Who This Affects and What Fixes It
This guide is for small-business employees whose Windows computer is running low on disk space and have been told—or suspect—that the WinSxS component cache folder is unusually large. Running the built-in DISM cleanup command removes old, unneeded component versions from the cache and frees up disk space without harming your Windows installation.
Before You Begin
You will need to run a command as an administrator on the affected Windows computer. Make sure you have administrator rights before proceeding. Save any open work before starting, as the process may take several minutes.
Steps to Clean Up the WinSxS Component Cache
- Click the Start button and type cmd in the search box.
- Right-click Command Prompt in the search results and select Run as administrator. Confirm any User Account Control prompt that appears.
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command exactly as shown and press Enter:
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup - Wait for the process to complete. You will see a progress indicator. This may take several minutes depending on your system.
- Once you see a success message, close the Command Prompt window.
- Check your available disk space to confirm storage has been reclaimed.
Need Help?
If you run into errors during this process or the command does not resolve your disk space issue, reach out to your IT support team. If your business is supported by Advanced Computer Solutions, you can contact us at acsapp.com/contact-us.
Common questions
Is it safe to clean up the WinSxS folder?
Yes. Using the built-in DISM command to run a component cleanup is a safe, Microsoft-supported method. It only removes old versions of components that Windows no longer needs, leaving your current system files intact.
How long does the WinSxS cleanup command take to run?
The time varies depending on your computer’s speed and how much data needs to be cleaned up. In most cases the process completes within a few minutes. Let it run until you see a success message before closing the Command Prompt.
How much disk space will I get back after running the cleanup?
The amount of space recovered depends on how many old component versions are stored on your specific system. Results vary from computer to computer. After the command finishes, check your available disk space to see the difference.