How to Clear the Delivery Optimization cache in Windows 11

The Delivery Optimization cache in Windows 11 stores files from past Windows updates and app downloads so your PC can share them with other devices on your network. Over time, these temporary files can swell to take up several gigabytes of valuable storage space on your hard drive.

Windows usually deletes these files automatically, but you can clear the cache manually through the Settings ⚙️ app whenever you need to free up disk space right away.

Step-by-Step: Using Disk Cleanup

Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to clear these cached files and reclaim disk space. Open the Start menu ⊞, search for Disk Cleanup, and select the tool to begin scanning your drive for temporary update files. Once the scan finishes, check the box next to Delivery Optimization Files and click OK to delete them permanently.

1. Open the Search 🔍 Bar: Look for the search 🔍 icon on your taskbar 🖥️, usually near the Start button ⊞. Click it.
2. Type “Disk Cleanup”: In the search 🔍 bar that appears, type Disk Cleanup. You will see the Disk Cleanup app in the search 🔍 results.
3. Launch the App: Click on the Disk Cleanup app from the search 🔍 results to open it.
4. Select the Drive: A small window will open asking you to choose which drive to clean. Most of the time, you’ll want to pick your main Windows drive, which is usually labeled C:. Click OK after you select the drive.
5. Wait for Analysis: Disk Cleanup will now scan your chosen drive to see what files it can remove. This might take a minute or two.
6. Find Delivery Optimization Files: After the scan finishes, another window will show different types of files you can delete. Look through this list for an item called Delivery Optimization Files. Make sure to put a checkmark in the box next to it.
7. Confirm Deletion: After checking the box for Delivery Optimization Files (and any other items you want to remove), click the OK button at the bottom of the window.
8. Final Confirmation: A message box will appear asking if you are sure you want to delete these files. Click Delete Files to continue.
9. Let it Finish: Disk Cleanup will now remove the files you selected, including the contents of your Delivery Optimization cache. This might take a while, depending on how much data is being removed and how fast your computer is.
   

References:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows/Deployment/Updates-Lifecycle/delivery-optimization-in-windows

Summary

Clearing the Delivery Optimization cache helps free up space on your hard drive in Windows 11. The built-in Disk Cleanup utility handles this task in a few clicks without requiring third-party software.