Windows 10 – How to Clean Windows\Installer Folder

disk-spacewindows 10

My C:\Windows\Installer folder is huge: 14 GB. My understanding is that this is where failed updates go to die, and it should not be this big. What is the correct way to clean it on Windows 10?

Best Answer

There is a relatively new tool called PatchCleaner which detects and can delete old MSI/MSP files.

PatchCleaner Screenshot

From the PatchCleaner page:

Windows Installer Directory When applications are installed and updated on the Windows Operating System a hidden directory "c:\Windows\Installer" is used to store the installer (.msi) files and the patch (.msp) files.

Generally these files are important as during updating, patching or uninstalling software it will use the .msi/.msp files. If you blanketly delete all the files in this folder, you will find yourself needing to rebuild windows.

Over time as your computer is patched and patched again, these installer files become outdated and orphaned. They are no longer required, but they can take up many gigabytes of data.

PatchCleaner PatchCleaner identifies these redundant/orphaned files and allows you to either:

(Recommended) Move them to another location. If you want to play it safe, just move them to another location, and you can always copy them back. Delete them.

First use the move option and wait a few days before you delete the moved files.

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