If your Windows Update is not working properly or not working at all or if you find that the size of this folder has really grown large, then you can consider deleting the Software Distribution folder in Windows 11/10/8/7. Moreover, the next time you run Windows Update, it will result in a longer detection time. If you delete them you will lose your Update history. However, this data store also contains your Windows Update History files. If you were to delete the folder itself, it will get automatically re-created and the required WU components downloaded automatically. Even if you delete files otherwise, they will get automatically downloaded. It is generally speaking safe to delete the contents of the Software Distribution folder, once all files required by it have been used for installing Windows Update.

While you do not want to touch this folder under normal conditions, you may need to empty its contents should you find that your system’s Datastore and the Download folder have got de-synchronized, resulting in your Windows Updates not working properly. Is it safe to delete SoftwareDistribution folder On my computer is size is around 1 MB, but its size could vary.

The Software Distribution folder in Windows 11/10/8/7 is situated in the following location in File Explorer: It is thus required by Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. The SoftwareDistribution 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.

Windows update windows 7