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How to Delete Downloaded Pending Updates in Windows 11

In this guide, we will show you the steps to delete the downloaded pending Windows 11 updates. The Redmond giants release updates for its OS at regular intervals. While the frequency of these updates might vary (depending on the build, aka Insider Preview/Beta/Stable), its motive remains the same- to enhance security, improve performance, and iron out underlying bugs. Moroever, whenever a new update is rolled out, the older update files might still remain on your PC for some time, thereby consuming unnecessary storage space.

So this is one reason why you would want to delete the downloaded pending Windows 11 updates. However, with me, things were a tad different and all the more challenging. Recently, I downloaded a Windows update but didn’t install it yet I was looking for a perfect time to restart the PC. In the meantime, I scrolled through a few forums, and based on various users’ feedback, it turned out the update that I just downloaded [it was either KB5006674 or KB5006670] was buggy and caused a conflict or two with the printers.

Delete Downloaded Pending Updates in Windows 11

As a temporary workaround, I stayed away from rebooting my PC in order to prevent the downloaded update from being installed. My next course of action was to play the waiting game until Microsoft releases a new patch that rectifies this issue. While the OS giants did roll out the update within a couple of days, however, I wasn’t able to download it mainly because there was already a buggy update present in the same directory.

So there were two routes to take: either install the buggy update, break the printer functionality and then install the patch that would rectify this issue OR delete the downloaded buggy update and then install the new patch update. In this regard, there are no brownie points in guessing which route did I took (spoiler: yes, it was the second one). So on that note, let’s get started with the steps to delete the downloaded pending Windows 11 updates. Follow along.

How to Delete Downloaded Pending Updates in Windows 11

Delete Downloaded Pending Updates in Windows 11

Since the downloaded Windows update files will still be in control of the Windows Update service, we will first have to stop that service and then proceed ahead to manually delete the update files. Here’s how all of this could be carried out.

  1. To begin with, head over to the Start Menu and launch Services.
  2. Then select Windows Update, right-click on it, and select Stop.
    Delete Downloaded Pending Updates in Windows 11
  3. After that, bring up the File Explorer via Windows+E shortcut keys.
  4. Then, copy-paste the below location in its address bar and hit Enter:
    C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

    Delete Downloaded Pending Updates in Windows 11

  5. Now select all the files using Ctrl+A shortcut keys.
  6. Finally hit the Shift+Del keys to permanently delete these files.

That’s it. These were the steps to delete the downloaded pending Windows 11 updates. Not only have you freed up a considerable amount of storage space but you haven’t cleared the way for the next update to arrive, as and when it gets rolled out. So on that note, we round off this guide. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.


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