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How to Safely Delete the Windows.old Folder in Windows 10

By Hanzo The Salamander January 20, 2023  

Windows 10 is known for its frequent updates and upgrades. As a result, the operating system creates a folder called "Windows.old" to store the previous version of the system files, in case the user wants to roll back to the previous version. However, this folder can take up a significant amount of storage space on your hard drive. In this guide, we will show you how to safely delete the Windows.old folder in Windows 10 to free up storage space.

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Before You Begin

Before you proceed with deleting the Windows.old folder, it is important to note that this folder contains all of your personal files, settings, and installed programs from the previous version of Windows. Therefore, it is important to create a backup of any important files and settings before proceeding.

Using Disk Cleanup

The easiest and safest way to delete the Windows.old folder is by using the built-in Disk Cleanup tool in Windows 10. Follow these steps to delete the folder using Disk Cleanup:

  1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard, and select "Disk Cleanup" from the menu.
  2. Select the drive that contains the Windows.old folder, usually "C:"
  3. Click on "Clean up system files"
  4. Select the "Previous Windows installation(s)" option, and click OK.
  5. Click on "Delete files" to confirm.

Using Command Prompt

If the Disk Cleanup method does not work, you can also delete the Windows.old folder using the Command Prompt. Follow these steps to delete the folder using Command Prompt:

  • Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard, and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu.
  • Type the following command, and press Enter:

rd /s /q C:\Windows.old

  • Wait for the command to complete, and the Windows.old folder will be deleted.

Deleting the Windows.old folder can free up valuable storage space on your hard drive, and is a simple process using either the Disk Cleanup tool or the Command Prompt. However, it is important to create a backup of any important files and settings before proceeding with the deletion.