Reclaiming Storage After Windows 11 Upgrade: Quick Steps to Clear Space

Upgrading to the latest version of Windows often comes with the promise of enhanced features, better performance, and a fresh user experience. However, these benefits can quickly be overshadowed by a rather inconvenient side effect: lost storage space! After an in-place upgrade to Windows 10 version 24H2, many users discover that their hard drive has been bloated with leftover installation files. Fortunately, reclaiming that space isn’t just a pipe dream; it’s entirely possible with a few simple steps.

Understanding the Storage Drain: The Culprit Behind the Numbers​

When you initiate an in-place upgrade to Windows 11 version 24H2, the operating system retains a backup of your previous installation in a folder aptly named Windows.old. This folder can consume over 20 GB of disk space, which could prove quite burdensome, especially for users with limited storage. But why does Windows do this? The intention is to allow users to roll back to their previous installation in case of any critical issues—essentially providing a safety net during the upgrade process.

Ways to Reclaim Your Storage​

The good news is that Windows 11 provides several built-in methods to clear out these previous installation files. Let’s take a look at two effective approaches: using the Settings app or employing the Disk Cleanup utility.

Method 1: Using Settings to Free Up Space​

1. Open Settings: You can do this by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.
2. Navigate to System: Once in Settings, click on the 'System' option.
3. Access Storage: On the left navigation pane, select 'Storage.'
4. Temporary Files: Click on the link that says ‘Temporary files’ on the right side of the screen.
5. Select Previous Windows Installation: In the list of temporary files, look for the option that mentions “Previous Windows installation(s)" and check the box next to it.
6. Remove Files: Finally, hit the 'Remove files' button to get rid of those pesky remnants.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you should notice some freed-up space, allowing for more room to store your important files.

Method 2: Using Disk Cleanup​

If you're a fan of classic tools, the Disk Cleanup utility can also come to your rescue.

1. Open Disk Cleanup: Search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu search bar and click on the relevant result.
2. Clean System Files: Click on the “Clean up system files” button. This action might require admin permissions.
3. Select Previous Windows Installation: Look for the “Previous Windows installation(s)” option in the list and select it.
4. Preserve Your Downloads: If you’re concerned about accidental deletions, deselect the Downloads option to ensure your downloaded files remain intact.
5. Finalize the Process: Click the OK button, and let Disk Cleanup work its magic, deleting the previous installation files and freeing up your precious disk space.

Important Considerations​

While it’s beneficial to reclaim that storage, deleting files from the Windows.old folder comes with its own set of caveats.

• Time-Sensitive Option: You can only perform this deletion within ten days of upgrading. Post that window, Windows will automatically delete these files for you.
• Rollback Considerations: Once you delete those previous installation files, rolling back to your former version of Windows via recovery settings is no longer an option. However, if you have the installation media, you can still reinstall version 23H2 through a clean installation.
• Common Issues: Some users have reported difficulties clearing out the “Windows Update Cleanup” cache, which is a separate issue from cleaning up previous installation files. This problem typically relates to installing updates rather than earlier versions.

Conclusion​

The path to reclaiming lost storage after an upgrade to Windows 11's 24H2 version is just a few clicks away! By utilizing either the Settings app or Disk Cleanup, users can regain essential disk space and improve their system's performance. Don’t let clutter slow you down; take action and optimize your system today!
For more tips and in-depth guides on Windows 10 and 11, keep posting your queries or suggestions in the forum below. Happy computing!
Source: Windows Central How to reclaim space after upgrading to Windows 10 2024 Update (version 24H2)