Since these updates can often take up a lot of space16-20 GB in some casesyou might want Windows to download them to a different drive, especially if youre using something like a solid state drive where disk space is at a premium. "Windows Update", and click "Run as administrator". Windows Update stuck while downloading the latest updates, How to Delete SoftwareDistribution Folder on Windows 10, An alternate way to Delete SoftwareDistribution Folder, How to Rename SoftwareDistribution folder, Remove Activate Windows Watermark from Windows 10, How to Fix Bluetooth problems in Windows 10, Enable Flash for Specific Websites in Chrome, How to Delete All Saved Posts on Instagram, How to Recharge Diamonds in ML Using Load, How to Cancel PlayStation Plus on the Phone. Use Command Prompt 1. When I run windows update again, a new softwaredistribution folder With his combination of technical knowledge and writing talent, he is able to create clear, accurate, and engaging content that helps users get the most out of their technology. Input net stop bits and press Enter. Right-click "Command Prompt", and click "Run as administrator". In the opened folder, look for the folder named "SoftwareDistribution". Award-winning disk management utility tool for everyone. 2. 8. The Windows Update service wont let you do that if its running. To delete the content inside the SoftwareDistribution folder, do the following: Once you completed the steps, Windows 10 will reconfigure the folder and re-download all the necessary components. It worked and I can finally update my Surface Pro 3. It is a small price to pay for getting your device updated with the latest Windows Updates. Besides, you will have a longer detection time the next time you conduct a Windows update. In "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type in "net stop WuAuServ" (without the quotes) and press Enter. Once the name is selectedif you're renaming a file, not the file extensionyou can start to type a new name. To do this, type the following commands at a command prompt. 2. Click the Start Button, in the "Start Search" box, type in "%windir%" (without the quotes) and press Enter. Here, in the command prompt, type in net stop wuauserv and hit enter. Thus, deleting the folder will delete the Windows Update history data from your device. So, these are the simple methods that you can use to rename or delete the software distribution folder on Windows 10 and 11. If you've configured File Explorer to show file extensions, make sure only to change the file name. So, all the system files are located in the C drive, and this is the default folder for OS files to be stored. Markus is the founder of WinBuzzer and has been playing with Windows and technology for more than 25 years. Open the File Explorer by clicking Windows + E keys together. Visit our corporate site. 1.Open Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell with Administrator access. Batch convert video/audio files between 1000+ formats at lightning speed. ren softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.1. Windows operating systems it has system files that help keep everything running smoothly. Youll be prompted for permission to do this; click Yes., The easiest thing to do is to just stick Old at the front or back to signify this isnt the current folder well be working with. is created but now I get error c8000266. finally, the Software Distribution folder has been flushed. In general, after all files required to install Windows update are used, it is safe to delete them from the Software Distribution folder. Hi Friends,Welcome back to yet another video,In this video tutorial, I will gonna show you, How to Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder in windows 10 \u0026 11Press Windows Key + R Key from the keyboard to open runand then type services.mscnow click on the Ok buttonIn the Services list, search for Windows Update.Right-click on it and go to the Properties, Choose Startup type to Disable from the dropdown menuNow the Windows Update service is disabledClick on apply and then click on the ok buttonlets go and rename the Software Distribution folderOpen this pcNavigate to C drive and then open the Windows folder and find the Software Distribution folderRename the folder to SoftwareDistribution.OLDClick on the continue buttononce successfully renaming the software distribution foldernow restart your computerOnce you do that, go and re-enable the Windows Update service:Once again navigate to Services and find Windows Update and inside Properties, change from Disabled to ManualClick on apply and then click on the ok buttonRestart your computer once again.#SoftwareDistribution #RenameSoftwareDistribution If Windows Update is freezing during the download process, the easiest way to solve the problem is to rename the software distribution folders where Windows 10 stores the downloaded data. Click the On what circumstances, you would delete this folder? Now, in the C drive, the software distribution folder must be named as SoftwareDistribution.bak. These are some questions that we all come across while discussing this folder. MiniTool PDF Editor brings swift experience when you convert, merge, split, compress, extract, and annotate PDF files. 