How to delete the Windows.old folder in Windows 10 and 11

Learn how to delete the Windows.old folder in Windows 10 and 11 without using third-party software.

You don't need a third-party tool to delete the Windows.old folder because Windows 10 and 11 have two tools that can help you delete this folder.

The methods on this page are the best and safest ways to delete the Windows.old folder.

What is the Windows.old folder?

The Windows.old folder is a folder that contains the previous version(s) of Windows installation(s).

Microsoft Windows will create this folder during an upgrade of Microsoft Windows to a newer version, like, for example, an upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, or an upgrade from Windows 10 or 11 to a new version.

The purpose of the Windows.old folder is to allow you to go back to a previous version of Microsoft Windows.

This folder can take up a lot of disk space.

It is safe to delete this folder.

Windows will automatically delete this folder after 30 days.

However, if you want to free up disk space now, and you're happy with the currently installed version of Windows 10 or 11, you can delete the Windows.old folder yourself using utilities already built into Windows 10 and 11.

Keep in mind that if you delete this folder, you cannot go back to the previous version of Microsoft Windows, unless you download and install Windows 10 or 11 again.

Deleting the Windows.old folder cannot be undone.

So if you are not sure about the current version of Windows 10 or 11, I would not delete the folder until you are absolutely sure about the current version of the Windows operating system.

You cannot just delete this folder as you do with regular folders and files, but you must use Storage Sense or Disk Cleanup.

These tools are built into Microsoft Windows by default.

With these tools, you can safely delete all kinds of files from your PC.

Windows 10

Note: Deleting the Windows.old folder cannot be undone.

1. Click on the Windows start menu button.

Windows 10 start menu button

2. Click on Settings.

Open settings in Windows 10

You can also right-click on the Windows start menu button and then click on Settings.

You can also press the Windows Windows key + I keys on your keyboard to open settings in Windows 10.

3. Click on System.

4. Click on Storage in the left menu.

Open Storage settings in Windows 10

5. Click on Temporary files.

Storage settings in Windows 10

Windows will now search for temporary files that can be deleted.

6. Check the checkbox next to Previous Windows installation(s).

7. You can also check other files you want to delete.

8. Click on the Remove files button.

Delete previous Windows installations in Windows 10

Windows will now delete the Windows.old folder and all other selected files.

This process may take a while. And sometimes it seems like nothing is happening. But you must let the program complete the process.

Windows 11

Note: Deleting the Windows.old folder cannot be undone.

1. Right-click on the Start menu button and then click on Settings. You can also press the Windows Windows key + I keys on your keyboard to open settings.

Open Windows 11 settings

2. Click on System if you're not already there. Note: You may need to click on the ≡ menu button in the top left corner to open a menu and see the System option.

Windows 11 settings menu button

3. Click on Storage.

Open Storage settings in Windows 11

4. Click on Temporary files.

Storage settings in Windows 11

Windows will now search for temporary files that can be deleted.

5. Check the checkbox next to Previous Windows installation(s).

6. You can also check other files you want to delete.

7. Click on the Remove files button.

Delete previous Windows installations in Windows 11

A small window will appear.

8. Click on the Continue button.

Windows will now delete the Windows.old folder and all other selected files.

This process may take a while. And sometimes it seems like nothing is happening. But you must let the program complete the process.

Disk Cleanup

Note: Deleting the Windows.old folder cannot be undone.

1. Click on the Windows start menu button or search icon.

Windows 10 and 11 start menu buttons and search icons

2. Type disk cleanup.

3. Click on Disk Cleanup when it appears in the search results.

Open Disk Cleanup

4. If a “Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection” window appears, you select the Windows drive (usually it's the (C:) drive), and then click on the OK button. This window appears when you have more than one partition or hard drive.

Disk Cleaup Drive selection

Disk Cleanup will now calculate how much disk space you will be able to free on your drive.

A “Disk Cleanup” window will appear.

5. Click on the Clean up system files button.

Disk Cleanup Clean up system files button

6. If a “Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection” window appears again, you select the Windows drive, and then click on the OK button.

Disk Cleaup Drive selection

Disk Cleanup will calculate again how much disk space you will be able to free on your drive.

A “Disk Cleanup” window will appear.

7. Check the checkbox next to Previous Windows installation(s).

8. You can also check other files you want to delete.

Delete Windows.old folder in Windows 10 using Disk Cleanup

9. Click on the OK button.

A small confirmation window will appear.

10. Click on the Delete Files button.

The Disk Cleanup tool will now delete the Windows.old folder and all other selected files.

This process may take a while. And sometimes it seems like nothing is happening. But you must let the program complete the process.