How to Remove Old Backup Files in Windows 10

While maintaining backups of crucial data is beneficial, occasionally outdated or unnecessary backup files can occupy space on your device. In such instances, users need to manage their automatic backup schedule and periodically clean up older backups as required.

1. Delete Windows File History Files

Typically, files on a Windows computer are automatically backed up using File History. This built-in backup feature allows Windows users to easily schedule backups of important folders. As backup versions accumulate, the external drive used for storing data might run out of space. In this situation, you'll need to delete some data to continue backing up new files.

Step 1. First, head to Windows 10 Settings > Update & Security > Backup. Find the File History section and click on "More options."

Step 2. In the Backup options, you can modify how frequently the program creates a backup under "Back up my files" and for how long they are retained before being deleted under "Keep my backups."

By default, backups will be retained indefinitely. This can result in significant consumption of backup storage over time. To optimize space usage, you can configure the system to delete backups on a monthly basis, or when space is required. This ensures that disk space is freed up automatically when the backup drive is running low on storage.

Step 3. You can also scroll down to the bottom of the backup options, and then click "Stop using Drive" to completely halt the creation of new backups.

Step 4. If you wish to manually remove any saved backup files kept by File History, return to the Windows desktop. Right-click the Windows Start menu and choose the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.

Step 5. In the PowerShell window that appears, type fhmanagew.exe -cleanup 0 to delete all file backups except the most recent one, and then press Enter to execute the command. You can replace 0 with a different number of days to keep a longer backup period. If the command is successful, a pop-up window will appear to confirm the action.

Translation: Delete File History Backup in PowerShell

< a id="part2" name="part2">2. Delete Windows System Restore Points

If you have System Restore enabled, you can revert the Windows operating system to a previous state by using any available restore point. If these restore points are occupying too much space on your computer, you can delete them using the following method:

Delete All System Restore Points

Step 1. Open the Start Menu and search for Create a restore point. Select it to open the System Properties menu.

Step 2. Choose the drive you want to manage, and then click Configure.

Step 3. Click Delete and confirm to delete all system restore points for the selected drive.

3. How to Delete the Windows.old Folder After Upgrading to Windows 10

The Windows.old folder is generated when you upgrade your system to Windows 10. It stores the previous version of Windows temporarily, in case you need to roll back the upgrade. However, if you require the disk space and have ensured that all crucial files on your computer are safe, you can easily delete the Windows.old folder as per your requirement. Please note that this action cannot be reversed.

Step 1. Open the Start Menu, type Settings, and click on it from the search results. Next, select System.

Step 2. Navigate to Storage and on the drive's information, click on Temporary Files.

Step 3. Check the box for Previous Windows installation(s), and then click Remove files.

4. Delete Backup Files Created by Third-Party Backup Software

Many users might discover that the built-in backup utilities for Windows and Mac are not adequate for their requirements. They might opt to buy third-party backup software to more effectively safeguard their crucial files.

Third-party backup software uses various data storage systems, and usually, users can select their preferred storage spot when setting up the software. You can set it up to do automatic backups and keep the files forever. But if you don't keep an eye on it, your storage can fill up fast. So, it's really important to make sure the automatic backup schedule is set up right before you start. Some third-party software might not have an auto-delete feature. In that case, you'd need to manually remove old and unnecessary backups yourself.

Typically, when configuring a backup schedule with third-party backup software, you have the option to specify the backup file location. To delete backup files, simply navigate to that location and remove the undesired files.

Bonus Tip: How to Back Up Files with Todo Backup Tools In this section, we will guide you on how to efficiently back up your files using the reliable backup software, Todo Backup. Follow these steps to ensure your data is securely stored: 1. **Download and Install Todo Backup**: First, visit the official website of Todo Backup and download the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows or Mac). Once downloaded, install the software following the on-screen instructions. 2. **Launch Todo Backup**: After installation, open the program. You'll be greeted with a user-friendly interface. 3. **Choose Backup Type**: Todo Backup offers various backup options. Select the type of backup you need - File Backup, System Backup, Disk Backup, or Partition Backup, depending on your requirements. 4. **Select Source Files**: In the File Backup option, click on "Add File" or "Add Folder" to choose the files or directories you want to back up. You can also use the "Select All" option to backup everything in a specific location. 5. **Choose Destination**: Next, specify where you want to save the backup. You can opt for an external hard drive, network location, or cloud storage (if supported by the software). 6. **Customize Settings**: Todo Backup allows you to customize your backup process. You can set up a schedule (daily, weekly, monthly) for automatic backups, enable encryption for added security, and choose compression levels to save disk space. 7. **Execute Backup**: Once you've configured all settings, click on "Backup Now" to start the backup process. The software will create a snapshot of your selected files and store it at the designated location. 8. **Monitor Backup Progress**: During the backup, Todo Backup will display a progress bar and estimated time remaining. Wait until the process completes. 9. **Verify Backup**: After the backup is finished, verify the contents to ensure that all necessary files have been successfully backed up. This can be done by accessing the backup location and checking the files. 10. **Create a Recovery Plan**: It's crucial to test the recovery process as well. Todo Backup often has a "Restore" feature that lets you simulate a restore operation to confirm the integrity of your backups. By following these steps, you can effectively utilize Todo Backup to safeguard your important files against any unforeseen data loss. Remember to keep your backups up-to-date and store them in a secure location.

Compared to the built-in tools mentioned above, third-party backup solutions typically offer more extensive features and better performance when dealing with large amounts of data. For instance, with tools like Todo Backup, you can opt to back up both individual files and entire folders (whereas Windows File History only supports backing up folders). Additionally, you have the flexibility to choose between differential and incremental backup plans based on your requirements. In this article, we will guide you through setting up an easy automatic backup system using Todo Backup.

Once you've downloaded and installed Todo Backup, follow these steps to back up your files:

Step 1. To initiate the backup process, click on Select backup contents.

Step 2. There are four categories of data backups: File, Disk, OS, and Mail.

Step 3. On the left-hand side, you'll see a list of local and network files. Expand the directories to select the files you want to back up.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and select the location where you want to save the backup.

In the Backup Options section, click Options to enable password encryption for the backup, set the backup schedule, and decide whether to initiate the backup at a specific event under the Backup Scheme. A range of customizable features are available for you to explore, allowing you to customize the backup process to suit your precise needs.

Step 5. Backups can be stored on a local disk, in the tool's cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step 6. Todo Backup enables users to back up their data to a third-party cloud drive or the company's proprietary cloud storage.

If you want to back up your data to a third-party cloud drive, choose Local Drive, scroll down to add Cloud Device, and enter your account information.

You can also use the tool's built-in cloud storage service. Click on Tool Cloud, create an account using your Tool Account, and then log in to your account.

Step 7. To initiate a backup, select Backup Now. Once the backup process is successfully completed, it will be displayed as a card on the left-hand panel. For more detailed management of the backup job, right-click on it.

Conclusion

Regardless of the tools you use to back up your files, the backup data needs to be stored somewhere. If not managed properly, you might unexpectedly run out of device storage space. This also holds true for Windows' built-in system backups, like the Windows.old folder. In this article, we've outlined methods to delete unnecessary backups from various software and features. Before deleting any backup files, ensure that you won't need them in the future.

However, if you're using third-party automatic backup software like Todo Backup, the software can be configured to automatically delete older backup images after a specified time period or once a certain number of images is reached. You also have the option to manually delete backups if necessary.