Microsoft has released a fix for a Windows 11 bug that caused a system file to consume several gigabytes — and in some cases, hundreds of gigabytes — of storage space on affected devices.
The patch was included in Microsoft’s optional June 2026 update (KB5095093), which the company says “improves disk space usage for the CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal file.” The update became available in June 2026, with the issue first flagged by the publication Windows Latest.
The CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal file is installed on Windows 11 PCs by default and is tied to app permissions. Users began reporting problems with the file over the past few months, with one person stating it consumed 500GB of storage on their device. Others reported the file growing to between 12GB and 200GB.
Microsoft has not explained the root cause of the bug. Windows Latest suggests the file may have been growing because Windows 11 “keeps logging repeated events for access requests or other privacy controls, such as location,” though Microsoft has not confirmed this explanation.
For users affected by the issue, the fix can be installed by opening the Settings menu, selecting “Windows Update,” then “Advanced options,” and choosing “Check for optional updates.” From there, the June 2026 update can be selected and installed.
Because the update is currently optional, affected users will need to manually check for and install it rather than waiting for an automatic rollout. Users who have seen unusually high storage consumption on their Windows 11 devices may want to check whether this file is the cause before installing the patch.
Source: The Verge