How to Delete WinSxS Folder in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to safely reduce the size of the WinSxS folder (also called the component store) in Windows 10. You can’t delete the folder itself—Windows needs it to update, repair, and uninstall components—but you can remove old versions of updated components to free up several gigabytes. You’ll need administrator access and a stable internet connection for some methods.

What You’ll Need

An account with administrator privileges
At least 10–20 GB of free disk space (the cleanup process needs room to work)
Internet connection (for the DISM online cleanup method)

Step-by-Step

Check the current size of WinSxS. Open Command Prompt as administrator (press Windows + X, select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)). Type the following and press Enter:
Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
This scans the component store and tells you whether cleanup is recommended and how much space you might reclaim.
Run Disk Cleanup. Type cleanmgr in the Start menu and open it. Select your system drive (usually C:) and click OK. Wait for the scan, then click Clean up system files. Check Windows Update Cleanup (and optionally Previous Windows installations if you’re sure you won’t roll back). Click OK, then Delete Files.
Run DISM with StartComponentCleanup. Open Command Prompt as administrator again. Run:
Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
This removes superseded versions of components. Add /ResetBase to force removal of all superseded versions (this makes it impossible to uninstall recent updates, so only do it if you’re sure).
Use Storage Sense (optional). Go to Settings > System > Storage. Turn on Storage Sense or click Free up space now. Select Previous version of Windows and Windows Update Cleanup, then click Remove files.
Verify the new size. Run the analyze command from step 1 again to see how much space was reclaimed. The WinSxS folder will still be several GB—that’s normal.

Common Mistakes

Trying to delete the folder manually. If you attempt to delete C:\Windows\WinSxS, Windows will either refuse or cause serious system corruption. Never force-delete it.
Using /ResetBase without understanding the consequence. After /ResetBase, you cannot uninstall any currently installed Windows updates. This can cause problems if an update causes issues later.
Skipping the analyze step. You might waste time running cleanup when there’s nothing to reclaim. Always check first.
Running Disk Cleanup without selecting “Clean up system files”. You’ll only see a fraction of the options, and you’ll miss the Windows Update Cleanup option.

Tips

Run the cleanup after a major Windows feature update—that’s when the most old components accumulate.
If you have limited disk space, enable Storage Sense to automatically clean up temporary files and old Windows versions.
Use the /AnalyzeComponentStore command regularly to monitor the component store’s health.
If you’re low on space and need a quick win, consider moving your page file or hibernation file to another drive instead of messing with WinSxS.

Troubleshooting

DISM fails with error 0x800f081f or similar. This usually means the component store is corrupted. Run sfc /scannow first, then try Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth (you’ll need internet). After that, retry the cleanup.
Disk Cleanup doesn’t show Windows Update Cleanup. Make sure you clicked Clean up system files after the first scan. If it’s still missing, run cleanmgr /lowdisk to force a full scan.
Cleanup process freezes or takes forever. It’s normal for DISM to take 20–30 minutes. If it seems stuck for over an hour, close the window and restart. Run Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup again—it will resume where it left off.
After cleanup, the size didn’t decrease much. The WinSxS folder will always be several GB because it contains the current Windows component files. If you’re still low on space, look at other large folders (like C:\Windows\Installer) or use a disk space analyzer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just delete the WinSxS folder?

No. The WinSxS folder contains critical Windows component files. Deleting it will break Windows entirely. Use the cleanup tools described above instead.

Why is WinSxS so large?

It stores every component of Windows, including multiple versions of each file (so you can uninstall updates and repair system files). Over time, old versions accumulate and take up space.

Is it safe to run /ResetBase?

It’s safe in the sense that it won’t break Windows, but it permanently removes the ability to uninstall current updates. Only use it if you’re confident you won’t need to roll back any recent updates.

How much space will I actually free up?

It varies. After a feature update, you might free 5–10 GB. Between updates, it might be only a few hundred MB. The analyze command will give you an estimate.

Will this affect my ability to uninstall updates?

Regular cleanup (without /ResetBase) keeps the ability to uninstall the most recent updates. Using /ResetBase removes that ability for all currently installed updates.

Does the WinSxS folder grow back?

Yes, it will grow again as Windows installs new updates. That’s normal. You can run the cleanup periodically to keep it in check.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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