The recent Windows 11 24H2 upgrade consumes significant disk space during installation, and unfortunately, not all of it is returned. After installation, over 8 GB of space may still be taken up by a persistent update cache.
Cache Removal Error in Windows 11
After installing the 2024 update, an 8.63 GB update cache is created. While it’s common for a Windows Update cache to appear in Disk Cleanup, the 24H2 version introduces a problem that prevents its removal. Despite attempts to delete the cache using Disk Cleanup, the files remain, taking up valuable space on the disk. Disk Cleanup attempts to remove the files but fails, leaving up to 8.63 GB of data behind.
Deleting the files manually also does not work. Removing the windows.old folder and attempting Disk Cleanup again, even with the Windows Update Cleanup option selected, doesn’t resolve the issue. Restoring the system also does not help in freeing up the space.
Microsoft Is Working on a Fix
Microsoft is aware of the issue, which has affected many users. Reports of the problem have surfaced through the Feedback Center, and the company confirmed to Windows Latest that a fix is being prepared for a future update. We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Windows Latest also suggests that this 8.63 GB cache is related to a new feature called “checkpoint updates.” This method is designed to reduce the size of future Windows updates by using a more recent checkpoint as the base, rather than starting from the original release (RTM). As a result, updates should be smaller and faster to install.
However, components from these checkpoint updates, such as those from the KB5043080 update, are flagged as necessary for future updates and therefore cannot be removed through Disk Cleanup, notes NIX Solutions. Windows Latest cautions against trying to delete these components manually, as doing so could disrupt future updates. Additionally, the cache might not be using the full 8.63 GB, with Disk Cleanup potentially inflating the numbers shown.