Quick answer: C:\$GetCurrent is a hidden folder that Windows Update creates at the root of your system drive while it installs a feature update (a new Windows version). It holds setup logs and sometimes installation files. Once the update has finished and your PC is working normally, it’s generally safe to delete: show hidden items in File Explorer, right-click $GetCurrent and select Delete, then empty the Recycle Bin. Don’t delete it while an update is still downloading or waiting for a restart.
Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10. The folder is usually on C:, the drive Windows is installed on.
In this guide
What is the $GetCurrent folder?
When Windows upgrades itself to a new version, its setup process creates a few temporary folders whose names start with a dollar sign, so they sort to the top and are easy to tell apart from your own files. C:\$GetCurrent is one of them. Inside you’ll usually find a Logs folder and, on some PCs, a media folder with files that setup used during the upgrade.
Microsoft doesn’t document this folder in detail, but its job ends once the update is installed. Windows doesn’t always remove it afterwards, which is why many people only notice it months later when looking for lost disk space.
| Folder | What it’s for |
|---|---|
$GetCurrent | Logs and files from a feature update |
$Windows.~BT | Temporary setup files for an upgrade |
$Windows.~WS | Files from an upgrade started with Microsoft’s media or update tools |
Windows.old | Your previous Windows version, kept so you can go back |
Is it safe to delete?
In most cases, yes, as long as these are true:
- The feature update has finished installing and you’ve restarted at least once.
- Settings > Windows Update doesn’t show an update downloading, installing or waiting for a restart.
- Windows is running normally.
Deleting $GetCurrent doesn’t remove your apps or files. The option to go back to your previous version of Windows relies on Windows.old, not on this folder, so leave Windows.old alone if you might want to roll back. If the folder is small (a few MB of logs), there’s little to gain from deleting it, but it does no harm either.
If a future update fails, Windows simply creates the folder again; you don’t need to restore it.
Step 1: Show hidden folders
The folder is hidden, so you won’t see it until you turn on hidden items:
- Windows 11: open File Explorer (Win + E), select View > Show > Hidden items.
- Windows 10: open File Explorer, select the View tab and tick Hidden items.
Now open This PC > Local Disk (C:). To check how much space the folder uses, right-click $GetCurrent and select Properties.
Step 2: Delete it in File Explorer
- Right-click $GetCurrent and select Delete (the bin icon in Windows 11).
- If Windows asks for administrator permission, select Continue.
- Empty the Recycle Bin to get the space back, or select the folder and press Shift + Delete to skip the Recycle Bin.
If you see a message that you need permission, sign in with an administrator account or use the command below. For other access errors, see “You don’t currently have permission to access this folder”. If a file is in use, restart the PC and try again.
Delete it with a command
This is quicker if File Explorer refuses. Search the Start menu for cmd, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator, then run:
rd /s /q "C:\$GetCurrent"It deletes the folder and everything in it without asking and without using the Recycle Bin, so check you’ve typed the path correctly. In PowerShell, use single quotes, because $ has a special meaning there:
Remove-Item -LiteralPath 'C:\$GetCurrent' -Recurse -ForceIf you manage updates from the command line anyway, our guide to running Windows Update from the command line covers the related commands.
Clean up other leftover update folders
For the other upgrade leftovers, use Windows’ own cleanup tools rather than deleting folders by hand:
- Windows 11: go to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files, tick items such as Windows Update Cleanup and Temporary Windows installation files if they appear, and select Remove files.
- Windows 10: go to Settings > System > Storage and select Temporary files, or use Disk Cleanup below.
- Disk Cleanup (both): search for Disk Cleanup, choose drive C:, select Clean up system files, and tick Windows upgrade log files and Temporary Windows installation files.
These options may or may not include $GetCurrent depending on your Windows version, so check whether the folder is still there afterwards. To remove your old Windows version too, follow how to delete Windows.old, but only once you’re sure you won’t roll back.
If you’re freeing space because a feature update keeps failing, “We couldn’t update the system reserved partition” covers a common space-related update error. If the disk is busy rather than full, see 100% disk usage in Windows 11.
Related guides
- How to delete the Windows.old folder
- How to run Windows Update from the command line
- We couldn’t update the system reserved partition: how to fix it
- You don’t currently have permission to access this folder
- 100% disk usage in Windows 11: how to find the cause
Official sources: for more detail, see these Microsoft pages:
- Microsoft Support: Free up space for Windows updates
- Microsoft Support: Manage drive space with Storage Sense
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete $GetCurrent?
Yes, once the feature update has finished and no update is pending in Windows Update. It doesn’t hold your files or apps, and Windows recreates it the next time it needs it.
Why is $GetCurrent so large?
On some PCs it keeps installation files from the upgrade in a media subfolder, which can take several gigabytes. If it’s only a few megabytes, it holds logs.
Will deleting $GetCurrent stop me rolling back to the old Windows?
No. Rolling back uses Windows.old. Deleting that folder is what removes the option to go back.
Why can’t I see the $GetCurrent folder?
It’s hidden. Turn on Hidden items in File Explorer’s View menu. If it’s still not there, Windows has already cleaned it up or your PC hasn’t had a feature update since it was set up.
Leave a Reply