What Is the Windows.old Folder, and How Do You Remove It?

Windows.old is a temporary folder that keeps files from a previous Windows installation after certain upgrades or reinstallations. It can help you recover files that did not move to the new installation and may be needed to return to the previous version of Windows. You can remove it after checking and copying anything you still need. The supported cleanup option is in Settings or Disk Cleanup; deleting the folder removes the rollback files and cannot be undone.

The exact labels and layout can differ slightly between Windows releases. Use the category named for the previous Windows installation, and avoid selecting other cleanup categories unless you want those files removed too.

What is in the Windows.old folder?

The folder is usually on the drive where Windows is installed, commonly C:\Windows.old. Its contents depend on how Windows was installed, but may include files from the older Windows directory, installed-program folders, and previous user profiles. It is not a complete, dependable backup of your old PC, and applications generally cannot be restored just by copying their old folders.

If you are looking for personal files, check the old profile under C:\Windows.old\Users\<account>. Look in familiar locations such as Desktop, Documents, and Pictures. Copy needed files into your current profile or to a separate backup drive, then open a few of them to confirm the copies work. Some folders may require an administrator account to access. Microsoft’s instructions for retrieving files from Windows.old explain the supported recovery path.

Windows keeps the previous installation only for a limited time. Microsoft says the prior version is automatically removed 10 days after an upgrade in the documented Windows recovery flow. A later upgrade, reinstall, or reset can also replace an existing Windows.old folder, so do not treat it as long-term storage.

Before you remove Windows.old

• Recover anything you want to keep. Check the previous user profile and copy personal files to their new locations or another backup.
• Decide whether you might roll back. Windows’ Go back option is available only for a limited time after an upgrade and depends on the previous-installation files being present. Removing them deletes that option. See Microsoft’s guidance on going back to a previous Windows version.
• Review the size shown by Windows. The space recovered varies by device and installation; the example shown in a screenshot or guide is not a guaranteed amount.

If you are unsure whether a file was migrated, copy it first. After cleanup, Windows.old is not a Recycle Bin item, and the removal is not reversible through Settings.

Remove Windows.old in Settings

On current Windows 11 and many Windows 10 installations, use the temporary-files cleanup page:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then select System > Storage. Open the Windows installation drive if Windows shows more than one drive.

Storage, with the Temporary files category visible.">

2. Select Temporary files and wait for Windows to calculate the available categories. Check Previous Windows installation(s) or the similarly named Previous version of Windows entry. Clear any other boxes you do not intend to clean.

3. Select Remove files. If Windows asks for administrator approval or confirmation, review the selected categories and confirm.

4. Let cleanup finish. When it is done, revisit Settings > System > Storage or File Explorer > This PC to check the available space.

Some Windows 10 builds use an older Storage Sense screen instead: open Settings > System > Storage, choose Change how we free up space automatically, then under Free up space now select Delete previous version of Windows and choose Clean now. Microsoft documents this route for supported Windows 10 versions.

Use Disk Cleanup if Settings does not show the option

Disk Cleanup is a built-in alternative. Search for Disk Cleanup from Start, choose the drive where Windows is installed, and select OK. Choose Clean up system files, select the same drive again if prompted, and wait for the scan. Check Previous Windows installation(s), then select OK and Delete Files to proceed. Use an administrator account when prompted.

Microsoft lists both Settings cleanup steps for the previous Windows version and Disk Cleanup instructions for freeing drive space. If neither tool lists a previous installation, Windows may already have removed it or there may be no eligible rollback files on that drive. Check the Windows drive and the selected cleanup categories before trying anything else.

For most people, the decision is straightforward: keep Windows.old long enough to recover files or decide whether to roll back, then remove it through Settings or Disk Cleanup when those files are no longer needed.