How to Delete Old Backup Files in Windows 10

This post will show you how to use File History Cleanup to delete older backed up versions of files and folders for your account in Windows 10. you how to delete backup files in Windows 10. The guide covers steps for 2 methods to delete backup files in Windows 10.

• Method 1: Delete old backup files using File History Cleanup
• Method 2: Delete old backup files using Command Prompt

Method 1: Delete Old Backup Files Using File History Cleanup

Step 1: Open Control Panel, click System & Security, then click on File History icon.

Step 2: Click on the Advanced settings link on the left side.

Step 3: Then click on the Clean up versions link in the Versions section.

Step 4: Select the time period of versions you want to delete, and then click on Clean up.

Step 5: If the cleanup completed successfully, click on OK.

Method 2: Delete Old Backup Files Using Command Prompt

You can select to save backups to an internal hard drive, externally connected drive (USB drive), or you can save to a drive on a network in Control Panel.

Step 1: Press Win + X keys to open a Command Prompt.

Step 2: Execute the following command for the time period of versions you want to delete, and press Enter key.

All but the latest one

• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 0
• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 0 -quiet

Older than 1 month

• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 30
• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 30 -quiet

Older than 3 month

• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 90
• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 90 -quiet

Older than 6 month

• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 180
• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 180 -quiet

Older than 1 year (default)

• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 365
• FhManagew.exe -cleanup 365 -quiet

Or with -quiet command

Step 3: If it didn't find any versions of your files that were that old, click on Close, and repeat Step 2 above using a shorter time period if you like.

Step 4: If the cleanup completed successfully, click on OK.