How to Safely Delete the Windows 11 ‘Delivery Optimization’ Cache (Free Up SSD Space)

In Windows 11, Microsoft uses a peer-to-peer sharing system called “Delivery Optimization.” When your PC downloads a massive Windows Update, it saves a hidden cache of those installation files on your hard drive. It then silently uploads those files to other computers on your local network (or even the broader internet) so Microsoft’s own servers don’t have to work as hard.

While this is great for Microsoft’s bandwidth, it means your local SSD is permanently storing gigabytes of obsolete update files. You cannot simply find these files and press the Delete key, because they are locked by the background Delivery Optimization service. To reclaim this space safely without corrupting future updates, you must use the built-in Windows Disk Cleanup utility.

How to Safely Delete the Windows 11 Delivery Optimization Cache

You must run the Disk Cleanup tool with administrative privileges to wipe the cache.

1. Click the Start button, type Disk Cleanup, and click the top result.
2. A small window will appear asking which drive you want to clean. Ensure (C:) is selected and click OK.
3. The standard Disk Cleanup window will open, but you will notice the Delivery Optimization cache is missing from the list. You must click the Clean up system files button located near the bottom left (this requires an administrator password/UAC confirmation).
4. Select your (C:) drive again and click OK. The tool will take a few moments to perform a deep scan of your protected system folders.
5. When the window reopens, scroll down the “Files to delete” list and check the box next to Delivery Optimization Files. (You will likely see it is consuming anywhere from 1 GB to 15 GB of space).
6. Ensure the box is checked, and click the OK button at the bottom.
7. A confirmation box will appear. Click Delete Files.

Windows 11 will gracefully stop the background peer-to-peer uploading service, permanently wipe the massive cache files from your SSD, and then restart the service cleanly. You have successfully reclaimed your storage space without breaking the Windows Update engine.