How do i remove windows old folder from the PC?

Question

How do i remove windows old folder from the PC?

Zafar Ali 6

I am unable to remove old windows folder from my pc after reinstalling the new copy.

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Md. Sompod Mia 0 Reputation points

2025-05-02T15:46:09.9+00:00
Open Disk Cleanup:

Press the Windows key, type Disk Cleanup, and press Enter.

Select the Drive:

Choose the C: drive (or the drive where Windows is installed) and click OK.

Clean up System Files:

In the Disk Cleanup window, click on Clean up system files (you might need to provide administrator permission).

Select Windows.old:

After the system scans for files, check the Previous Windows installation(s) box. This option represents the Windows.old folder.

Delete Files:

Click OK, and then click Delete Files to confirm.

Wait for the process to complete. Once finished, the Windows.old folder will be deleted from your system.

Option 2: Using Storage Settings (Windows 10 and 11)

Open Settings:

Press Windows + I to open the Settings window.

Go to Storage:

Click on **System**, then go to **Storage**. **Temporary Files**: Under the **Storage Management** section, click on **Temporary files**. **Select Previous Windows Installations**: Look for **Previous Windows installation(s)**, check the box next to it, and click **Remove files**. Wait for the cleanup to finish.

Windows.old is a folder created during an upgrade to Windows, which contains your old Windows installation files. It can take up a large amount of disk space. Deleting it is safe unless you want to roll back your upgrade, in which case, you should keep it for at least 30 days.

For more detailed information, you can check out the official Microsoft link: How to remove the Windows.old folder

Open Disk Cleanup:

Press the Windows key, type Disk Cleanup, and press Enter.

Select the Drive:

Choose the **C: drive** (or the drive where Windows is installed) and click **OK**. **Clean up System Files**: In the Disk Cleanup window, click on **Clean up system files** (you might need to provide administrator permission). **Select Windows.old**: After the system scans for files, check the **Previous Windows installation(s)** box. This option represents the **Windows.old** folder. **Delete Files**: Click **OK**, and then click **Delete Files** to confirm. Wait for the process to complete. Once finished, the **Windows.old** folder will be deleted from your system.

Option 2: Using Storage Settings (Windows 10 and 11)

Open Settings:

Press Windows + I to open the Settings window.

Go to Storage:

Click on System, then go to Storage.

Temporary Files:

Under the Storage Management section, click on Temporary files.

Select Previous Windows Installations:

Look for Previous Windows installation(s), check the box next to it, and click Remove files.

Wait for the cleanup to finish.

Windows.old is a folder created during an upgrade to Windows, which contains your old Windows installation files. It can take up a large amount of disk space. Deleting it is safe unless you want to roll back your upgrade, in which case, you should keep it for at least 30 days.

For more detailed information, you can check out the official Microsoft link:
How to remove the Windows.old folder
ruudtes 0 Reputation points

2025-05-02T18:36:31.44+00:00

to Md. Sompod Mia: of course I tried that first; yours is typically the Microsoft way of answering: the usual thing that we all know and does not work. Mine is the fastest and easiest workaround when the usual does NOT work.
Reza-Ameri 17,046 Reputation points

2025-05-02T19:54:54.2466667+00:00

Hi,

What happens when you attempt do delete it?

What is the error message?
ruudtes 0 Reputation points

2025-05-03T18:17:03.1533333+00:00

rename the folder windows.old (and its sub folders) to: z
that way you can delete the folder (any name will do, by the way)

the message that I got before I did this trick was: "the folder is not empty" (it contained empty sub folders, about 10 or so)(no files were in any of them)

the reason why I was so anxious to get rid of that folder was that I install Windows 11 for other people and that I did not want to burdon them with this stupid Microsoft error

3 answers

Your answer

Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
ruudtes 0 Reputation points

2025-05-02T18:36:31.44+00:00

to Md. Sompod Mia: of course I tried that first; yours is typically the Microsoft way of answering: the usual thing that we all know and does not work. Mine is the fastest and easiest workaround when the usual does NOT work.
Reza-Ameri 17,046 Reputation points

2025-05-02T19:54:54.2466667+00:00

Hi,

What happens when you attempt do delete it?

What is the error message?
ruudtes 0 Reputation points

2025-05-03T18:17:03.1533333+00:00

rename the folder windows.old (and its sub folders) to: z
that way you can delete the folder (any name will do, by the way)

the message that I got before I did this trick was: "the folder is not empty" (it contained empty sub folders, about 10 or so)(no files were in any of them)

the reason why I was so anxious to get rid of that folder was that I install Windows 11 for other people and that I did not want to burdon them with this stupid Microsoft error

Answer 1

Hi @Zafar Ali

Ten days after you upgrade to Windows 10, your previous version of Windows will be automatically deleted from your PC. However, if you need to free up disk space, and you’re confident that your files and settings are where you want them to be in Windows 10, you can safely delete it yourself. Keep in mind that you'll be deleting your Windows.old folder, which contains files that give you the option to go back to your previous version of Windows. Deleting your previous version of Windows can’t be undone.

In the search box on the taskbar, type settings, then choose it from the list of results.
Select System > Storage > This PC and then scroll down the list and choose Temporary files.
Under Remove temporary files, select the Previous version of Windows check box and then choose Remove files.

Refer-
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delete-your-previous-version-of-windows-f8b26680-e083-c710-b757-7567d69dbb74
https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/cannot-remove-windows.old-folder.html

If the Answer is helpful, please click Accept Answer and up-vote, so that it can help others in the community looking for help on similar topics.

Answer 2

Docs 15,566

See this link (option two or three) for using command line:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2066-how-delete-windows-old-windows-bt-folders-windows-10-a.html

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ruudtes 0 Reputation points

2025-05-02T14:50:56.22+00:00

I simply renamed the folder Windows.old and all subfolders; then I restarted Windows and then I was able to delete the main folder, without any problem.

(I renamed the folder and all subfolders in Z. I also had put an rtf.file in every folder.)

Answer 3

ruudtes 0

I tried all the suggestions from the internet without any success, but this simple idea that I got today did the trick:

1 - I renamed the folder Windows.old into Z.

2 - I also renamed all of its subfolders into Z.

3 - In all folders I placed a rtf-file.

4 - I restarted Windows, and then I was able to remove the folder Z without any problems.

(I don't know if steps 2 , 3 and 4 are necessary.)(I just wanted to inform you about what I did specifically.)

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How do i remove windows old folder from the PC?

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