How much storage space is required to download and install Windows 11 24H2?

Question

Hello community supporters,

is there a reliable figure that states how much free storage space is required to install the Windows 11 24H2 update on a regularly updated Windows 11 installation?

I've been trying to install the update on a Surface Go 3 with 64 GB of storage. After receiving the same "temporarily free some storage space" error multiple times, I iteratively uninstalled almost every application and deleted the /Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder as advised in a different thread. The result was over 20 GB of free memory on the system partition according to Explorer, but still the same error. I even tried to reset the entire installation, choosing to delete everything and reformat the storage, but that failed as well, "nothing was changed, return to Windows 11".

Note that I was *not* impacted by the 8.63 GB undeletable cleanup file issue. Is there any official statement by MS? Currently I have to assume that 24H2 is not supported on Surface Go 3, and I'm stuck with no way forward and no way back.

Thanks,

Stefan

Answer 1

Hi Dave,

thanks for your response. So that means since of the 64 GB total storage space almost 30 will already be taken by a bare Windows installation without much in terms of apps, I will never be able to free up enough memory and won't ever be able to install the 24H2 update on my Surface Go 3? Wow, that's something ...

Best,

Stefan

Answer 2

Hi, I am Dave, I will help you with this.

You need approximately 40GB of space to upgrade to version 24H2, because the current Windows folder will be backed up into a folder named Windows.Old on the C drive, then you need space for the upgrade files to download and also temp files.

HI Dave,

I have a desktop PC with a similar issue. I have a 100Gb C: drive SSD, and a 1TB HDD. update to 24H2 keeps failing as 'unable to determine if i have sufficient space'.

I cannot get 40Gb free on my SSD, is there any way for windows update to use the D: drive? I have never had an issue in the past when installing updates.

Thanks,

Andrew

Answer 3

This update is a **** joke, theres absolutely nothing good in this update, just a bunch of garbage apps bloatware and useless irrelevant **** thats taking up space. I tried to install it, it told me to delete 9.6gb so I did. Tried it again then it told me I need to delete 10gb more ****. I literally dont have enough space on my computer to download this pos update. Its just ruining my computer now, auto downloading and installing just to fail installing in a constant loop doing the same **** smh. **** you

Answer 4

I'm in the same boat. I have a fairly new HP netbook with a 64GB SDD for C drive and there is no way I can clear 40GB of space, I have no apps installed on the C drive, and Win 11 takes at least 25GB. I can see no way forwards at the moment.

Answer 5

Glad to help!