What is winsxs?

WinSxS (Windows Side-by-Side) is a folder in Windows operating systems that contains all of the system components required for the installation of optional Windows components, updates, and service packs. It can occupy a large amount of space on a Windows system drive and can cause performance issues if not managed properly.

The WinSxS folder includes multiple versions of system files to ensure compatibility between different applications and processes. This approach allows Windows to run multiple versions of the same program without conflicts.

The folder can be cleaned up using tools such as Disk Cleanup and Windows Update Cleanup. However, it is generally not recommended to manually delete files from the WinSxS folder as it can cause system instability and potential data loss.