How To Delete Backup Files In Windows 10

The backup and restoration features on Windows 10 is helpful for security, but it quickly takes up a lot of space on your computer. If you want to learn four ways how to delete backup files in Windows 10, then keep on reading!

If you use Microsoft Windows 10 as much as we do, then odds are you familiar with the operating systems backup system. The program makes an identical file copy of everything from installations files to applications.

Windows 10 does this safety precaution so that if an error or crash occurs, it can provide immediate restoration of the corrupted files. Unfortunately, it also takes up quite a lot of space which you may not have on your computer.

In this article, we will cover four different ways how to delete backup files in Windows 10. You can delete backup files using file history cleanup, command prompts, built-in management tools, and third-party applications.

If you want to learn more about these methods of how to delete backup files in Windows 10, then keep on reading.

Method One: File History Cleanup

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First, open the control panel on your computer. Then, go to the System & Security icon and click on File History. Go to the left side of the page and click on the Advanced Settings option found underneath Exclude Folders. In the version of this file, you will find a cleanup option.

When you click on this feature, it will give you a set of time ranging from the latest version to older than two years. Click on the amount you want and then hit Clean Up. When your computer finishes cleaning up, then you can hit OK and exit.

Method Two: Command Prompts

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First, select a save from either your internal hard, USB drive, or the network save. Then, press the Window + X key. This step will open the command prompt. You can then type in a command a press enter.

The commands differ depending on how much of the saved backup you want to delete. Each one removes a corresponding amount of time.

There are five commands: all but the latest one (FhManagew.exe -cleanup 0), older than one month (FhManagew.exe -cleanup 30), older than three months (FhManagew.exe -cleanup 90), older than six months (FhManagew.exe -cleanup 180), and older than one year (FhManagew.exe -cleanup 365).

If your computer responds with the prompt file not found, then you will need to choose a shorter time frame from the command prompt. Press close and repeat from the beginning.

Method Three: Built-In Management Tools

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This method uses a built-in removal method found in the settings. You can get to it by pressing Enter and going to Settings. Once in the settings window, select the Update & security option.

From here, find the Backup option and then click the icon that says Backup & Restore (Windows 10). Below the visual representation of your hard drive’s space, you will find the Manage space option. Click on it.

The computer will take you to a management window which will give you two options for deleting the backup files: View backups and Change settings. The View backups option will present you a list of your saved reserves which you can then select and delete.

Alternatively, you can also select the Change settings option, which will change the way your hard drive stores backups in the future. If you choose this option, then Windows will automatically start deleting backups instead of you manually doing it.

When you click this option, you will see two options: one letting you keep the space from only the latest project and another which allows Windows to manage the area.

The second option appears as the default since it allows the computer access to save everything. The first option will only keep the latest backup, so select the one for your needs and press Enter.

Method Four: Third Party Applications

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Alternatively, if you want some more advanced options for dealing with your backup files, you can go through third-party software. We recommend the service MiniTool ShadowMaker. This tool lets you perform both automatic backups and more specific incremental ones.

Once you install the program and open the window, you will see several options in the upper portion of the screen. Click on the Backup feature. Then, select a destination that this software will manage.

Alternatively, you can change this setting in the future if you use something like an external hard drive or network hard drive. You can now select an option that will either delete the backups automatically as they appear or in shorter increments.

One way you can do this step is through the Scheme option on the Backup page. Turn the feature on to default and set it so that it keeps the latest version of your backup.

Alternatively, you can also select the Incremental or Differential options depending on your needs. Once you finish selecting the method, then go back to the Backup page. Then click on the Backup now feature.

In addition to the Backup feature, you can also control your hard drive space using the Manage feature at the top of the MiniTool ShadowMaker window. It will offer you a similar command prompt as the Backup feature in terms of selecting which memory source you want to manage.

Once you select something to manage, hit the Backup Now option. This step will create a new backup for you to control.

Then, you can select which method works for you with the Screen button. When you set up this option, the management section of MiniTool ShadowMaker will always delete your designated backup.

We hope this article helped you figure out how to delete backup files in Windows 10. As you can see, there is no shortage of ways you can deal with the problem. But we do recommend taking care of it before it takes up all of your hard drive space. Good luck!