1. run command prompt in elevated mode (start - type "cmd" - right click on command prompt app and select "run as administrator") 2. type "net stop wuauserv" 3. type "net stop bits" 4. open the folder "c:\windows" and locate SoftwareDistribution folder, rename or delete as you please. Clicking Start, type cmd into the search box, right-click on the Command Prompt result, and then select the Run As Administrator command. email address is "[email protected]". Can You Remove Facebook Reels from Your News Feed? Helen Graduated from university in 2014 and started working as a tech editor in the same year. To update your system to the latest release, there must be enough space on your hard drive for the update files. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Right-click the SoftwareDistribution folder there and then click the Rename command. Type net stop wuauserv and click OK. Now I suggest restarting the computer, pressing F8 to enter Safe Mode. How to clear the 'SoftwareDistribution' folder, How to rename the 'SoftwareDistribution' folder, Windows 10 on Windows Central All you need to know, Get Keepa extension on your browser to find best Prime Day deals in 2023, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie Xbox review Drifting in an ocean of dreams and futures, How to install Fedora on WSL for Windows 10 and Windows 11, A Plague Tale 3 is potentially in development, Get The Camelizer extension to track Amazon prices on Prime Day 2023, Type the following command to stop the Windows Update Service and press, Type the following command to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and press. Press Delete. Start services. Generally, the answer is yes. Once this is done they can send emails from your inbox, download spyware and viruses, and get access to your files. The detailed location of the Software Distribution folder in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 is the same and its address is C:\Windows\ SoftwareDistribution. How do I fix this? Repair corrupt Outlook PST files & recover all mail items. This is where Windows will store any future update downloads. If you want to rename the Software Distribution folder, let's see how to do that: Open an elevated command prompt and type the following commands one after the other, and press Enter:. With this said, lets move on with learning how to delete the software distribution folder on Windows 10/11 so, you can also delete the folder if you want. I want to roll it out accross our TS farm. In this Windows 10 & 11 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to delete the content inside the SoftwareDistribution folder. Follow these steps: Run command prompt as administrator. If you decide deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you will lose the Windows Update history which might be usuful to trace down problematic updates. 2. Note: The only thing which you may lose in the process of deleting this folder is the historical information. In CMD, run 'net stop wuauserv', then run 'net stop bits'. The method shown below to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder manually is generally safe as Windows Update will download all update files again when needed. net start bits While sometimes the folder may grow, it's only recommended to use these instructions only when necessary. 3. Now, youll need to rename the existing folder to something different. At the prompt, type the following command (replacing "d:\NewUpdateFolder" with the full path to the folder you created in step one). Another option is to run the windows update as administrator account: 1. Stop services. A Look Back, How to Watch UFC 290 Volkanovski vs. Rodrigueza Live Online, Microsoft Edge Is Cracking Down on Notification Spam, This New ASUS Tiny PC is Surprisingly Powerful. 2.Right-click on Windows Update service and select Stop. NOTE: You should now see the SoftwareDistribution folder is recreated; This can be done via script if by running the following in an administrative PowerShell console. The Software Distribution folder is a folder located in the Windows directory. net stop wuauserv net stop bits Well, generally, the system files are the ones that are not to be tempered with as these files are very critical and only experts who know what exactly the function is or the programming is can work on these files without causing any trouble to the OS ecosystem. The reseller discount is up to 80% off. Here is how: Start>Run ; type cmd and press enter ; type net stop wuauserv and press enter ; type rename c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.oldand press enter; type net start wuauserv and press enter ; type exit and press enter ; Verify that the new software distribution folder created when you restart the update . Can you give me a step by step how you did it? So, here in our case, we are about to make some changes to the software distribution folder. Free download YouTube 4k videos/playlists/subtitles and extract audios from YouTube. In File Explorer, find the location you want to use, right-click anywhere, point to the New submenu, and then click the Folder command. Shealso