Windows updates are generally divided into two types; monthly updates that contain security updates and patch small bugs, and major feature updates that roll out twice a year. The feature updates are massive in size compared to the monthly updates and installing them likewise takes more time than the monthly updates that are delivered.
Windows10Upgrade folder
The Windows10Upgrade folder is created when a major Windows 10 update i.e., a feature update is installed on your system. These updates are large in size and they require quite a bit of free space on your disk to install. Like many other updates, a feature update can go wrong and in order to prevent problems, files are saved to this folder to help with the update.
The Windows10Upgrade folder is important up until you’ve updated your Windows 10 system. Once the update is complete, you don’t need to keep the folder around. The Windows.old folder is what you need if you want to be able to roll back an update. The Windows10Upgrade folder has nothing to do with it. If you’re worried you might need it later, you can always back it up externally but this folder does not need to live in your Windows drive and take up space.
Remove Windows10Upgrade folder
There are two ways to remove the Windows10Upgrade folder.
1. Delete Windows10Upgrade folder
You will need admin rights to send the folder to the recycle bin.
- Sign in to your Windows 10 system with an admin account.
- Access the Windows drive (normally the C drive).
- Look for the Windows10Upgrade folder and select it.
- Click Delete to send it to the Recycle bin, or Shift+Delete to delete it without sending it to the Recycle Bin.
- If prompted to grant Admin rights, click the Continue button on the prompt and wait for the folder to be removed.
2. Uninstall Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant
The Windows10Upgrade folder is created by a tool called the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant which is installed when you update your system. Removing this tool will remove the folder that it created.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs>Uninstall a program.
- Look for and select Windows 10 Update Assistant.
- Click the Uninstall button at the top.
- A new window will open. Click Uninstall to confirm you want to remove the upgrade assistant tool.
- Once the tool has been uninstalled, the Windows10Upgrade folder will be gone.
Conclusion
The Windows10Upgrade folder is usually small in size. It’s barely more than a few MBs but if you’re low on storage space on the C drive, you will want to save every bit of space that you can. A Windows 10 update normally leaves quite a few residual files once it’s finished so running a disk clean up after an update has been installed is a good idea to make sure space isn’t being wasted.