Windows.old is the folder Windows creates automatically after a feature upgrade or reset. It stores your previous installation so you can revert if the new version misbehaves. On most PCs it holds between 10 GB and 30 GB, and that space stays locked until you remove the folder yourself or wait for Windows to clean it up automatically.
This tutorial covers the three supported ways to delete Windows.old: Storage settings, Disk Cleanup, and PowerShell, plus how to fix the permission errors that block manual deletion.
Before you start
What you will learn
- How to permanently delete the Windows.old folder using Storage settings, Disk Cleanup, or PowerShell, and how to confirm the space was reclaimed.
- Windows.old can hold 10 to 30 GB of files after an upgrade, space that many PCs with small SSDs can't spare.
Requirements
- You need a local administrator account. Standard users can't remove Windows.old because it's protected by system file permissions.
- Windows 10 (version 20H2 or later) or Windows 11, any edition.
- Local administrator
Good to know
- 5 minutes
- Tested in Windows 11, July 2026; menu names may vary slightly on older builds.
Quick answer
Open Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations (or Temporary files on older builds), check Previous Windows installation(s), then select Clean up or Remove files. This deletes Windows.old and reclaims the space within a few minutes.
Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations > Previous Windows installation(s)Step-by-step tutorial
5 stepsConfirm your Windows upgrade is stable
Make sure you won't need to roll back before you remove the safety net.
Settings > System > RecoveryUse your PC normally for a few days after the upgrade. Check that your drivers, printer, VPN client, and any business-critical apps still work.
If anything critical is broken, don't delete Windows.old yet. You have 10 days by default to use the Go back option in Settings > System > Recovery.
The rollback window is 10 days by default on Windows 10 and Windows 11. After that, Windows deletes Windows.old automatically and the point becomes moot.
Remove Windows.old from Storage settings (recommended)
Delete the folder through the safest, GUI-based method.
Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendationsOn Windows 11: press Win + I to open Settings, go to System > Storage, select Cleanup recommendations, check Previous Windows installation(s), then select Clean up and confirm.
On Windows 10: open Settings > System > Storage, select Temporary files, check Previous version of Windows, then select Remove files.
Storage settings shows the exact size before you confirm, so you know what you're reclaiming.
Menu names vary slightly between Windows 11 builds; some show Temporary files instead of Cleanup recommendations.
Or run Disk Cleanup as an alternative
Use the classic tool when Storage settings isn't available or you prefer a familiar interface.
Press Win + R, type cleanmgr, and press Enter. Select your system drive, usually C:. Click Clean up system files, since this second scan is what unlocks the Windows.old option. Check Previous Windows installation(s). Click OK, then Delete Files to confirm.
cleanmgrYou must click Clean up system files first. The initial Disk Cleanup scan never lists Previous Windows installation(s) on its own.
Or delete it with PowerShell
Remove Windows.old from the command line for scripting or remote administration.
Open PowerShell as administrator, then run the Remove-Item command below. Recurse deletes every file and subfolder, and Force overrides read-only attributes.
If the command returns Access is denied, some files are still locked by system permissions. Take ownership first, as shown in Troubleshooting below, then run the command again.
Remove-Item "C:\Windows.old" -Recurse -ForcePowerShell deletion is immediate and bypasses the Recycle Bin. There's no undo.
Verify the folder is gone and space is reclaimed
Confirm the cleanup worked before you move on.
Open File Explorer and check your C: drive. Windows.old should no longer appear.
In PowerShell, you can also confirm with the Test-Path command below. A result of False means the folder is gone.
Test-Path "C:\Windows.old"How to Confirm the Cleanup Actually Freed Space
A successful cleanup removes the Windows.old entry from Storage settings and File Explorer within a few minutes. Available space on your C: drive should increase by roughly the amount Storage settings or Disk Cleanup reported before you confirmed the deletion, typically 10 to 30 GB.
If the folder is gone but free space barely changed, check whether other large temporary files, such as $Windows.~BT or $Windows.~WS, are still present. These leftover upgrade folders can be removed the same way, through Cleanup recommendations or Disk Cleanup.
- Windows.old no longer appears in File Explorer, and reported free space on C: increases close to the pre-deletion estimate.
- The folder reappears, deletion fails with an error, or free space doesn't change. This usually points to a locked file or a separate leftover upgrade folder.
- Based on Microsoft's own Storage settings estimates for a standard feature update.
- Returns False once the folder and all its contents are gone.
Troubleshooting
Access is denied when deleting Windows.old manually
Cause: The folder carries system-level NTFS permissions that block direct deletion, even for administrators.
Don't delete it in File Explorer. Use Storage settings, Disk Cleanup, or PowerShell's Remove-Item -Force instead. These tools run with the elevated permissions the folder requires.
Previous Windows installation(s) doesn't appear in Disk Cleanup
Cause: The standard Disk Cleanup scan doesn't include system files by default.
Click Clean up system files first, then let it scan again. The option only appears after this second, elevated scan.
PowerShell still returns Access is denied with -Force
Cause: Some files inside Windows.old are locked by ownership restrictions, not just read-only flags.
Take ownership before deleting with takeown /F "C:\Windows.old" /A /R /D Y, then icacls "C:\Windows.old" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F /T /C /Q. Run Remove-Item "C:\Windows.old" -Recurse -Force again. If it still fails, restart your PC first, since a running process may be holding a file open.
I deleted Windows.old and now need my previous Windows version back
Cause: The rollback feature needs the files in Windows.old to work, and deletion is permanent.
There's no way to restore Windows.old itself. You'd need to reinstall your previous Windows version from installation media, which erases apps and settings unless you back them up first.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to delete the Windows.old folder?
Yes, once you've confirmed your current Windows installation is stable. Deleting it doesn't affect your installed programs or personal files. It only removes the option to revert to your previous Windows version.
How much space will deleting Windows.old free up?
Most PCs recover 10 to 30 GB, though the exact amount depends on how much was installed before the upgrade. Storage settings and Disk Cleanup both show the figure before you confirm.
Can I still go back to my old Windows version after deleting Windows.old?
No. Once Windows.old is gone, the built-in Go back option disappears too. Your only path back is a clean install of the previous version from installation media.
Why does deleting Windows.old fail with Access is denied?
Windows protects the folder with system-level permissions so it can't be removed by accident. Use Storage settings, Disk Cleanup, or PowerShell with administrator rights instead of dragging it to the Recycle Bin.
Does Windows delete Windows.old automatically?
Yes. Windows removes it automatically 10 days after the upgrade by default, once the rollback window closes. Manual deletion just reclaims the space sooner.
