Step 1: Check if Windows.old Can Be Deleted

Before attempting to delete the Windows.old folder, ensure that the folder is no longer needed for a rollback. Windows gives users 10 days after an upgrade to restore the previous version. If that period has passed, it’s safe to delete Windows.old.

1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to C:\ and check if the Windows.old folder is present.
3. If it’s there, confirm that you don’t need to roll back your Windows version. If you’re sure, proceed to the next steps.

Step 2: Use Disk Cleanup to Delete Windows.old

The easiest way to delete the Windows.old folder is through the Disk Cleanup tool. However, this method requires admin permissions to run.

1. Press the Windows key and type “Disk Cleanup.”
2. Select the Disk Cleanup app from the search results.
3. Choose the drive where Windows is installed (usually C:) and click OK.
4. In the Disk Cleanup tool, click Clean up system files. You will need admin permissions for this.
5. After the tool scans your system, a new checkbox labeled Previous Windows installation(s) will appear.
6. Select this checkbox and click OK, then confirm your action to delete the folder.

This method often works without any issues, but if you run into problems with permissions, follow the next steps.

Step 3: Take Ownership of the Windows.old Folder

If you don’t have permission to delete Windows.old through Disk Cleanup, you can take ownership of the folder and gain the necessary admin permissions to delete it.

1. Right-click the Windows.old folder and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab and click on the Advanced button.
3. In the Advanced Security Settings, click Change next to the owner field.
4. Type your username in the box and click Check Names. Once it validates, click OK.
5. Back in the Advanced Security Settings, check the box that says Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and click Apply.
6. Click OK to close all windows.

You should now have full control over the Windows.old folder and can proceed to delete it.

Step 4: Delete the Windows.old Folder Manually

Once you have taken ownership, follow these steps to manually delete the folder:

1. Right-click the Windows.old folder and select Delete.
2. You may receive a warning about needing admin permissions. If so, click Continue to grant permission.
3. If the folder doesn’t delete, you can try deleting it in Safe Mode (explained below).

Step 5: Use Safe Mode to Delete Windows.old

If you’re still having trouble deleting Windows.old, booting into Safe Mode can help. Safe Mode disables unnecessary processes that may be interfering with the deletion.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab.
3. Check the box for Safe boot and select Minimal.
4. Click Apply and then OK.
5. Restart your computer, and it will boot into Safe Mode.
6. Try deleting the Windows.old folder again using the steps mentioned earlier.

Once the folder is deleted, you can return to the System Configuration window and uncheck Safe boot to boot back into normal mode.

Step 6: Use Command Prompt to Delete Windows.old

If all else fails, you can use Command Prompt to delete Windows.old manually. Make sure to run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Press the Windows key, type Command Prompt, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.

Type the following command and press Enter:
rd /s /q C:\Windows.old

This command will force delete the Windows.old folder.

If you encounter any issues, ensure you’re logged in with an account that has administrative privileges.