Should I delete Windows setup and update files?

Should I delete Windows setup and update files? Although most computers these days come with a mighty hard drive, there could be a few instances where you can still run out of storage space. If that’s the case with you, your best bet would be to start deleting all the data that you no longer use.

Plus, if you’ve wondered how to delete downloads or how to remove system junk more easily, you should definitely have a look at the built-in Disk Cleanup software provided by Windows itself.

Courtesy of this application, users can not only delete downloaded program files, thumbnails, and temporary internet files with ease but also remove system files as well.

Should I delete Windows setup and update files?

Before we begin answering your questions such as “Can I delete Windows setup files and update files?”, let’s see how to get rid of system junk using the good old Windows Disk Cleanup utility.

Using Disk Cleanup

The first step to start cleaning your system is by opening the Disk Cleanup software. For that, you can either search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start Menu or press “Win+R” at the same time to open the “Run dialog box” where you should type “cleanmgr”.

Once you press the Enter key or hit “OK”, you will be greeted by the Disk Cleanup application, which should look like this:

Now, if you want to free up as much storage space as possible, you check all the boxes. However, you need not worry since most of these files would be useless anyway.

So, once you’ve selected all of the boxes, click “OK” and the cleanup process begins.

Deleting Windows Setup Files

The Disk Cleanup software can help you save some storage space, but if that doesn’t do the trick for you, another viable option would be to delete Windows setup files and update files.

Can you delete Windows setup files? However, some of you might be wondering if it’s safe to clear the Windows update cache. Well, the good news is that doing so doesn’t involve many risks.

If you want to carry out this procedure, you can always click the “Clean up system files” option on the bottom-left side of the Disk Cleanup application.

Upon clicking it, the Disk Cleanup software will provide you with even more files to delete.

These files will have your system’s install data and some other data related to Windows updates that are no longer needed.

Afterward, you can go ahead and select all the files so that you can get as free up as much space as possible.

Although it’s not that risky to clean up system files, we still don’t recommend doing it unless you’ve completely run out of storage space.

Anything else?

Have you removed all the temporary files, system files, and update files and still don’t have the desired free space on your system?

Well, you’re in luck as there is another safe option with which you can free up your hard drive in no time.

Once you’ve gone through the “Clean up system files” option, you would see a new “More Options” tab.

Go ahead and click it. From this tab, you will be able to clean up Programs and Features as well as System Restore and Shadow Copies.

System restore points are highly important in case of a failed update or something else goes wrong, which is why the Disk Cleanup application saves the last restore point and deletes the others.

As for deleting Programs and Features, it is up to the user to decide which ones to delete, so your best bet is to be extra careful while deleting any of them.

Wrap Up

If you’ve run out of storage space on your system, then you need not look any further as Windows has got all the necessary tools with which you can free up your hard drive with ease.

Although deleting downloaded program files, thumbnails, and temporary files should do the trick, there’s no harm in removing the system files or updating files either.

Plus, if you want to go the extra mile, you can even try deleting some programs you don’t use anymore as well as system restore points. All of this can be done using just one built-in application: Disk Cleanup.

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