How to Delete Backup Files in Windows 10

This Itechguide teaches you how to delete backup files in Windows 10. The guide covers steps for 2 methods to delete backup files in Windows 10.

Option 1: Delete Backup Files with “File History” Backup

If you created backup with the new Windows 10 File History Backup, use the methods in this section to delete the backup files…

• Right-click the Windows 10 Start menu and click Settings.

• On the Windows Settings screen, scroll down and click Update & Security.

• Then, on the left pane of the Windows Update screen, click Backup.

• When the Backup screen open, beneath Backup using File History, click More options.

• Then, on the Backup options screen, scroll down to Related settings and click See advanced settings. File History settings will open in a new window.

• On the left pane of the Keep a history of your files screen, click Advanced settings.

• When the Advanced settings screen opens, on the bottom of the Versions section, click Clean up versions.

• Finally, on the File History Cleanup pop-up, click the Delete files drop-down and select an option.

• The quickest option to delete backup files on the File History Cleanup is to select the All but the latest one.
• Finally, click Clean up – see the second image below.

Option 2: Delete Backup Files with Windows 7 Backup

If you created backups with Windows 7 backup and restore tool before you upgraded to Windows 10, use the steps below to delete the backup files…

• Follow the steps in the previous method until you get to Backup.
• Then, beneath Looking for an older backup?, click Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

• On the Back up or restore your files screen, beneath Backup size, click Manage space.

• When the Manage Windows Backup disk space screen open, beneath Data file backup, click View backups…

• Then, click on a backup and click Delete.

• On the Delete confirmation pop-up, select a delete option. Then, click Close twice.

• You will be returned to Manage Windows Backup disk space screen. Beneath System image, click Change settings.

• On the Select how Windows retains older system images, select Keep only the latest system image and minimize space used by backup option. Then, to save your changes, click OK.

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