Restore Files or Windows from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10

You will learn to restore files or Windows from Windows.old in Windows 10 as well as delete this folder for more space. Learn more below.

By AOMEI / Last Updated March 24, 2021

Content of this article:

What is Windows.old folder in Windows 10?

After upgrading from an old version of Windows to Windows 10 or refreshing or performing custom install , you will have a Windows.old folder automatically created on your computer. It is a folder that contains all of the operating system files and personal data files of your previous version of Windows. And it will be deleted after 10 days or 30 days automatically to free up disk space for you.

If you do not like the new Windows version, you can restore Windows from Windows.old folder including the operating system, settings, personal files and programs.

Also, you can choose to only restore files from Windows.old folder in Windows 10 that wasn’t properly copied to your new Windows installation or mistakenly deleted.

In addition,В if you think the new version of Windows is fine orВ there is no important files,В you can delete this folder. After all,В the Windows.old folder can take up a large chunk of space (around 20GB)В on your computer.В

Restore files from Windows.old in Windows 10

ToВ recover individual files from your old Windows installation, you can use the following steps:

Step 1. Open file explorer in Windows 10.В

Step 2. Access the Windows.old folder at C:\Windows.old,В and browsing your personal files located atВ C:\Windows.old\Users\your_name.

Step 3. Select the files or folders you want to move, right-click it and select «Copy«.

Step 4. Then, go to the location where you want to store the files or folders, right-click the blank space and select «Paste«.

Step 5. Repeat this step untill all the data are transferred.В

You may find that some important files are missing or have not been saved in the Windows.old folder while browing files in the Windows 10 file explorer, the reason may be thatВ file transfers do not work correctly.В

This is aВ rare case, but if you don’t want lose any important, it’s suggested to backup files to prevent data loss during the transfer process.

And this folder will not remain on your computer for a long time, so you still need toВ backup Windows.old folderВ to a different locationВ before the deadline.В

Restore Windows from Windows.old in Windows 10В

To downgrade Windows 10, you can follow the steps below:

Step 1. Go to «Settings» > «Update & Security» > «Recovery«.

Step 2. Then, you’ll see several options, inluding Reset this PC, Go back to Windows 8.1(this depends on the previous version of your Windws), and other options. Scroll down to «Go back to Windows 8.1» section and click «Get started«

Step 3. Follow the wizard and finish the rest of steps toВ restore your old Windows operating systemВ using the Windows.old folder.

Delete Windows.old folder to free up disk space

To delete Windows.old folder, you can try the following steps.

Step 1. Go to «File Explore» and right-click the system partition(usually C: drive). Then, select «Properties«.

Step 2. Under the General tab, select «Disk Cleanup» option.В

Step 3. Click «Clean up system files«.

Step 4. Then, you will see «Previous Windows Installation(s)«, tick it and click «OK» to apply.

Useful tips: backup files right now to prevent data lossВ

As mentioned earlier, there is a possibility that the Window.old folder will not include some important files of your previous Windows installation. And you will never know when you need to restore files from backup due to file corruption, virus attack, etc.

So, it’s suggested to backup files from now on, preferably toВ schedule automatic backups. It allows you to only backup changed files per day automatically or use a longer backup interval, which greatly reduceВ data loss.

To make it, you need a free backup software like AOMEI Backupper Standard for help. It allows you to backup files,В system, disk, or partition, files and folder and perform corresponding restoration operation, even selective file restore from other backup solutions.

Step 1. Download and launch AOMEI Backupper Standard, you will see its deep-blue interface. Then, clickВ «File Backup«В under the Backup tab.

Note:В To protect your system, you need to create a complete system image in Windows 10 with «System Backup» or backup entire disk with «Disk Backup».

Step 2. ClickВ «Add File«В orВ «Add Folder«В according to your needs. Choose the file or folder you want to backup on the current computer.

Step 3. S elect a different location to store the files or folder. You canВ backup files to external hard drive, NAS network location, or other locations as long as it can be detected by Windows.

