Microsoft admits a Windows 11 bug is eating up to 500GB of storage
3 hours ago
- #Windows 11
- #storage bug
- #system files
- A bug in Windows 11 can cause the CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal file to grow excessively, consuming hundreds of gigabytes of storage.
- The issue is linked to the Capability Access Manager, which logs app permissions for features like microphone, camera, and location.
- Affected users can check storage usage via Settings > Storage > Show more categories > System & Reserved to see if system files are using abnormally high space.
- Microsoft released a fix in the optional update KB5095093 (June 2026) to improve disk space usage for the problematic file, with an automatic rollout expected in July 2026.
- To safely check file size without permissions, use an elevated Command Prompt with a robocopy command to list files in the protected directory.
- If the drive is full and updates cannot install, a workaround involves renaming the oversized file in Safe Mode or Windows Recovery Environment, though deleting system files is not recommended.