How to Delete $Windows.~WS folder in Windows 10
The $Windows.~WS folder is a hidden folder that is created in the root directory of the Windows "C:" drive during the upgrade process to Windows 10. The WS in the $Windows.~WS folder name stands for Windows Setup.
The $Windows.~WS folder contains essential files of the previous system version used to allow you to go back to the previous version of Windows.
This tutorial will show you how to delete the $Windows.~WS folder in the root directory of the Windows 10 drive to free up hard drive space if needed.
You must be signed in as an administrator to delete the $Windows.~WS folder.
If you delete the Windows.old, $Windows.~BT, and/or $Windows.~WS folder, you will no longer be able to go back to the previous version of Windows.
If you delete the $Windows.~WS folder, it is recommended to also delete the Windows.old and $Windows.~BT folders to free up additional hard drive space.
EXAMPLE: $Windows.~WS folder
Here's How:
1 Open an elevated command prompt.
2 Copy and paste the commands below into the elevated command prompt one at a time, and press Enter after each command. (see screenshot below)
takeown /F "C:\$Windows.~WS\*" /A /R /D Y
icacls "C:\$Windows.~WS\*.*" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F /T /C /Q
RD /S /Q "C:\$Windows.~WS"
3 When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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