Step 4. Click «Schedule«and set backup settings. The default options are daily incremental backup, but you can change it to weekly/monthly or use differential backup.В

Please note that the scheduled differential backup, even triggers and USB plug in are only available on the charged version, AOMEI Backupper Professional, for example.

Step 5. Click «Start Backup«В to perform the scheduled file backup task.

Wait until the process complets, you will have an exact of files you want to backup. Then, you can use it to restore files from backup as needed. It’s suggested to create a bootable disc with CD/DVD or USB drive, which allows you to boot computer when it’s unbootable.

If you want to protect unlimited computers within your company, you can pick AOMEI Backupper Technician. With the inbuilt AOMEI Image Deploy tool, you are also allowed to deploy/restore system image file on server-side computer to multiple client-side computers over network.

FAQs: Restore from Windows.old folderВ

1. Can IВ restore programs from Windows.old?

The answer is No, you cannot restore programs or settings from this folder. ItВ is for data retrieval, not program retrieval. Thus, you need to reinstall programs you will use in the near future.В В

2. Is Windows old automatically deleted?

Yes, this operation will be executed 30 days after you upgrade, refresh or custom install. Thus, if you are not sure there is any important, please backup the entire folder or specific folders in advance.

3.В Can I restore Windows 7 from Windows 10?

Of course,В with the help of Windows.old folder,В you can restore Windows 7 from Windows 10 using «Go back to Windows 7» feature in the Recovery settings. The premise is that your previous operating system is Windows 7 instead of Windows 8 or 8.1.

The way forward

For restore from Windows.old, you can restore specific files or entire Windows. Also, you can choose to delete it as long as you make sure all the important data are transferred to new Windows successfully.

In addition, please remember to make an exact copy of files on your current computer with a free backup software like AOMEI Backupper Standard. Only in this way,В you don’t have to worry about data loss owing to any error. Also, it’s suggested to create a system image in Windows 10 or other system.В

Is it safe to delete Windows.old folder?

Original title: Windows 10 upgrade.

Hi,
I recently upgraded my pc to windows 10 from Windows 8.1. During installation, in the step where we are provided option to choose partition where we want to install windows 10, I chose my current windows 8.1 installation partition (ie. C partition) . After installation I saw a folder in c partition which was named as windows.old. I surfed about it online and found that it could be deleted via disk cleanup. My question is that is it safe to do this ?

Deleting Windows.old folder will not affect your PC. Windows.old folder will contain all the application/files which were installed in your previous Operating system. So, by deleting Windows.old folder, all the applications and files which were there in your old operating system will get deleted.

After a Windows Upgrade, by default, Windows.Old directory will be deleted after 4 weeks. If you find that you no longer have any use for it you can also remove/delete the Windows.old folder manually.

Hope the information helps. Kindly write back to us for further assistance on Windows. We will be happy to assist you.

355 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

Windows.old folder missing.

Hi all, after upgrading to Windows 10 all my files were in the Windows.old folder for about a month. After turning on my PC one morning I was confused to find that folder gone. If I had of known this folder would automatically deleted I would have moved the files asap. But I didn’t know this info so I just left it in there. Does anybody have any idea on how to find or recover the files? I have used two file recovery programs to no avail. Other than two or 3 recovered files the rest are just corrupt or old files I’ve previously deleted.

I just finished a chat with support and they were no help whatsoever. Pretty much told me there is no way that Windows could delete files without my permission. Can anybody from MS or otherwise shed some light on this issue? I think it’s unacceptable.

Replies (12) 

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

* Please try a lower page number.

* Please enter only numbers.

12 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks for your response, this is so irritating. I can’t believe that Microsoft would be so stupid to add this feature. They could have atleast informed the deletion was about to happen or told me to move the files once the upgrade was complete. I think this could be the end of my PC using days, might be time to cross over to the darkside.

23 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Don’t install or remove any programs right now! This will overwrite the deleted files. Did you run a DEEP scan with your recovery-program? This is ALLWAYS the best thing to do, and did you try Recuva? As you saw, you got a big mess of Windows-things andother files. You can set it to shwo pictures, documents, videos and other. Without any scanning, between the shifts — and of course, don’t maximize the recoveryprogram-window, so you avoid accidently closing it in the middle of doing anything.

