How do I clean-up appdata\local\packages... folders that contain old attachments and photos

Question

There are several folders under users...\appdata\local\packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_... \localstate\files\s0\ then numbers, ie 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 128... with subfolders called "attachments" and "photos". Some of these appears to be attachments from emails, but there are also website logos, etc. Many of these are very old.

Is there a way to clean up these files other than individually going into the "attachments" and "photos" for each "numbered" subfolder?

Is there a setting to get Windows to clear these out, routinely.

Answer 1

Hello ced2

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

According to your description you want clean these files routinely. You can try following these steps to clear these files.

1. In the desktop create a new TXT file. Enter this command.

del /f /s /q C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\Files\S0\.**

You need change the path to your path. You can copy the path in Windows explorer.

2. Change .txt to .bat
3. Run this Bat file it will clear all files under S0
4. For clear the files routinely we need using Task Scheduler Search "Task Scheduler" in Search Bar
5. Click it and create a new Task
6. Setting like this. You can change "Name" and "Description" as you want

7. Click Triggers. Click new. Set the time you want.

8.Click Actions. Click new. Click Browser. Choose the bat file you made before.

9. You will see this task in Tash Scheduler Library .

Your patience and cooperation are highly appreciated.

Best Regards,

Tommy-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

Tommy -

Thank you for the information. I will try this out.

I have a related question: Why does Windows even store/save these files with no automatic cleanup?

Are there other folders with this type of old/outdated files that can also be cleaned up?

Thanks.

Answer 3

Hi ced2

Thanks for your reply

Some users will configure POP, It will make the data on the server will be cleaned after mail synchronization,If Windows

celaned atuomatically, these user may lost this data So Windows does't clean this data automatically.

The command I give you means clean all files under the path you give, you can change any path you want to clean all

files under this path

Best Regards,

Tommy-MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 4

I am on Windows 10 and have manually purged the largest file (SO\1882\Attachments) found under SO

it keeps repopulating

the SO folder is now 1.45GB

if this is a mail or calendar setup issue then MS should find a way to help us configure and choose if we want this file populated

does windows 11 have this problem?

Answer 5

probably because they want us to use onedrive. I just found a whatsapp folder worth 77GB, no wonder I cant update my drivers..