Changing default download and storage location for Windows updates

Question

I recently discovered that my C drive is nearly full, while my D drive has much more space. However, even though I've set my default download and storage location to the D drive, my Windows updates still go to the C drive. Is there a way to permanently switch the default location for Windows updates to the D drive? Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer 1

1. Create a Folder on D Drive:
   • Create a folder on your D Drive where you want the updates to be downloaded, for example, D:\WindowsUpdate.
2. Stop Windows Update Service:
   • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
   • Type net stop wuauserv and press Enter.
3. Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder:
   • Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and rename it to SoftwareDistribution.old.
4. Create Symlink:
   • In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

          mklink /j C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution D:\WindowsUpdate
     

5. Restart Windows Update Service:
   • Type net start wuauserv and press Enter.

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hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Hello, Yes, you can change the default location for Windows updates to the D drive. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I.
2. Click on "Update & Security."
3. Click on "Advanced options."
4. Under "Choose where updates are installed," click on the drop-down menu and select "D:."
5. Check the box that says "New apps will save to:" and select "D:."
6. Close the Settings app. Or I suggest you refer to the solution in this link: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-change-windows-10-updates-download-location/af61b88d-ec62-4e76-9a61-6f5b8ce4954a?page=1 Hope it helps. Best Regards,
   Hania Lian ============================================ If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

Answer 3

Step-by-Step Guide to Change Windows Update Download Location to D Drive

Method 1: Using Symbolic Links (Recommended)

1. Create a folder on D drive:
   • Open File Explorer and navigate to D drive
   • Right-click → New → Folder → Name it "WindowsUpdate" (or any name you prefer)
2. Locate the current Windows Update folder:
   • Go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
3. Backup existing downloads:
   • Copy any existing files from the Download folder to a temporary location
4. Delete the original Download folder:
   • Delete the contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download (you may need admin permissions)
5. Create a symbolic link:
   • Open Command Prompt as Administrator
   • Type: mklink /J "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" "D:\WindowsUpdate"
   • Press Enter

Method 2: Change Registry Settings (Advanced)

1. Open Registry Editor:

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter

2. Navigate to the Windows Update key:
   • Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate
3. Create a new String Value:
   • Right-click → New → String Value
   • Name it DownloadPath
4. Set the new download path:
   • Double-click the new value
   • Enter D:\WindowsUpdate (or your preferred path)
   • Click OK
5. Restart Windows Update service:
   • Open Command Prompt as Admin
   • Run: net stop wuauserv then net start wuauserv

Important Notes:

• Some Windows Update components may still use C drive temporarily
• Major updates may revert these settings
• Always create a system restore point before making registry changes
• The symbolic link method is generally more reliable than registry changes

Answer 4

"Move."

If a verb feels too abrupt:

"Redirect."(Simple and clear—captures the goal of sending updates elsewhere.)

Need it even friendlier?

"Change."(The simplest everyday term for adjusting the storage location.)