The fast scanning don’t find much and this is the same with all most all recoveryprograms — ALLWAYS use the Deep scanning, it takes hours, but let it «run» — do you have another computer, use this until files HOPEFULLY are back, and IF you get them back, saave them on USB-stick and extern harddisk.

Did you install the recoveryprogram on USB-stick? If you not have tried the Recuva yet, get it to USB-stick here:

https://www.piriform.com/recuva/features/portable-version It does the same as the version to computers. Or try again with them, you allready have, but now with deep scanning.

Why didn’t you remove your stuff, when finding it in the Windows.old.

Why didn’t you save your stuff on extern media.

When Windows 10 was released, all the users asked: «Will all my files be there, when upgrading», «IS it really nessesarry to make back up?». We couldn’t go to the forum without a LOT of people asking that

We ALL HIGHLY recommended everyone to make back up. But what happened? ALL MOST no one saves their files on extern media

3 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

10 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Have you tried system restore? At some point between the upgrade and the deletion of your Windows.old folder, your pc should have created a restore point (if you didn’t create one manually). Open control panel, click «Backup and Restore (Windows 7)». Then, lower left corner, click «Security and Maintenance», then «Recovery», then «Open System Restore». It should give you a short list of restore points; just pick one that predates the deletion of the old folder and hit go (it will take a while). Oh, and disable any antivirus programs you’re running first. After it reboots, your .old folder should reappear long enough for you to grab your stuff back out of it.

3 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

17 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Wow, you’re having a rough go. I’ve been there. At one point, all my user files disappeared, too (before I upgraded to 10) and I finally got them back by doing a list all files from the command prompt and scanning for my stuff by the file extensions. Eventually I found big groupings of documents with the same extensions: .wor, .docx (word files), .xlsx (excel files), .pdfs, and then on to music files by spotting .mp3, .wav, or .m4a extensions, then video files by finding .avi, .mp4, .mov, and so on. It was a pain and took forever, but I did get everything back. As long as your drive volume didn’t shrink drastically your stuff still exists, even though you may have to play «file extension commando» from the terminal to find it. Good luck and sorry I couldn’t help out more, I’m still a newbie at this stuff.

p.s. Hope you don’t, but if you do decide to «turn to the dark side», my advice would be to avoid the red fruit and go Linux; Xubuntu, Lubuntu, or Mint would all be better options than taking a bite of the apple.

3 people found this reply helpful

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

You knew, that the Windows.old will be deleted automacic, I will say.

🙂 You can say, the upgrade is a 30-days «Trial», that remain free, when the 30 days are gone !! 🙂

Because, when you had 30 days to decide if you wanted to continue with Windows 10, or roll back to older system, the rollback only could be done, when the Windows.old was there.

Microsoft have made this possible, so we can return, if the new system not did what we wanted it to, or we or the PC didn’t like it, but when it’s deleted automatic after the 30 days, this is because it takes up pretty much space on the harddisk — unfortunately, many users deletes it right away, when the PC is back alive again — NOT good.

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

Wow, you’re having a rough go. I’ve been there. At one point, all my user files disappeared, too (before I upgraded to 10) and I finally got them back by doing a list all files from the command prompt and scanning for my stuff by the file extensions. Eventually I found big groupings of documents with the same extensions: .wor, .docx (word files), .xlsx (excel files), .pdfs, and then on to music files by spotting .mp3, .wav, or .m4a extensions, then video files by finding .avi, .mp4, .mov, and so on. It was a pain and took forever, but I did get everything back. As long as your drive volume didn’t shrink drastically your stuff still exists, even though you may have to play «file extension commando» from the terminal to find it. Good luck and sorry I couldn’t help out more, I’m still a newbie at this stuff.

p.s. Hope you don’t, but if you do decide to «turn to the dark side», my advice would be to avoid the red fruit and go Linux; Xubuntu, Lubuntu, or Mint would all be better options than taking a bite of the apple.

I hope, you saved it to extern harddisk and USB-stick after this hard lesson. If not — DO IT.

HA-HA! It took me some time, to understand the «taking a bite of the apple. » 😀