Solved Is it safe to delete the windows.old folder ?

Yesterday I upgraded to windows 11 from windows 10 and everything is fine, but my SSD low on storage, it's fine to delete windows.old folder or i have to wait for windows to remove it itself?

If you're SURE you don't want to downgrade back to Windows 10... you can use the "Disk Cleanup" to properly remove that folder.

Click Start, type "Clean" and select "Disk Cleanup"
Click "Clean up system files" at the bottom
Accept the UAC (if prompted) and select what you want to get rid of

Dugong said:

Yesterday I upgraded to windows 11 from windows 10 and everything is fine, but my SSD low on storage, it's fine to delete windows.old folder or i have to wait for windows to remove it itself?

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It's perfectly safe to delete it, as long as you are sure you do not wish to revert back.

You can run the Start Menu, Settings app, Storage, Temporary files, include the checkbox for old Windows installations and remove it from there.
Check first that all your personal files, apps etc have been transfered to your new install, if so it is safe to delete.
Be aware that if you want to go back to Win10 you only have 10 days by default and the Windows.old folder is needed. Microsoft recently anounced they will stop selling Windows 10 keys and that also means that soon they will probably stop the ability to download the Windows 10 ISO/ Setup disk for clean installs.

If you can, backup your system first just in case you change your mind.

Dugong said:

.... fine to delete windows.old folder or i have to wait for windows to remove it itself?

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Welcome to Eleven Forum.

Yes, quite safe. But don't just delete it yourself, use Windows' own clean up options that others have described.

Also you'll be happy it'll free up more disk space bc that folder is... What... 10-25GB

DigitalGoat said:

Microsoft recently anounced they will stop selling Windows 10 keys and that also means that soon they will probably stop the ability to download the Windows 10 ISO/ Setup disk for clean installs.

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I very much doubt that. They haven't even stopped downloads of the Windows 8.1 ISO.

If you need space on the SSD and your laptop has a slot for a memory card, you can move SOME apps to the card with this program.


I have been using it for several years and recommend it. But use a well-known brand of card like Sandisk and back it up.

DigitalGoat said:

Microsoft recently anounced they will stop selling Windows 10 keys and that also means that soon they will probably stop the ability to download the Windows 10 ISO/ Setup disk for clean installs.

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Windows 10 and 11 keys are the same. Where ever you saw that don't know what they're talking about.

Winuser said:

Windows 10 and 11 keys are the same. Where ever you saw that don't know what they're talking about.

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I didn't mention Windows 11 in my post, maybe you misread, also the news comes from Microsoft's own site and many reputable tech news outlets. I suppose it is possible they don't know what they are talking about and you are quite correct and know more than they do.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll probably wait a week or less to remove it, in case something goes wrong with windows 11.

Dugong said:

Thanks for all the replies. I'll probably wait a week or less to remove it, in case something goes wrong with windows 11.

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Still a good idea to make an image backup as the rollback function is not the most realiable tool.

Dugong said:

Thanks for all the replies. I'll probably wait a week or less to remove it, in case something goes wrong with windows 11.

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By default you have 10 days in which you can roll back. You can extend that up to 60 days, but if you want to you must do so before the 10 days are up.

DigitalGoat said:

I didn't mention Windows 11 in my post, maybe you misread, also the news comes from Microsoft's own site and many reputable tech news outlets. I suppose it is possible they don't know what they are talking about and you are quite correct and know more than they do.

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Please tell me the difference between a Windows 10 key and a Windows 11 Key So that I can be in the know.

LeLibran said:

Microsoft will stop selling Windows 10 licenses in a few days

Microsoft has posted notifications on its digital download pages for Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Workstation stating that it will stop selling Windows 10 licenses at the end of January. Here are your options.

www.pcworld.com

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My take on that article is that MS will stop selling Windows 10. The Windows 10 and 11 keys are the same.

I agree with you. Although the retail change was announced, Microsoft hasn't said that Windows 10 Licences won't still be available, only that they will cease selling them via the Microsoft Store, so retailers will carry on 'while stocks last'. For those needing to purchase, the main advantage to being able to buy a Windows 10 License/Activation Key has been that they have usually been slightly cheaper.