How To Clear the Delivery Optimization Cache in Windows 11/10

Is your computer’s hard drive suddenly full, and you can’t figure out why? You’ve deleted old movies, emptied the recycle bin, and uninstalled unused apps, yet a mysterious chunk of storage remains stubbornly occupied. The culprit might be hiding in plain sight: the Delivery Optimization cache.

Windows 10 and 11 include a feature called Delivery Optimization, designed to speed up the process of getting updates and apps from Microsoft. While the intention is good, the feature can quietly accumulate gigabytes of temporary files on your system drive. Worse, because it partially functions like a peer-to-peer network, your computer might be using your precious bandwidth to upload these cached files to other PCs on the internet or your local network.

This isn’t just a problem of lost disk space; it can also be a privacy concern and a drain on your network performance. Clearing this cache is a critical maintenance task that can instantly reclaim storage and stop unwanted background uploads.

In this detailed guide, we will walk you through exactly what the Delivery Optimization cache is, why you should clear it, and four distinct methods to wipe it clean—ranging from simple point-and-click solutions to advanced command-line tools. We’ll also answer frequently asked questions to ensure you have complete control over your system’s storage and bandwidth.

Why Clear the Delivery Optimization Cache?

Before diving into the “how,” it’s crucial to understand the “why.” Simply deleting the cache isn’t just a one-time fix; it has immediate and long-term benefits for your system’s health.

1. Recover Substantial Disk Space

This is the most common reason. The cache can store update files for multiple versions of Windows, drivers, and Microsoft Store apps. If you haven’t cleaned it in months, it can easily balloon to 10GB, 20GB, or even more. For users with smaller SSDs (like 128GB or 256GB), this is a critical waste of valuable real estate.

2. Regain Control Over Your Bandwidth

Delivery Optimization turns your PC into an update server. By default, Windows can send cached update parts to other computers, not just on your local network, but across the internet. If you have a data cap or simply notice your internet is slow, a massive cache actively being uploaded to strangers could be the hidden cause. Clearing the cache halts this process from those specific files.

3. Resolve Stubborn Update Errors

Sometimes, Windows Update fails not because of a corrupt download, but because of a corrupt cached version of the download. When you try to install an update, Windows checks the cache first. If that local copy is damaged, the installation will repeatedly fail with cryptic error codes like 0x80246007 or 0x80070002. Clearing the cache forces Windows to download a fresh, clean copy from Microsoft’s servers.

4. Enhance Privacy and Security

While the data in the cache is encrypted and Microsoft claims it’s impossible to extract a full file from a single cached “piece,” the principle of your computer silently communicating and sharing data with random IP addresses makes many users uncomfortable. Wiping the cache gives you a clean slate, after which you can choose to disable the P2P upload feature entirely for maximum privacy.

Preparation: Turn Off Delivery Optimization (Recommended)

Before deleting the cache, it’s smart to temporarily disable the service. If you don’t, it might immediately start rebuilding the cache as soon as you delete it, or you might run into a “File in Use” error.

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
Click on Update & Security (Windows 10) or Windows Update (Windows 11).
Select Delivery Optimization (in Windows 11, you’ll find it under “Advanced options”).
Toggle Allow downloads from other PCs to Off.
Close the Settings window. You can turn it back on after cleaning if you wish.

Method 1: The Disk Cleanup Tool (Easiest for Beginners)

This is the most user-friendly, graphical method. It poses no risk of deleting the wrong thing via command lines.

Steps:

Click the Start button and type Disk Cleanup. Launch the app.
A small window will pop up asking you to select a drive. Your system drive is usually C:. Select it and click OK.
The tool will scan for files to delete. This might take a minute.
In the “Files to delete” list, look for the checkbox named Delivery Optimization Files. You will see the size of the cache on the right.
Crucial Step: Ensure only “Delivery Optimization Files” is checked. Uncheck items like “Recycle Bin” or “Downloads” if you don’t want to delete them accidentally.
Click OK, then click Delete Files in the confirmation dialog.
A progress bar will appear as Windows purges the cache. Once it disappears, the space is recovered.

Method 2: Windows Settings (Quick and Modern)

Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in “Storage Sense” feature that provides a visual interface for this specific task.

