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How to Clear the Delivery Optimization Cache in Windows 11

Clear Windows 11 Delivery Optimization files with Disk Cleanup, and learn why the cache can return and when advanced options are appropriate.
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To clear the Delivery Optimization cache in Windows 11, use the built-in Disk Cleanup app: select Delivery Optimization Files, choose OK, then confirm Delete Files. This removes cached delivery files without requiring you to turn off Windows updates or delete files from a system folder. Microsoft Support documents this method.

Clear the cache with Disk Cleanup

  1. Select Search on the taskbar, type Disk Cleanup, and open the app from the results.

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  2. If Windows asks which drive to clean, choose the drive containing your Windows installation—usually C:—and continue.

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  3. On the Disk Cleanup tab, select the checkbox for Delivery Optimization Files. Leave other categories unchecked if you only want to target this cache.

  4. Select OK, then confirm by choosing Delete Files.

Windows removes the selected cached files. The amount of space reclaimed depends on what is stored on your device; Microsoft does not give a standard cache size or amount of space to expect.

What the Delivery Optimization cache is for

Delivery Optimization helps Windows obtain updates, Microsoft Store apps, and other Microsoft content. Depending on the device’s configuration, downloads can come from Microsoft or from other PCs on a local network or the internet. The cache holds delivery files that can help with these downloads. Microsoft’s overview explains how Delivery Optimization works.

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Windows also clears the cache automatically

Manual cleanup is optional for routine maintenance: Microsoft Support says Delivery Optimization clears its cache automatically after a short time or when the cached files take up too much disk space. Clearing it yourself is useful when you want to reclaim space now. Cache files may return as Windows or another integrated app or service downloads content later. Microsoft Learn describes when Delivery Optimization starts.

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Do not turn off downloads from other PCs just to clear the cache

The Allow downloads from other PCs setting controls whether a device can obtain eligible content from other PCs; it is not the cache-clearing control. Turning it off does not disable updates. It means the device downloads updates directly from Microsoft rather than getting them from a local machine that already has the content. On a work- or school-managed device, an administrator may make this setting unavailable or require Delivery Optimization. Microsoft Support explains the setting and its effect.

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Advanced option: clear the cache with PowerShell

Administrators can use Microsoft’s Delete-DeliveryOptimizationCache PowerShell cmdlet to clear Delivery Optimization cache files. Its options include targeting a file with -FileID, including pinned files with -IncludePinnedFiles, and suppressing confirmation prompts with -Force. This is a more specialized route than Disk Cleanup; consult Microsoft Learn’s cmdlet reference for syntax and behavior before using it.

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If the issue is more than disk space

If downloads or peer-to-peer delivery are not working as expected, use Microsoft’s Delivery Optimization Troubleshooter as a diagnostic tool. It checks device configuration, peer-to-peer efficiency and settings, and Microsoft Connected Cache connectivity; it is not presented as a guaranteed way to reclaim cache space. See Microsoft’s troubleshooting guide.

Quick Recap

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