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WinSxS folder (component store)

What C:\Windows\WinSxS is, why Explorer overstates its size, and how to shrink it only with supported DISM commands.

Windows · Rain Wiki

WinSxS is the Windows component store, located at C:\Windows\WinSxS. It holds the files Windows needs to install features, apply updates and repair itself. Explorer overstates its size because most files are hard links shared with the Windows folder, and it must never be deleted by hand.

Why it looks so large

Many files in WinSxS are hard-linked into C:\Windows\System32 and other folders. Explorer counts them twice, so the folder appears bigger than the space it really uses.

DISM can report the real size: 'Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore' shows the actual size of the component store and whether a cleanup is recommended.

How it is cleaned

Windows cleans superseded components automatically with the StartComponentCleanup scheduled task. You can run the same cleanup manually with 'Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup'.

Adding /ResetBase removes all superseded versions of every component. After that, updates that are already installed can no longer be uninstalled.

How to check and reduce WinSxS

  1. Open Terminal (Admin).
  2. Run: Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore
  3. If 'Component Store Cleanup Recommended' is Yes, run: Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
  4. Only if you are sure you will not need to uninstall current updates: Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase

Cautions

  • Never delete files from WinSxS manually or change its permissions: Windows Update and repairs can stop working.
  • /ResetBase makes installed updates permanent.

Sources

Last updated: 2026-10-08

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