Steps:

Open Settings (Win + I).
Go to System > Storage.
Click on Temporary files. Windows will now scan your entire system for temporary data. Wait for the list to fully populate.
Scroll down the list until you find Delivery Optimization Files. Check the box next to it. Note the size—it could be surprisingly large.
Look at the top of the window. Click the Remove files button.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Click Continue to finalize the deletion. The space is freed instantly.

Method 3: Reset via PowerShell (For Stuck Services)

Sometimes the service gets stuck. The UI methods might fail because the service “holds onto” the files. This command-line method stops the service completely, wipes the data, and resets the internal state.

Steps:

Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
You must stop the service first. Type the following command and press Enter:
powershell
```
Stop-Service -Name DoSvc -Force
```
Next, we need to delete the cache folder. Type this command and press Enter:
powershell
```
Remove-Item -Path C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DeliveryOptimization\* -Recurse -Force
```
- If you see red error text saying files are in use, repeat step 2 and run the command again quickly before the service restarts.

For a thorough reset, you can also clear the related temp folders:

Remove-Item -Path "C:\Windows\Temp\*" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Finally, restart the service:
powershell
```
Start-Service -Name DoSvc
```
Close PowerShell. Your cache is now completely wiped.

Method 4: Command Prompt (Classic Administrative Cleanup)

This method uses the Disk Cleanup utility’s advanced command-line parameters to target the Delivery Optimization cache programmatically.

Steps:

Type cmd in the Start menu, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
First, we need to create a “sageset” profile to configure what Disk Cleanup will delete. Run:
cmd
```
Cleanmgr /sageset:100
```
- A dialog box will appear. Scroll down and check only “Delivery Optimization Files.” Click OK. This saves the configuration as profile #100.
Now, execute the cleanup with the profile you just created:
cmd
```
Cleanmgr /sagerun:100
```
Disk Cleanup will run silently in the background, targeting only the files you selected. You’ll see a command prompt window briefly; wait for it to disappear. The task is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is it safe to delete Delivery Optimization Files?

Absolutely, 100% safe. These files are purely temporary caches of Windows updates and Store apps. Deleting them will not break your system or remove any personal data. If an update is needed again, Windows will simply download it fresh from Microsoft’s servers.

Q2: Will clearing the cache speed up my computer?

It won’t magically increase processing speed, but it will free up storage space, which drastically improves performance on near-full SSDs. Additionally, if your internet was slow due to background uploads, stopping the service will instantly improve network responsiveness.

Q3: Do I need to delete the “Windows.old” folder when cleaning Delivery Optimization?

No. The Windows.old folder is a separate entity created after a major feature update (like moving from Windows 10 to 11), allowing you to roll back. Delivery Optimization Files are strictly the cached update binaries. You can use Disk Cleanup (“Previous Windows Installations”) to remove Windows.old separately.

Q4: The cache keeps filling up immediately. How do I stop it permanently?

You have two options:

Disable it fully: Settings > Update & Security > Delivery Optimization > Turn Off “Allow downloads from other PCs.” This stops the P2P traffic entirely, though you’ll still get updates directly from Microsoft.
Limit to Local Network: Turn on “Allow downloads from other PCs” but select PCs on my local network. This prevents uploads to the internet but keeps the caching benefits inside your home.

Q5: Why is my Delivery Optimization Cache empty, but I still have no disk space?

Other large hidden caches could be the cause. Scan with a tool like WizTree or TreeSize Free to visualize your disk usage. Common culprits are System Restore Points, hibernation files (hiberfil.sys), browser caches, and NVIDIA driver installers.

Conclusion

The Delivery Optimization cache is a classic double-edged sword of modern operating systems. Designed with the good intention of accelerating updates, it often acts as a silent leech on your storage capacity and upload bandwidth. Learning how to manually evict these files isn’t just a “tech trick”—it’s an essential part of digital hygiene.

In this guide, we’ve given you the full toolkit. Whether you prefer the safety of the graphical Disk Cleanup tool, the simplicity of Windows Settings, or the surgical precision of PowerShell, you now have the power to reclaim your drive.

Make it a habit. Once a month, or whenever you notice your free space mysteriously shrinking, check your Temporary Files in Settings. Two minutes of maintenance can save you the hours of frustration that come with a “Drive Full” warning or a botched Windows Update. Take control of your system, clear that cache, and enjoy the restored performance and peace of mind.