big update would address the issue. i really would like to understand why the problem could have occurred.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments