Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf a Windows 11 update fails, stalls, or seems to have downloaded damaged files, start with Microsoft’s automated Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Clear the update cache manually only if that does not resolve the problem. The manual method is to stop the Windows Update service, delete the contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, and start the service again. Treat this as a troubleshooting step. It is not a general PC-cleaning task, and it does not guarantee that the update will install.
What the update cache is and what clearing it does
Windows Update stores downloaded update files and working data in the SoftwareDistribution folder, which sits in the Windows directory at C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. If a download was interrupted or a file in that location became corrupted, a later attempt can keep failing on the same bad data. Clearing the contents removes that data so Windows Update has to start from a clean state.
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Clearing the cache does not repair damage elsewhere in Windows. If the underlying fault lies in another component, the update can fail again after the cache is empty. That is why the steps below begin with Microsoft’s built-in tool and end with guidance on identifying the specific error.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Step 1: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter in Get Help
Microsoft’s Windows 11 guidance says to run the automated Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app before attempting any manual fix.
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- Open the Start menu, search for Get Help, and open the app.
- Describe the problem as a Windows Update problem, then choose the option that starts the automated Windows Update troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen prompts and let the tool finish.
- Retry the update. If it still fails, move on to the manual cache clear below, or to the error-specific guidance if you have an error code.
Step 2: Clear the cache manually
This is the standard method described in Microsoft Support’s guidance for Windows 11 and Windows 10. You will need an account with administrator rights, because the folder is protected by Windows.
Stop the Windows Update service
- Press Win+R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - In the Services window, find Windows Update.
- Right-click Windows Update and choose Stop.
Stopping the service first prevents Windows Update from writing to the folder while you remove its contents.
Delete the contents of SoftwareDistribution
- Open File Explorer and go to
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. - Select the files and folders inside the directory and delete them.
Delete the contents only. Microsoft’s procedure does not call for deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder itself.
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Start the service again
- Return to Services by pressing Win+R, typing
services.msc, and pressing Enter. - Right-click Windows Update and choose Start.
- Retry the update through Windows Update.
If Windows will not delete the files
- Confirm that the Windows Update service shows as stopped in Services before trying again.
- Do not force the deletion or change folder permissions to get around the block. Microsoft’s guidance is to follow its official troubleshooting route instead.
- If the block persists, treat it as a diagnostic clue and look up the specific error code, as described in the final section.
A narrower alternative for error 0x80070570
Microsoft’s article for error 0x80070570 identifies corrupted files in %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download as one possible cause. It documents a narrower reset that removes only the Download subfolder, rather than all of SoftwareDistribution. Use this route only when that error code is the one you are seeing.
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the following commands in order:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
rd /s /q "%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download"
net start bits
net start wuauservThen restart the PC and try the update again. The same error article advises backing up the operating-system disk before troubleshooting that particular error. This is advice for that error’s troubleshooting path. It is not a requirement for every simple cache clear. If clearing the download cache does not resolve the error, the article moves on to component-store repair.
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Why the cache may not be the cause
Cache corruption is only one possible reason an update fails. For error 0x80070570, Microsoft lists several other causes:
- Damage to the component store.
- Disk or filesystem problems.
- Interference from security software.
- Interrupted or partial downloads.
If you have clearing the cache and the troubleshooter but the update still fails, the next step is to match the error code to the cause, not to repeat the deletion.
Escalation: broader component resets
Microsoft also documents broader resets for other errors. They affect more services and directories than the cache clear and belong to later-stage troubleshooting, not the first move.
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The reset sequence
Microsoft’s guidance for error 0x80070005 describes a reset that stops the BITS, Windows Update, and Cryptographic Services, then renames the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders so Windows creates fresh ones. Use this only after the earlier steps have failed and the error guidance points to it.
The ACL warning
Microsoft’s additional Windows Update resources warn that one of the service-reset steps can overwrite existing security ACLs for the BITS and Windows Update services. Microsoft says to skip that step unless earlier steps have failed. Read the full warning in the linked article before running any part of a broad reset.
Choosing the right approach
The methods differ in scope, interface, and the situation they are meant for. They are not interchangeable.
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| Approach | Scope | Interface | Best used when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get Help Windows Update troubleshooter | Automated checks and fixes chosen by Microsoft’s tool | Get Help app | The first step for any failed, stalled, or damaged update |
| Standard cache clear | All contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution |
Services and File Explorer | The troubleshooter did not fix the problem |
| Download-folder reset | Only %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\Download |
Elevated Command Prompt | Error 0x80070570 with corrupted download files |
| Broad component reset | BITS, Windows Update, Cryptographic Services, plus renamed SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 |
Command line, per Microsoft’s error-specific guidance | Earlier steps have failed and error-specific guidance directs you there; read the ACL warning first |
If the problem remains
Note the exact error code shown in Windows Update or in the update history, then look up that code in Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooting articles. The error-specific guidance will tell you which causes to check and which steps apply. Deleting cache contents repeatedly is unlikely to help if the error points to a different cause.
Sources
- Microsoft Support, Troubleshoot problems updating Windows (Windows 11 and Windows 10 guidance on the Get Help troubleshooter and the cache-clear procedure).
- Microsoft Learn, Troubleshoot Windows Update error 0x80070570 (possible causes, the Download-folder reset, and follow-up repair guidance).
- Microsoft Learn, Troubleshoot Windows Update error 0x80070005 (the broader component reset sequence and later repair steps).
- Microsoft Learn, Additional resources for Windows Update (reset guidance and the warning about overwriting service security ACLs).
Microsoft’s pages linked above do not publish success-rate statistics for these steps, so this article does not cite one.
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