Bottom Line: It is completely safe to delete the Delivery Optimization cache to free up space. You must use the Windows Disk Cleanup tool to do it safely.
What is the DeliveryOptimization folder?
Located deep in your system drive at C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization, this folder acts like a torrent client for Windows Updates.
Instead of every computer in the world downloading the exact same 5GB Windows Update directly from Microsoft’s servers, Microsoft uses “Delivery Optimization.” Your PC downloads the update, saves a copy in this folder, and then secretly uploads pieces of it to other Windows 10/11 computers on the internet (or just other PCs in your house) to speed up their downloads.
Can you delete it?
✅ Yes, it is perfectly safe to delete.
Once your own PC has successfully updated, you do not need to keep these files. Deleting them just means your computer will stop acting as a free file-sharing server for Microsoft.
How to safely delete it
Because this is a protected system folder, do not try to manually right-click and delete it. Use the official cleanup tool:
- Open the Start Menu, type Disk Cleanup, and press Enter.
- Select your
C:drive. - Scroll down the list and find Delivery Optimization Files.
- Check the box next to it.
- Click OK and confirm the deletion.
(Bonus tip: To stop this folder from filling up again, go to Windows Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Delivery Optimization, and turn it OFF).
What happens after you delete it?
You instantly regain all the disk space it was consuming. Your computer will continue to function flawlessly, and you will still receive future Windows Updates directly from Microsoft.
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