How to Remove Delivery Optimization Files on Windows

Before You Clean

Delivery Optimization stores update content for reuse. Cache removal recovers some storage but may require later downloads; it does not repair Windows Update.

Review and Clean Manually

1. Finish pending Windows updates and required restarts.

2. Open Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files and review Delivery Optimization Files, when offered.

3. Select that category only and use Remove files. Do not stop services or delete their storage directories as routine cleanup.

4. Review Delivery Optimization sharing settings separately if changing the download policy is part of the approved job.

5. Check actual free space afterwards. Windows may retain content still in use.

Where Kudu Helps

Kudu offers Delivery Optimization Cache as optional native Windows maintenance with explicit selection. It preserves pinned content and does not estimate savings from the entire cache.

Open Clean up > System Cleaner and run Scan. Review the relevant category and expand its results to inspect the paths. Set exclusions for anything you need to keep, then check the full selected total before Clean. Results search filters the view; it does not erase selections elsewhere.

After cleaning, check the summary and Activity > Cleanup receipts for removed, skipped, or failed items. A receipt is an outcome record, not a backup. Recovery Centre restores supported settings, not deleted files. Compare actual disk free space and test the original symptom; cache removal alone is not a promise of better performance.

Download Kudu Free → · Cleaning reference

References

• Official maintenance documentation
• Kudu cleaner rules