When you upgrade or reinstall the Windows operating system, Windows creates a backup folder called Windows.old. This folder contains the previous installation files, allowing you to restore data and settings if needed. While Windows automatically deletes this folder after 10 days, it can occupy a significant amount of disk space, making it necessary to remove it manually if you no longer require the backup. In this article, we will explore different methods to delete the Windows.old folder from your system.
Through Windows Storage Settings
The easiest way to delete the Windows.old folder is by using the Storage Settings in Windows. This feature provides an overview of disk usage and allows you to clear various types of temporary files, including the Windows.old folder.
- Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings menu.
- Go to System and then Storage.
- Click on “Temporary files”.
- Check the box for “Previous Windows installation(s)” and choose “Remove files” or “Clean up” to delete the folder.
Using Disk Cleanup
Another method to remove the Windows.old folder is by using the Disk Cleanup utility. As Windows treats Windows.old as a temporary file, Disk Cleanup can help you delete it.
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “cleanmgr” and press Enter to open the Disk Cleanup Wizard.
- Select the system drive(usually C:) and click OK.
- Click on “Clean up system files” and select the system drive again.
- Check the box for “Previous Windows Installation(s)” and uncheck any other options you don’t want to remove.
- Click OK, then choose “Delete Files” and confirm by selecting Yes.
Through Storage Sense
Storage Sense is a feature introduced in Windows 10 that allows you to manage and optimize your storage. While Microsoft removed some of it’s features in Windows 11, it is still available in Windows 10 and can be used to delete the Windows.old folder.
- Open the Settings menu and go to System > Storage.
- Click on “Configure Storage Sense or run it now”.
- Check the box for “Delete previous versions of Windows” under “Free up space now”.
- Select “Clean now” to remove the Windows.old folder.
By Manually Taking Ownership
If the previous methods do not work, you can try changing the ownership and permission settings of the Windows.old folder and then delete it. However, be cautious when modifying system folders, as any mistakes can cause system instability. Use this method only if other options fail.
- Open the Run dialog box.
- Type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an Elevated Command Prompt.
- Enter the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each command:
- takeown /f %SystemDrive%\windows.old /a /r /d y
- icacls %SystemDrive%\windows.old /t /grant :r administrators:F
- rmdir %SystemDrive%\windows.old /s /q
Conclusion
Deleting the Windows.old folder can free up valuable disk space on your system. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can easily remove the folder and reclaim storage space. Remember to exercise caution when modifying system files and always create a backup of important data before making any changes to your system.
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