has a good knowledge of disk management and data backup & recovery. MiniTool Power Data Recovery helps to recover files from PC, HDD, USB and SD card quickly. MiniTool ShadowMaker helps to back up system and files before the disaster occurs. account with administrator privileges. If youre worried about deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder then you can simply rename it and Windows will automatically create a new SoftwareDistribution folder to download the Windows updates. In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to delete the content inside the SoftwareDistribution folder. Renaming the SoftwareDistribution folder allows to quickly check if Windows Update files there are really causing the issue you are trying to resolve. Either rename SoftwareDistribution\Download to retain its contents, or you delete all files and folders contained within SoftwareDistribution\Download. Other than Safe Mode? Note: Before going any further, you shouldback up your computer just in case anything goes wrong while altering things in system folders. From now on whenever Windows Update downloads files, they should be stored in the newly created folder. 3. 6. Is it safe to delete Windows\SoftwareDistribution-subfolders? Only when they find that their systems Datastore and the Download folder have got desynchronized and resulted in Windows update not working, will they think about deleting this folder. 4.Finally, type the folowing command to start Windows Update Services and hit Enter after each one: net start wuauserv (you now need to judge if there would be some conflict in renaming this folder) ren softwaredistribution.bak softwaredistribution. Type the following commands in the Command Prompt for this. What is the SoftwareDistribution folder and what is it used for? Step 3 Select "hu2rcn.exe" and click "End Process." Step 4 Repeat step 3 for "braviax.exe" and "winivstr.exe." Step 5 Close the Task Manager. Here's my process: 1) Reboot the box in question 2) From an elevated command prompt: --net stop wuauserv 3.Open File Explorer then navigate to the following location: 4.Delete all the files and folders under SoftwareDistribution folder. ", Repeat step 3 for "braviax.exe" and "winivstr.exe. To rename the software distribution folder on Windows 10 and 11, use the command prompt tool. The key role of this folder on Windows computers is to store Windows update files for a temporary period, and any issue that is causing the OS to not update properly can be linked with this folder. Windows Central is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. SoftwareDistribution folder is located in the Windows directory and is managed by WUAgent (Windows Update Agent). Step 1 Press "Ctrl," "Shift" and "Esc" keys at the same time to launch the Task Manager. Heres how it works. Press the ENTER key >General tab - "Read-only" is selected As an alternative option, we'll also show you the steps to rename the folder, in case you only want to test if the folder's content is the one causing problems. One such case is when youre unable to update Windows or when Windows updates which are downloaded & stored in the SoftwareDistribution folder are corrupt or incomplete. Next, name the folder to whatever you want. So, this is how simply you can rename the software distribution folder on your Windows 10/11 computer. Brady Gavin has been immersed in technology for 15 years and has written over 150 detailed tutorials and explainers. Also Windows Update will need a bit longer afterwards until available updates are shown and downloaded because the WUAgent must check and re-create the Datastore information. Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. To do this, we use whats called a Symbolic Link, or symlink. <# After you run the command, you should see a reply stating Junction Created For followed by the paths you specified. To open the command prompt on your Windows computer, press the Windows + S and here search for the command prompt. What Is the $WinREAgent Folder and Can I Delete It. Is there something else I can add to make this work? Required fields are marked *. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community. Scroll down until you find the wuauserv service near the bottom of the list, right-click it, and then click the Start command. 3.Now you need to navigate to SoftwareDistribution folder in C drive to delete all its components: If you are not able to delete all files because some files are in use, you just need to restart your device. Through an in-depth exploration of computer technology, Helen has successfully helped thousands of users solve their annoying problems. The Software Distribution folder in Windows operating system is a folder located in the Windows directory and used to temporarily store files that may be required to install Windows Update on your computer. These act much the same way a shortcut does; they point to a real folder somewhere else on your computer. