When you upgrade or install a new version of Windows, your old installation files are not immediately discarded. Instead, they are stored in the “Windows.old” folder on your system drive, usually located at C:\Windows.old. This folder is crucial as it contains a copy of the previous Windows installation, allowing you to revert to the old version if necessary. However, this folder can take up a significant amount of space, which might be a concern, especially on devices with limited storage capacity.
The $Windows.~BT Folder
The “$Windows.~BT” folder is a hidden directory found on computers running Microsoft Windows, particularly noticeable after upgrading from one version of Windows to another, such as from Windows 8 to Windows 10. This folder is part of the Windows Update process and is used primarily to store temporary files used during the installation of a new version of Windows.
When you initiate an upgrade, Windows downloads installation files to the “$Windows.~BT” folder. These files include necessary setup and installation scripts, along with various components needed for the smooth transition between operating systems. After the update is complete, the contents of this folder are mostly no longer needed, and in most cases, the folder can be safely deleted to free up disk space.
Deleting the “Windows.old” and “$Windows.~BT” folders
Deleting the “Windows.old” and “$Windows.~BT” folders is not as straightforward as deleting regular files or folders due to their protected nature. This folders are part of Windows' built-in safety mechanism, ensuring you can recover your system or revert to the previous version if the upgrade causes issues. However, if your system operates smoothly after the update and you need to free up space, removing this folder becomes an option worth considering.
This tutorial will guide you through the necessary steps to safely delete the “Windows.old“ and “$Windows.~BT” folders using various methods like Storage settings, Temporary files settings, and the Disk Cleanup tool. By the end of this guide, you will reclaim valuable disk space while ensuring that your system remains stable and functional.
How to Delete Windows.old and $Windows.~BT Folders in Disk Cleanup
Utilizing Disk Cleanup, a built-in Windows utility, offers a straightforward method to remove unnecessary files, including the Windows.old and $Windows.~BT folders, which can free up valuable disk space.
- Open Disk Cleanup
Press the “Start” button or use the search function, type “Disk Cleanup”, and click on the top result to launch the utility.
- Select your System Drive and Click “OK”
This is only necessary if there is more than one logical drive available.
- Click “Clean up system files”
After opening Disk Cleanup, click on “Clean up system files”. You might need to provide administrative approval to proceed.
- Choose files to delete
In the Disk Cleanup window, check the box next to “Previous Windows installation(s)” to select it for deletion. Then, click “OK”. If prompted, click “Delete Files” to confirm your action. Disk Cleanup will then remove the Windows.old folder from your system, which might take a few minutes.
How to Remove Windows.old and $Windows.~BT Folders via Storage Settings in Windows 11
Here's how you can utilize Windows 11 features to remove the “Windows.old” and “$Windows.~BT” folders.
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Open Settings
Click on the “Start” menu icon, select the settings gear icon, or simply press “Windows + I” to directly open the Settings application.
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Navigate to ‘System' and then ‘Storage'
In the System menu, find and select the “Storage” option. Windows 11 has redesigned this section to offer a more intuitive understanding of how storage is used on your device.
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Access ‘Cleanup recommendations'
Within the Storage settings, locate and click on “Temporary Files”.
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Select ‘Previous Windows installation(s)' and confirm removal
Scroll to find the “Previous Windows installation(s)” option. Check this option and also “Windows Update Cleanup” and “Temporary Windows installation files“. Then click on “Clean up” to initiate the removal process. Repeat this for the folders Confirm the action if prompted to ensure that the system removes these files.
There are other useful removal options you might want to consider as well, such as “Delivery Optimization Files” and “Temporary Internet Files“
How to Remove Windows.old and $Windows.~BT Folders via Storage Settings in Windows 10
Windows Storage settings provide an intuitive interface for managing disk space, including the removal of the Windows.old and $Windows.~BT folders directly from the settings menu.
- Open Settings
Press the “Start” button and click on the settings cog, located above the power button. Alternatively, press Windows + I.
