Is it OK to delete WinSxS folder?

You can’t delete the WinSxS folder, but you can clean up its contents to free up space on Windows 10, and in this guide, we’ll show you how. While the WinSxS folder is expected to grow larger over time, the actual size on disk isn’t as big as it may seem.

Is WinSxS folder necessary?

Windows uses a system folder called WinSxS to store files that are needed for your Windows installation, as well as backups or updates to those files. You can’t just delete everything in the WinSxS folder, because some of those files are needed for Windows to run and update reliably.

What WinSxS folder contains?

The WinSXS folder contains all Windows system components. In fact, component files elsewhere in Windows are just links to files contained in the WinSXS folder. The WinSXS folder contains every operating system file.

How do I free up space on my WinSxS folder?

The most user-friendly way to clean WinSxS is Windows 10’s built-in Task Scheduler app.

1. Open Task Scheduler. Press “Windows + R” to open the ‘Run’ dialog, type “taskschd.
2. Navigate to the Windows Servicing folder and run WinSxS folder cleanup.
3. Wait for the Windows Component Clean tool to run.

What is the purpose of WinSxS folder?

WinSxS is a Windows system folder that stores files necessary to recover your system. System updates can be downloaded onto your system then stored in your WinSxS folder. Your WinSxS folder is valuable, and it must be evaluated and cleaned up regularly.

Can I delete AMD64 files from WinSxS?

So all AMD64 files you see are 64Bit files. No you can’t delete them. You can only safely cleanup WinSxS by running disk cleanup after installing Update KB2852386 to remove Updates which are replaced by newer ones.

Can I move WinSxS folder to another drive?

You can move WinSXS. I have done it before, but it’s not easy. The best way is to attach the SSD to another computer, and use that computer to establish the junctions. However, there is no reason to move the WinSXS folder.

Can I delete files in Windows Installer Directory?

The Windows Installer Cache, located in c:\windows\installer folder, is used to store important files for applications installed using the Windows Installer technology and should not be deleted.

What size should WinSxS be?

It has a size of almost 5–10GB, and for many users, it’s like a black box in the Windows world. Naturally, it raises the question of what exactly are those files installed in WinSxS and why it’s so huge.

What is the purpose of the WinSxS folder?

Can the WinSxS folder be moved?

Moving the WinSxS is not advisable because doing so can severely break your system. In short, Winsxs, which stands for ‘Windows Side By Side’, is Windows native assembly cache. Libraries which are being by multiple applications are stored there.

What is WinSxS Filemaps?

6.\Winsxs\Filemaps: File system mapping to a file location. 7. \Winsxs\: The payload of the specific component, typically you will see the binaries here.

Where is the WinSxS folder on my computer?

The WinSXS folder at C:\\Windows\\WinSXS is massive and continues to grow the longer you have Windows installed. This folder builds up unnecessary files over time, such as old versions of system components. This folder also contains files for uninstalled, disabled Windows components.

How to reduce the size of your WinSxS folder?

How to Reduce the Size of Your WinSXS Folder on Windows 7 or 8. The WinSXS folder at C:WindowsWinSXS is massive and continues to grow the longer you have Windows installed. This folder builds up unnecessary files over time, such as old versions of system components. This folder also contains files for uninstalled, disabled Windows components.

How big is the winxs folder in Windows 10?

Over time, the WinSxS directory is constantly increasing, and its size is not limited by anything (although in practice the size of the WinSxS folder in Windows 10 / 8.1 rarely exceeds 15-20 GB).

Is there a way to clean up the winxs folder?

Tip: If you don’t see the Windows Update Cleanup option, it means there aren’t any WinSxS folder files that can be safely deleted. You can also use Windows built-in command-line tool – DISM – to clean up and delete unneeded files in WinSxS folder to save disk space. Step 1. You can click Start and type command prompt.