How to reclaim space after upgrading to Windows 11 2022 Update
If your PC has limited space after upgrading to version 22H2, you can use these steps to reclaim some of the space on Windows 11.
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The upgrade process to any version ofWindows 11(such as the 2022 Update) usually creates a copy of the previous installation as a precaution. If a critical error or compatibility problem occurs, then the system has a way to roll back to the previous settings.
The caveat is that the copy will be stored on your computer (inside the “Windows.old” folder) even after the upgrade is completed without problems, wasting a lot of valuable space. If you delete these files, you can free up somewhere in the 20GB range, which may not be significant for devices with large drives, but it could be an issue for devices with limited storage.
Of course, this would only be the case if you come from an in-place upgrade since aclean installationwill erase the hard drive before upgrading to the new version of Windows 11.
How to free up space after Windows 11 2022 Update using Temporary files
To delete the previous version of Windows 11 to free up space after version 22H2, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the copy of the previous installation will be deleted from the computer, freeing up several gigabytes of space.
How to free up space after Windows 11 2022 Update using Cleanup recommendations
You can also clear out the previous installation similar to the above steps through the Cleanup recommendations settings.
To free up space with the Cleanup recommendations page, use these steps:
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After you complete the steps, the system will proceed to delete the previous installation files.
How to free up space after Windows 11 2022 Update using Disk Cleanup
Alternatively, you can still use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete the previous installation files after the Windows 11 2022 Update installation.
To use Disk Cleanup to remove the “Windows.old” folder with the previous setup on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the “Windows.old” folder with a copy of the old setup will be deleted, freeing up storage space on the computer.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
