What is the $WinREAgent Folder on Windows? Should You Delete It?

Windows Update creates a large number of files and folders when downloading and installing updates. These folders are automatically created by the Windows update process on the C drive or the location where the operating system is installed. By default, some folders are hidden. You cannot see these folders until you change the folder view options. $WinREAgent is one of these folders.

What Is the $WinREAgent Folder

What is the $WinREAgent folder? It is a folder that is usually created automatically during the upgrade or update process. It contains temporary files that allow you to recover Windows 10 in the event of any problems during the Windows update process.

This folder is created by the Windows Recovery Environment during the Windows update or upgrade process. It stores temporary recovery files to help WinRE recover or roll back the Windows operating system in the event of any failure during the update process.

First, you need to enable hidden items to view this folder. This folder starts with the $ sign. This means that it is a temporary folder created by Windows, and sometimes it is automatically deleted 10 days after a successful Windows update. This folder contains a subdirectory named scratch. These folders usually do not contain files, it will show a size of 0 bytes.

Is It Safe to Delete the $WinREAgent Folder

Some users wonder if they can delete the $WinREAgent folder. Yes, you can manually delete the WinREAgent folder. If you are having trouble updating your system, deleting the WinREAgent folder may be one of the solutions that can help you install the update.

Some users noticed that the $WinREAgent folder was deleted after uninstalling the Windows 11/10 Update Assistant. Besides, once the Windows update is successful after 10 days, the folder will be deleted automatically. In addition, carefully check the folder size when deleting. The folder size should be 0 kb.

Thus, if you complete the upgrade through Windows Update or Update Assistant, you can safely delete the $WinREAgent folder. However, if you have not completed and completed the upgrade process, the $WinREAgent folder will contain various important files that support the update process, so as long as the update process is not completed, it is best to leave this folder in place.

Roll Back Your Windows 10/11

If you want to roll back your Windows 10/11, there is another way for you. It’s recommended to back up your Windows system in advance with MiniTool ShadowMaker. Then, you can roll back the previous edition whenever you want to use it.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a professional file backup and sync software. It allows you to sync your files between two computers and it also allows you to back up and restore files & folders and the system you need.

Thus it can help you protect your important data and perform data recovery. Other functions are also available, such as cloning disk and creating bootable media to boot the computer.

Final Words

Here is the information about the $WinREAgent. You can know what it is and should you delete it. Besides, if you have any problem with the MiniTool software, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the email s[email protected].