How to reclaim space after getting the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

During the installation of the Autumn Creators Update, Windows 10 makes a backup of the current setup that can be used to restore the previous configuration in case of problems during and after the upgrade.

The simply caveat is that even after the Windows x Autumn Creators Update was successfully installed, and it'due south working without a glitch, the copy of the previous version stored in the Windows.old folder is still around on your drive — wasting gigabytes of space that tin be used by more important files.

Although this might not be an consequence for devices with large hard drives, if y'all have a laptop or tablet with limited storage, you can reclaim that storage infinite (and more than).

In this Windows ten guide, we'll walk you lot through 3 dissimilar means to delete the previous installation saved on your calculator after upgrading to the Fall Creators Update to free up storage space.

How to free up infinite using Storage sense
How to free upward space using Temporary files
How to gratuitous upward space using Deejay Cleanup

How to costless up space using Storage sense

The quickest fashion to free upward space on your device later on installing the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is to use the Storage sense option.

Open Settings.
Click on Organization.
Click on Storage.
Under "Storage sense," click the Alter how we complimentary up infinite link.
Under "Free up infinite at present," bank check the Delete previous version of Windows selection.
Click the Clean now button.

After completing the steps, Windows 10 will delete the backup files from the previous installation, including any other temporary files options y'all may have checked, such as temporary files from apps, files that have been in the recycle bin for over 30 days, and files that haven't changed in the last month in the Downloads folder.

How to gratuitous upwards space using Temporary files

Alternatively, the Storage page in the Settings app allows you to delete the previous version of Windows using the Temporary files settings.

Open Settings.
Click on Organisation.
Click on Storage.
Under "Local storage," click your device principal drive labeled "This PC."
Click on Temporary Files.
Cheque the Previous version of Windows pick.
Click the Remove files button.

One time you've completed the steps, the previous installation files will be deleted from your device, reclaiming several gigabytes to store more important files.

In improver to deleting the previous version backup, you can also choose to remove a number of other junk files to free upward space, including temporary files from apps, Downloads binder, and those files in the recycle bin.

How to free upward space using Disk Cleanup

In improver to using the Settings app, you tin use the Disk Cleanup tool to remove the previous installation fill-in files.

Open File Explorer.
Click on This PC from the left pane.
Correct-click the Local Disk (C:) drive, and select Properties.
Click the Disk Cleanup button.
Click the Clean up organisation files button.
Check the Previous Windows installation(s) selection.
Click OK.

After completing the steps, the Disk Cleanup tool volition properly go rid of the Windows.one-time binder containing the previous installation.

While in Disk Cleanup, information technology'south too a good idea to select other unnecessary files wasting space on your device, such equally Windows Defender Antivirus, Windows upgrade log files, Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Cyberspace Files, Organization created Windows Error Reporting files and others.

Wrapping things upwards

While there are multiple ways to delete the old Windows 10 installation to free upwards storage space on your computer, blank in mind that these files are required to rollback in case the new version is non working correctly.

After freeing up disk space using any of these methods the pick to go dorsum to an earlier build volition no longer exist available in the Settings app recovery options. You should merely consider getting rid of these files if your device is running low of space and y'all're not experiencing any problems after installing the Fall Creators Update.

If you delete the previous version, the only way to rollback is to do a clean installation of Windows 10. Nevertheless, if you don't delete these files manually, the organization eventually will delete them automatically after ten days of the upgrade.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

Windows x on Windows Central – All you lot need to know
Windows x aid, tips, and tricks
Windows x forums on Windows Central

These are the very best SSDs available for Windows PCs

Heir-apparent's guide

These are the very all-time SSDs available for Windows PCs

We take a look at some of the very all-time solid-land drives (SSDs) you can purchase for your Windows ten PC. Whether you want the fastest PCIe 4.0 has to offer, or a bulldoze to save y'all money, we've got you covered with our superlative recommendations.