Is it safe to delete electron-updater pending updates?
Updates that apps built with electron-builder downloaded and are waiting to install.
Safe
Its owner recreates it by itself when it needs it, and nothing you made is lost.
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What it is
Apps built with electron-builder often update themselves with electron-updater. It downloads each new version into a pending folder inside a cache folder named after the app, such as example-app-updater, and installs it when you quit or restart the app. Apps built with older versions of electron-updater keep this folder in Application Support instead of Caches.
If it's removed
If an update was waiting to be installed, the app downloads it again the next time it checks for updates.
How it's removed
Moved to the Trash, where you can restore it.
The free analyzer finds it and explains it. Removing it is Pro, after a review sheet that lists every move and command. It starts checked in the Cleanup checklist, except inside Documents or Desktop.
Sources
- github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/blob/master/packages/electron-updater/src/DownloadedUpdateHelper.ts
- github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/blob/master/packages/electron-updater/src/AppUpdater.ts
- github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/blob/master/packages/app-builder-lib/src/appInfo.ts
- github.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/commit/caa32e0708ba4347dd37e93174fce1d2c5660160
Last checked on 26 Sep 2026. Every entry is written and checked by hand; the app and the command-line tool use the same words.