Of course, you can open the folder and clear out its contents manually.
Eventually, the SoftwareDistribution folder will accumulate a lot of junk files that may affect your computer’s performance. When you discover that Windows Update has started to malfunction, then it is vital for you to clean this folder. In this kind of scenario, the update files in the SoftwareDistribution folder are likely incomplete or corrupt. For example, you may find yourself struggling to update your operating system. However, from time to time, there are instances wherein you’ll need to clear its contents. In general, it is not necessary to empty the SoftwareDistribution folder.