CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal filling up hard drive

[LedHed]

Hello all,
Just a heads up. In recent weeks, I've come across 3 client hard drives that are almost completely full. The culprit is this file:
CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal, which is stored in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\CapabilityAccessManager\.

The most recent case was this past weekend was the worst one I've seen. The client had a 512GB drive that had only 2.1GB free. I used WizTree portable to identify the culprit. The CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal had grown to over 300GB. After deleting the file, the hard drive showed that only 179GB was being used.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know. I would be interested to know whether anyone else has seen this and whether there is a way to prevent it.

Andy

 

[JoelM]

Here is Copilot's response:

The CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal file filling up a customer’s hard drive is a known Windows 11 bug that can consume tens to hundreds of gigabytes of storage. Microsoft has officially fixed the issue in updates KB5095093 (June 2026 preview) and KB5101650 (July 2026 Patch Tuesday).

What’s happening​

The camsvc service (Capability Access Manager) logs app access to camera, mic, location, screen capture. A bug causes its write‑ahead log file (CapabilityAccessManager.db-wal) to grow uncontrollably — sometimes 100GB–500GB.

First step: Install the Windows fix​

Make sure the machine has KB5101650 or KB5095093 installed. These updates stop the runaway growth.
Important: The fix does NOT shrink an already‑bloated file. You must clean it manually.

 

[LedHed]

Thank you

 

[thecomputerguy]

services.msc

Double-click Compatibility Access Manager
Click the drop-down select disabled
Stop the service
Rename the Compatibility access manager folder (the whole thing) to .old
Uninstall Dell SmartByte from appwiz.cpl

services.msc
Double-click Compatibility Access Manager
Click the drop-down select Automatic
Start the service
The Compatibility Access manager folder will re-create itself

Reboot

Delete old compatibility access manager folder

Update Windows

This is the process I have been doing. Make sure you set the service to automatic and start it before you reboot it. If the service isn't running then when you reboot it may not reconnect to the internet and/or your remote session.

Edit: I meant "Capability" access manager, not compatibility.

 

[LedHed]

Thanks so much. You mentioned Dell SmartByte. Do you know if this is primarily a problem with Dell machines? I know the most recent computer that had this problem was a Dell AIO.

 

[thecomputerguy]

Thanks so much. You mentioned Dell SmartByte. Do you know if this is primarily a problem with Dell machines? I know the most recent computer that had this problem was a Dell AIO.

I read somewhere that it might be part of the issue and I've just gone ahead and uninstalled it in all cases just out of an abundance of caution.

95% of clients own Dell's that they purchased through me.

 

[LedHed]

Got it, thanks so much

 

[ComputerHoundUK]

I also had this fault on a client's Dell AIO back in May, so a month or so before the above Windows patches were issued. I initially did pretty much the same as Ledhed in discovering what the issue was.
While there was quite a bit of info about the problem, there was no definitive culprit for causing the 'bloating' at the time, just a list of possible suspects, including Dell SmartByte.
One extra issue I had was that BitLocker was enabled on the system which, the owner seemed unaware of and denied he'd enabled it. It could've cause an issue when booting into/out of Safe Mode when trying to stop the camsvc service, as it just wouldn't otherwise stop. So, as he said he had no need of BitLocker it was disabled, which took some time for the decryption process to finish!
Happy days on the job!

 

[LedHed]

@ComputerHoundUK
Wow. A full hard drive encrypted with BitLocker. I can only imagine how long that must have taken to decrypt.
I found pretty much the same info you did, also with no definitive cause. I'm keeping my eye out for this problem, especially when I'm working on Dell computers. If I see it on another brand, I'll post it here.