How do I Delete windows.old in Windows 11

What to know

• The Windows.outdated folder within the C: system drive shops outdated system information from earlier Windows variations.
• Delete the windows.outdated folder from Settings > System > Storage > Temporary information > Previous Windows Installation > Remove information.
• Alternatively, use the Disk Cleanup instrument to take away Previous Windows Installation information.
• In an elevated instance of the command immediate, use the command takeown /F C:Windows.outdated /R /A to take possession of the folder first. Then use the command cacls C:Windows.outdated*.* /T /grant directors:F to delete it. Finally, use the command rmdir /S /Q C:Windows.outdated. 

Windows 11 is a storage hog. The working system in itself takes up 64GB of house, give or take. With the addition of some large apps, private information, and OS updates, you’ll sooner end up operating out of house than you’d know what to do about it. 

If you’ve been searching down information and folders to delete in your system drive, you might have come throughout an innocuous seeming windows.outdated folder. Unfortunately, it’s not potential to delete it by merely hitting the Delete key. But what’s so particular about this folder? Why does it take up a lot house? And how will you delete it and recuperate some valuable cupboard space? Read on to know more. 

What is windows.outdated?

The windows.outdated folder is created everytime you improve Windows to a brand new model. This turns into the house for the outdated model that features momentary information, system information, and some private information. This is so you’ll be able to revert to the earlier model of Windows if needed. But if the whole lot’s working nicely and also you don’t plan on going back to the older model, it’s higher to do away with this folder and regain some house. 

Although Windows does robotically take away the windows.outdated folder 30 days after it’s created, should you want that house now, the next strategies will enable you to do away with it fully. 

3 Simple Ways to Delete windows.outdated in Windows 11

All the strategies given under are pretty easy to execute. Use any of them to delete the windows.outdated folder in Windows 11.

Method 1: Using Storage Sense

1. Open the Settings app (press Win+I) and choose System on the left.
2. On the appropriate, choose Storage.
3. Wait for the disk house to be analyzed. Once accomplished, click on on Temporary information.
4. You’ll be proven an inventory of things that aren’t wanted any longer and will be deleted with out a difficulty. Here, choose Previous Windows Installation.
5. Click Remove information on the high. 

Here’s a video information for straightforward reference. 

Method 2: Using Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is one other instrument that you should utilize to take away the windows.outdated folder in addition to different extraneous information hanging round. It’s been on Windows longer than the comparatively latest Storage sense choice, however works simply as nicely. 

1. Press Start, kind Disk Cleanup and launch the system instrument.
2. Alternatively, press Win+ R to open the RUN field, kind cleanmgr and hit Enter.
3. Select the system drive.
4. Click on Clean system information.
5. Here, discover and choose Previous Windows Installation choice to delete. You may choose different momentary information Windows recommends you delete. 
6. Click OK.
7. Click on Delete Files to substantiate.
8. Wait for the information to delete. Your windows.outdated folder ought to now have disappeared.

Here’s a video information for straightforward reference.

Method 3: Using the Command Prompt

For energy customers, terminal apps work to do away with the windows.outdated folder as nicely. Here’s how:

1. Open an elevated instance of the command immediate (Run as administrator).
2. Type and enter the next command: takeown /F C:Windows.outdated /R /A
   
3. When prompted, kind Y.
4. This will allow you to take possession of the windows.outdated folder so it may be deleted simply. 
5. Now enter this command: cacls C:Windows.outdated*.* /T /grant directors:F
   
6. Finally enter the next command: rmdir /S /Q C:Windows.outdated
   

And similar to that, you’d have eliminated the windows.outdated folder in your PC. We hope you had been in a position to recuperate valuable cupboard space by deleting the windows.outdated folder in addition to different momentary information that Windows doesn’t require anymore. Until next time.