What you need to know
- After updating to the Windows 11 2024 Update, PCs are showing an 8.63GB set of files that cannot be deleted.
- Major Windows 11 upgrades usually leave a large chunk of files on a system, but you have the option to delete those files.
- Several people have reported the storage bug after installing the Windows 11 2024 Update, and we have been able to replicate it on several PCs.
Microsoft rolled out the Windows 11 2024 Update recently, bringing new features and performance improvements to PCs. Unfortunately, the update also brings a bug that effectively steals 8.63GB of storage on your system. Following the update, PCs will show 8.63GB of files in the "Windows Update Cleanup" section of Temporary files. While Windows presents an option to delete the files, electing to do so fails to clear a PC's storage.
After updating to a new version of Windows 11, it's normal to see a sizeable group of files, but Windows gives you the option to delete those files. That does not appear to be the case after the Windows 11 2024 Update.
Some debate if the 8.63GB of files stuck on systems is due to a bug or not. Windows has allowed you to delete these types of files for years, so it seems unlikely that would change. Even if there was a change to Windows 11 that resulted in those files having to stay in place, it would be an issue to show them in Storage Sense. Having Storage Sense show 8.63GB of files that can be deleted only to not be able to delete those files is a poor user experience.
The storage issue has been flagged up several times across the web, including by Eleven Forum members and people on the My Digital Life forum. Neowin covered the phenomenon, and we have been able to replicate the issue on several PCs as well.
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What's new in Windows 11 2024 Update?
Hopefully Microsoft fixes the storage bug seen in the Windows 11 2024 Update, because the update delivers several improvements. In addition to a lengthy list of new features and changes, Microsoft made significant changes to the underlying platform of Windows when making Windows 11 version 24H2. As a result, there's a noticeable performance improvement when running the latest version of the operating system.
While the Windows 11 2024 Update is meant for PCs with official support for the update, even unsupported systems have seen a performance bump after upgrading.
Here's a quick rundown of the biggest changes brought by the Windows 11 2024 Update, as listed by our Senior Editor Zac Bowden:
- File Explorer home tab now includes updated layout with shared documents
- You can now duplicate tabs by right-clicking the tab.
- Context Menu layout has been updated with better labelling to be easier to use.
- You can now create .7z and .TAR archive formats.
- You can view your Android phone's file system directly in File Explorer
- A new Outlook app for email, calendar, and contact is included
- Microsoft has updated Copilot as a standalone web app
- Photos now includes AI-enhanced generative erase and background editing
- Windows Update now supports checkpoints and hot patching for faster and less obtrusive updates
- Voice Clarity uses AI to remove background noise picked up by your microphone in supported apps
- Power settings for plugged/unplugged state can now be configured simultaneously
- A new Energy Saver mode replaces battery saver and applies to both laptops and desktops
- You can now configure mouse scroll wheel direction in Settings
- Wi-Fi 7 hardware is now supported
- New PRISM emulation layer makes x86 emulated apps run better on Arm
- Arm-based devices should now run smoother
- Phone Link is now integrated with the Start menu
- Taskbar system tray layout has been simplified
- Quick Settings has been rebuilt to be faster and more customizable
- Windows Spotlight image is now the default wallpaper setting
- You can now set HDR images as a desktop wallpaper