- Navigate to “System”
- Open “Storage” settings from the sidebar, then click “Temporary files”
- Tick “Previous Windows installation(s) and press “Remove files”
The process to delete Windows.old will start and should be complete in a few minutes.
To remove also the $Windows.~BT Folder also select “Windows Update Cleanup” and “Temporary Windows installation files“.
How to Remove Windows.old and $Windows.~BT via Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 11 or Windows 10
For those comfortable with command-line interfaces, the Command Prompt provides a powerful method to remove the Windows.old and $Windows.~BT folders, requiring administrative privileges.
- Open Command Prompt as an admin
Windows 11: Right-click the start button, select “Terminal (Admin)“, and then open a Command Prompt in a new tab.
Windows 10: Press the Start button and type “Command Prompt”, then click “Run as administrator” on the right-hand side.
- Take ownership of the Windows.old folder
Before you can delete Windows.old, you need to take control of it from your operating system. Run the following commands to do so:
takeown /F "C:\Windows.old" /A /R /D Ytakeown /F "C:\$Windows.~BT" /A /R /D Y
- Wait for the completion message
Once complete, you'll be able to type commands again from the C:\ drive.
- Run the delete commands
Finally, use the following commands to delete the folders:
icacls "C:\Windows.old" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F /T /C /Q
RD /S /Q "C:\Windows.old"
icacls "C:\$Windows.~BT" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F /T /C /Q
RD /S /Q "C:\$Windows.~BT"
How to Delete Windows.old and $Windows.~BT via CMD at Boot in Windows 11 or Windows 10
Deleting the Windows.old folder through Command Prompt at boot is a useful alternative for users unable to take ownership of the folder within the standard operating environment.
- Click on “Troubleshoot”
- Select “Advanced options”
- Click on “Command Prompt”
- Enter diskpart
In your Command Prompt window, typediskpartand press Enter.
- Rum the list volume command
Run thelist volumecommand, then look for the drive letter of your Windows 10 drive under theltrcolumn. For most people, this should be the C drive. Check the size to see if it matches.
- Type “exit” and press Enter
- Run the delete commands
Run the following command to remove the Windows.old folder, replacingC:\with your drive letter if necessary:
RD /S /Q "C:\Windows.old"
RD /S /Q "C:\Windows.old"
Related: How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 11 and Windows 10
As you use your Windows 11 / Windows 10 computer, it creates temporary files to store information that helps it run more efficiently. These files can include things like browser history, cookies, and other data. Over time, these temporary files can accumulate and take up valuable storage space on your computer. In our other guide, we show you two methods on how to delete temp files in Windows 10 and Windows 11 and through File Explorer and Command-Line.
Related: How to Free up Space on Windows with Disk Cleanup in Classic and Extended Mode
All too often, temporary files and deleted items can build up, getting your drive so clogged that it can affect performance. Because of this, Microsoft has created the Windows disk cleanup tool, which you can utilize to free up space on your C: drive or any other drive. In our other guide, we show you how to clear disk space on Windows using Disk Cleanup in classic mode and the more unknown extended mode which can free up space even more aggressively.
Related: How to Delete Downloads on Your PC on Windows 11 or Windows 10
Regularly clearing out your downloads can help in maintaining an efficient and tidy file system, ensuring that your PC remains optimized for performance. In our other guide, we show you how to clear downloads on Windows 11 using File Explorer, as well as how to clear downloads from your browser cache.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About the Windows.old Folder
Can I recover files from Windows.old after deleting it?
Once deleted, files within the Windows.old folder are not easily recoverable. To avoid data loss, ensure that you manually check and back up any important files to another storage medium, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage, before proceeding with the deletion. File recovery software can sometimes recover deleted files, but success is not guaranteed and often not reliable.
How much space does deleting the Windows.old folder free up?
The space freed up by deleting the Windows.old folder can be significant, typically ranging from a few gigabytes to over 20 GB, depending on the size of the previous installation and the applications installed. Before deletion, you can check the size of the folder by right-clicking on it in File Explorer and selecting ‘Properties' to see how much space you will reclaim.