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder to open it. Following the instructions, I renamed \windows\softwaredistribution (but had to be in safe mode to do it). MiniTool OEM program enable partners like hardware / software vendors and relative technical service providers to embed MiniTool software with their own products to add value to their products or services and expand their market. Repairs 4k, 8k corrupted, broken, or unplayable video files. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Aditya is a skilled tech writer with 10 years of experience in the field. 4. Weve named oursNewUpdateFolder,and its located on the D:\ drive. Even if you accidentally removed them before installation, they will be re-downloaded automatically. Type "regedit" and hit "Enter" to start the Registry Editor. Windows takes care of removing update files at some point after theyve been installed, but oftenespecially in the case of major updates like the October 2018 Updateit keeps those files around for a while in case you want to uninstall the updates or roll back your version of Windows. Well, we are here to answer your questions. Its size can vary and depends on your computer state. changes to this folder, subfolders and files. A new SoftwareDistribution item with a shortcut icon is added to the C:\Windows folder. You can do this by typing the following commands in the Command Prompt. MiniTool reseller program is aimed at businesses or individual that want to directly sell MiniTool products to their customers. Log on an Still in "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type the command "net start WuAuServ" (without the quotes) in the opened window to restart the Windows Updates . net stop wuauservnet stop bitsrename c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.baknet start wuauservnet start bits The SoftwareDistribution folder usually located in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution is used by Windows Update to preload downloaded updates and hotfixes before installing them. Please guide on same. Remember that these updates are necessary for keeping your PC secure and in good shape. Clicking Start, type "cmd" into the search box, right-click on the "Command Prompt" result, and then select the "Run As Administrator" command. This method worked for me. On my system, it is consuming more than 1 GB space of C drive. On Windows 10, the "SoftwareDistribution" folder is an essential component for Windows Update, which temporarily stores files needed to install new updates to keep your device secure and with the latest fixes and improvements. The new and powerful Windows 11 will bring you many benefits. Note: If the mklink command didnt work or you received an error, try restarting your computer into Safe Mode and repeating the previous steps. If you choose to delete this folder, you will lose your update history details. This has been the way of the OS and from the initial stage of Windows OS, the C drive has been the default drive for all OS activities and this has significantly provided integrity in the development of the OS. This will prevent Windows from re-downloading any updates. To delete the software distribution folder on your Windows 10 and 11 system, open the command prompt. The first thing youll do is to create a new folder for the downloads on a different drive. Here's how. Right-click If necessary you can also tell Windows Update to Pause, Defer, or Delay Quality and Feature Updates if you dont want to download new Windows Updates immediately again after clearing SoftwareDistribution. Donate - https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/donations.htmlTutorial - https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/rename_or_delete_the_software_distribution_. Hope the information provided above was helpful and informative, with these simple methods, you can effectively rename or delete the software distribution folder on your Windows 10 and 11 computer. So, when it comes to changing or modifying these files on a Windows computer, one must know that changing some components can cause problems but some files can be modified to emphasize some expected changes. For an OS to function so efficiently, it must have files that are organized into folders that practically run the computer. Method 1: Rename the Software Distribution Folder using Command Prompt To rename the software distribution folder on Windows 10 and 11, use the command prompt tool. So, if you have any problems that are not allowing you to run the Windows updates, you might want to check this folder or make necessary changes to this folder to fix the issue with your Windows update feature. Now, type in net start wuauserv and hit enter. To rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, do the following: Open Start. Scenario:- I would to stop Wusaserv and rename softwaredistribution folder and again start services. If the above step is not working then you canboot Windows 10 into Safe Mode, and rename SoftwareDistribution folder to SoftwareDistribution.old. Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was successfully stopped before we try to rename the folder. it wont let me rename the folder it keeps saying the folder is open else where. Before your rename the folder you must stop the service. Repair corrupt Excel files and recover all the data with 100% integrity. Windows updates are important as it provides security updates & patches, fixes a lot of bugs and improves your system performance. Scroll down until you find the wuauserv service near the bottom of the list. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc and switch to the Services tab. How to Delete Software Distribution Folder Windows 11? By default, Windows will store any update downloads on to your main drive, this is where Windows is installed, in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. Hi Friends,Welcome back to yet another video,In this video tutorial, I will gonna show you, How to Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder in windows 10 & 11P. How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. If you dont know where a certain file is located, you can use the search function in Windows to find it. In File Explorer, browse to C:\Windows . So, now, that we know that these methods are safe, lets dive in and get on with renaming or deleting the software distribution folder on Windows 10/11. Automatically delete win download files in Windows 10 If you are facing issues with Windows Update you might try to use Windows Disk Cleanup in extended mode before moving forward with our tutorial. This can also solve some system update-related problems like Windows update not working, Windows update fail to install, Windows update stuck, etc. 8. The windows updates (software distribution) folder is not immediately available to disk cleanup or the storage screen. As technology is widely increasing in all directions there, You might be wondering what happened to the network connection icon in your notifications tray., Most of the users often come up with an issue about Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry is, How to check the BIOS version in Windows 10, Upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 Easily[Updated 2020], How to Show Network Icon on the Taskbar in Windows 10 & 7, Fixed: Windows 10 Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry High Disk Usage[Update 2020], How to Increase Virtual Memory on Windows 11 Quick Guide. If the system drive is too full and you have a different drive with enough space, Windows will often try to use that space if it can. I'm running poweshell as admin. Thank you so much for your helpful instructions. Type the following one after. The date you see is the date when the folder was created.) If you cant delete some files because they are in use, just restart your PC, rerun the above commands, and redelete those files. The SoftwareDistribution folder. WiFi 5 vs WiFi 6 vs WiFi 7: Which is Better, 100 Best Impactful Comments for Girls Pics on Instagram. Windows 10 will always re-download all the necessary files, or re-create the folder and re-download all the components, if removed. III.- Now rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager and click the Services tab. This folder also stores the Windows Update history information. Type the following command to stop. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Android, iOS data recovery for mobile device. In the opened folder, look for the folder named "SoftwareDistribution". Now, type in rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak and hit enter. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Believe this may be caused by corrupted rights on the structure. Click on a file or folder to select it, and click "Rename" from the Home menu at the top of File Explorer. Moreover, you are able to rename the Software Distribution folder. 5. Is it safe to delete this folder? North America, Canada, Unit 170 - 422, Richards Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2Z4, Asia, Hong Kong, Suite 820,8/F., Ocean Centre, Harbour City, 5 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. II.- Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer and the Windows Update Services. Run the following command to rename SoftwareDistribution folder into SoftwareDistribution.bat: To revert this, you can apply the same procedure afterwards using this command: If you deleted the SoftwareDistribution Folders contents to free up space you might also want to delete the $SysReset folder to gain even more. The Trojan Banker is a backdoor virus that allows hackers to connect remotely to your computer. This folder is used by Windows to temporarily stores files needed to install the latest Windows Updates on your device. Upon rebooting, you need to again run the above commands again and follow the steps. 7. Bothelite, did you get a solution for renaming the SoftwareDistribution folder? I need to rename a few folder in c:\Windows\ but it keeps saying that access is denied. So, here in this article, we will discuss one simple yet critical folder that stores the Windows update files, and lets explore how this file can be manipulated without affecting its functioning. after you type each command. 3.Next, type the following command to rename SoftwareDistribution Folder and then hit Enter: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old If you're having trouble getting into Safe Mode, we can manually try and delete some of the files: 1: Stop the Windows Update Service and Background Intelligent Transfer Services