How to remove the Windows10Upgrade folder
If you need to remove Windows10Upgrade folder from your system, you’re not alone — many users discover this folder taking up space on their C drive after a major Windows 10 feature update. Windows updates are generally divided into two types: monthly updates that contain security patches and bug fixes, and major feature updates that roll out twice a year. The feature updates are massive in size compared to the monthly updates, and installing them likewise takes more time than the smaller monthly updates that are delivered.
What Is the Windows10Upgrade Folder?
The Windows10Upgrade folder is created by the Windows 10 Update Assistant — a dedicated tool Microsoft uses to push major version upgrades to your PC. Its usual location is C:\Windows10Upgrade, though it can also appear on a secondary drive (such as D:) if the Update Assistant stored upgrade files there during the process. Inside, you’ll typically find setup files, upgrade logs, and sometimes large .ESD installation files that the assistant used to carry out the upgrade.
These updates are large in size, and they require quite a bit of free space on your disk to install. Like many other updates, a feature update can go wrong, and in order to prevent problems, files are saved to this folder to help with the update process.
The Windows10Upgrade folder is important up until you’ve successfully updated your Windows 10 system. Once the update is complete, you don’t need to keep the folder around. The Windows.old folder is what you need if you want to be able to roll back an update — the Windows10Upgrade folder has nothing to do with rollbacks. If you’re worried you might need it later, you can always back it up externally, but this folder does not need to live on your Windows drive and take up valuable space. According to Microsoft’s official support documentation, cleaning up residual update files is a safe and recommended practice after feature updates are installed.
How to Check Whether It’s Safe to Delete
Before removing the Windows10Upgrade folder, take a moment to confirm that the upgrade has fully completed. Deleting the folder mid-upgrade can interrupt the process, so run through these quick checks first:
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and verify there is no pending install or restart waiting.
- Open the Start menu, click the power icon, and confirm you do not see “Update and restart” or “Update and shut down” listed as options.
- Confirm your PC has already restarted at least once since the upgrade completed — Windows applies final changes during that restart.
- Optionally, press Win + R, type winver, and press Enter to verify that the expected version of Windows 10 is already active on your system.
If all of the above checks pass, the upgrade is done. Deleting the Windows10Upgrade folder at this point will not affect normal Windows use or your ability to work with your system — the folder is simply leftover installation material that Windows no longer needs.
How to Remove Windows10Upgrade Folder
There are two ways to remove the Windows10Upgrade folder from your system. Both methods are straightforward and require only a few minutes to complete.
1. Delete Windows10Upgrade Folder Manually
You will need admin rights to send the folder to the recycle bin. This is the quickest way to remove Windows10Upgrade folder contents from your drive.
- Sign in to your Windows 10 system with an admin account.
- Access the Windows drive (normally the C drive).
- Look for the Windows10Upgrade folder and select it.
- Click Delete to send it to the Recycle bin, or Shift+Delete to delete it without sending it to the Recycle Bin.
- If prompted to grant Admin rights, click the Continue button on the prompt and wait for the folder to be removed.
If you cannot find the folder in the root of the C drive, make sure hidden files and folders are visible. Open File Explorer, click the View tab, and check the Hidden items checkbox to reveal any folders that may be concealed by default.
If the folder won’t delete: A running Update Assistant process can lock the folder and prevent deletion. Here’s how to resolve that:
- Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
- Click the Processes tab and look for any process related to Windows 10 Update Assistant (it may appear as Windows10UpgraderApp.exe or similar).
- Select that process and click End Task.
- Restart your PC, then attempt to delete the Windows10Upgrade folder again.
If the Windows10Upgrade folder appears on a secondary drive such as D: rather than on C:, it may contain large .ESD files — these are leftover upgrade source files that the Update Assistant downloaded to that drive. Once you have confirmed the upgrade is fully complete (see the checklist above), those files are safe to delete manually just like any other folder.
2. Uninstall Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant
The Windows10Upgrade folder is created by a tool called the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant, which is installed when you update your system. Removing this tool will remove the folder that it created, making it a clean and thorough solution.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Programs>Uninstall a program.
- Look for and select Windows 10 Update Assistant.
- Click the Uninstall button at the top.
- A new window will open. Click Uninstall to confirm you want to remove the upgrade assistant tool.
- Once the tool has been uninstalled, the Windows10Upgrade folder will be gone.
This method is especially useful if you want to ensure the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant does not recreate the folder in the future. Uninstalling the tool prevents it from running in the background and generating new files on your drive.
Conclusion
The Windows10Upgrade folder can vary significantly in size depending on what the Update Assistant left behind. After a clean upgrade it may only take up tens of megabytes, but when it contains leftover setup media, incomplete upgrade files, or .ESD installation files, it can grow much larger — some users report folders of 3 GB, 6 GB, or even 11 GB. If you’re low on storage space on the C drive, removing it can make a meaningful difference.
To remove Windows10Upgrade folder safely, use either the manual deletion method or uninstall the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant through Control Panel. Both approaches are effective, and neither will affect your ability to use Windows normally. Once removed, consider running the built-in Disk Cleanup tool or Storage Sense to clear out any other leftover update files and keep your system running efficiently.
