What Is the $WinREAgent Folder and Can I Delete It from My Computer?

What is the $WinREAgent folder? The $WinREAgent folder is a special folder within the Windows operating system that is used to store and manage components and data related to the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). Windows RE is a streamlined version of the Windows system designed for troubleshooting, repairing, and recovering when the main operating system fails to start normally. This folder contains tools and settings for configuring and updating Windows RE, such as automatic recovery point creation and system image backups. Typically, the contents of this folder are not visible to regular users, and its internal structure and files are automatically managed and maintained by the system. It is not recommended to modify the contents of this folder, as it may affect the proper functioning and recovery capabilities of the operating system.

While browsing through a Windows computer, you might come across the $WinREAgent folder. Folders that start with a dollar sign ($) are usually hidden and created by various Windows features. $WinREAgent is an example of such a folder, which is created by the Windows Recovery Environment. This folder is typically generated when updating Windows. During the process of downloading and installing Windows updates, Windows Update creates many such folders.

The $WinREAgent folder contains temporary files used by Windows. If an update fails, these files can be used to roll back the update or restore the system to a previous checkpoint. In a healthy Windows system, this folder will have a subdirectory named Scratch, and both the folder and its subdirectory will have a size of 0 bytes.

Where is the $WinREAgent folder located?

Since the Windows Recovery Environment creates the $WinREAgent folder during a Windows update, it's always located on drive C: or the drive where you have installed the Windows operating system. As mentioned, folders that start with a $ are hidden, so you need to enable hidden items to see them. The process isn't difficult, and you can follow the steps below to find and view the $WinREAgent folder on your system:

Step 1: Start from "My Computer" and open the C drive or the hard disk where Windows is installed. Then, go to the top bar and click on "View."

Step 2. In the “View” tab, check the box for “Hidden items.” This will allow you to see the $WinREAgent and other hidden folders on your hard drive.

Can I delete the $WinREAgent folder?

If you're wondering whether you can delete the $WinREAgent folder, the answer is yes. The primary purpose of this folder is to provide Windows with a temporary recovery point in case an update goes wrong or you want to roll back an update. This means that in most cases, the $WinREAgent folder and its contents will be automatically deleted after 10 days following an update.

If you don't plan on reverting the update, you can manually delete this folder after updating Windows. Make sure to install any pending updates before deleting the folder. One sign that it's safe to delete the folder is if its size is 0 KB.

How to delete the $WinREAgent folder

Manually deleting the $WinREAgent folder isn't difficult, and it's the same as deleting any other folder. However, before you do, you need to make sure of a few things. First, you don't want to roll back any updates, and second, there shouldn't be any pending updates. Therefore, remember that when you delete the $WinREAgent folder, its size should be 0 bytes. Here's how to delete the folder:

Step 1: Locate the $WinREAgent folder on your C drive (or the drive where your Windows operating system is installed). You'll need to have "Hidden items" visible to see this folder.

Step 2. Once you've located the folder, select it and right-click to open the menu. From the menu, click “Delete” to remove the folder from your computer. You can also delete the folder by pressing “Del” after selecting it.

Bottom line

The $WinREAgent folder and other similar folders are vital to different Windows processes. In most cases, these folders contain important information that may be deleted or recreated depending on the situation. While you can manually delete the $WinREAgent folder, it's best to leave it alone since it doesn't take up any significant space, and Windows will automatically recreate it during the next update.