The Windows.old folder is created when Windows is upgraded from one version of Windows to another, starting with Windows Vista. The Windows.old folder contains all the files and data from your previous Windows installation. You can use it to restore your system to the old version of Windows with the help of Windows.old folder.

Two things to note about Windows.old folder:

The Windows.old folder takes up a lot of hard drive space, consumes more than 20 GB of storage space on your PC.
You can't delete it using your keyboard's Delete key.

Methods to delete the Windows.old folder from Windows 10:

Method 1: Using Storage sense settings

This method is the easiest and fastest way to get rid of Windows. old folder in your drive.

  1. Open Settings by typing in Settings in the Search bar or just finding it in the Search menu.
  2. Select System, then click Storage.
  3. Under Storage sense, select Change how we free up space automatically.
  4. In the Free up space now menu put a tick mark beside Delete previous versions of Windows
  5. Select the Clean now option.

Method 2. Using Temporary files Settings

Another easy way you can remove the Windows. old file is by going to the Settings app.

  1. Open Settings by typing in Settings in the Search bar or just finding it in the Search menu.
  2. Select System, then click Storage.
  3. Under Storage sense, select Free up space now
  4. Mark the box beside the Previous Windows Installation (s) option.
  5. Unmark the boxes beside the selected options if the Windows.old folder is the only file you want to remove. If you want to save space, you may mark all boxes to delete all.
  6. Select Remove files to delete the folder.

Method 3: Using Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a tool built within Windows OS. It is designed to free up disk space on any drive on your device. It does this by determining which files are not being used constantly.

  1. Go to File Explorer.
  2. Select This PC on the left-side menu.
  3. Under Devices and drives, right-click on the drive where Windows 10 is installed. This is often in Local Disk (C:), then click on Properties.
  4. A properties window will pop up, go to the General tab and select Disk Cleanup.
  5. Select Cleanup system files.
  6. Mark the box beside Previous Windows installation (s) then hit the OK button.

Unmark the boxes beside the selected options if the Windows.old folder is the only file you want to remove. If you want to save space, you may mark all boxes to delete all.

  1. Select Delete Files to continue
  2. Select the Yes button to confirm.