Is it safe to delete other system folders to free up space?
Deleting system folders other than Windows.old, such as System32 or WinSxS, can lead to severe system instability and potentially render your system inoperable. Always use built-in tools like Disk Cleanup, which safely identifies and removes only safe-to-delete files, or research thoroughly before attempting to delete system folders.
Why can't I find the Windows.old folder on my system?
If the Windows.old folder is not present, it could be because your system did not keep the older installation files during an upgrade, or it could have been automatically deleted by Windows after 10 days. Systems with limited storage space might not create a Windows.old folder to conserve space.
Can I delete the Windows.old folder without administrator privileges?
No, administrator privileges are necessary to delete the Windows.old folder since it contains system-level files. To delete it, you must either log in as an administrator or obtain the necessary permissions from an administrative account.
What's the difference between Disk Cleanup and Storage Settings for deleting Windows.old?
Disk Cleanup provides a detailed selection process allowing users to manually select which files to delete, including system files, temporary files, and more. In contrast, Storage Settings offers a more streamlined approach primarily targeting temporary and old files automatically without much manual input. Both are effective, but Disk Cleanup allows for more control and precision.
Do I need to delete the $Windows.~BT folder along with Windows.old?
Yes, it is advisable to delete the $Windows.~BT folder alongside Windows.old if your goal is to free up disk space. The $Windows.~BT folder typically contains temporary files related to Windows update processes and can be deleted safely using the same methods outlined for Windows.old.
Can third-party software safely delete the Windows.old folder?
While some third-party utilities offer to delete unnecessary files such as Windows.old, using them carries a risk of inadvertently affecting system stability. It is generally safer to stick with Microsoft's built-in tools such as Disk Cleanup and Storage settings, which are specifically designed to safely manage and delete Windows system files.
What should I do if I encounter errors trying to delete the Windows.old folder?
If you encounter errors while trying to delete the Windows.old folder, ensure you are logged in with an administrative account and have full permissions over the folder. Using the Command Prompt with elevated privileges or accessing Advanced Startup options for harder-to-remove situations can be more effective. In these contexts, ensure you follow detailed step-by-step guides or consult with a professional.
Is it possible to partially delete contents of Windows.old?
While technically feasible, partially deleting contents within Windows.old is risky as specific system files and configurations could depend on each other. If space is a concern but some files need to be kept, consider instead transferring those files out of Windows.old and then deleting the full folder.
How often should I clean up old system files like Windows.old?
Cleaning up old system files like those in Windows.old should be considered whenever you are certain that you won't need to revert to that installation or need to free up disk space. Typically, after confirming that your system operates smoothly post-upgrade and all essential data has been retained, you can safely delete Windows.old.
Can deleting Windows.old impact my PC's performance?
Deleting the Windows.old folder itself does not impact the performance of your current system; actually, removing it may slightly improve performance if your disk space is nearly full. The primary benefit of deletion is recovering disk space, which can help the system operate more efficiently if previously close to capacity.
What are potential risks of manually deleting system files other than Windows.old?
Manually deleting system files, other than those specifically guided by safe cleanup tools, can significantly disrupt your operating system, potentially leading to system failure or severe instability. It's critical to only delete system files with a firm understanding of their functions or use trusted system cleaning tools.
How can I ensure that all important data from Windows.old is backed up?
Before deleting the Windows.old folder, explore each sub-folder for any personal or application data that might not have been transferred to the new installation. Back up these files to external storage or cloud solutions. Consider using automated backup software for comprehensive backups, especially for business or critical personal data.
How can I access the Windows.old folder if I don't see it in my directory?
To access the Windows.old folder, first ensure that you can view hidden items in your file system. Go to the “View” tab in File Explorer and check “Hidden items.” If the folder still isn't visible, it might have been automatically deleted or not created during your system upgrade.
