How to Delete Shadow Copies in Windows 11
In Windows 11, shadow copies, also known as system restore points, are created to allow users to restore their system to a previous state in case of any issues or system failures. However, over time, these shadow copies can take up a significant amount of disk space, which may lead to performance issues. If you’re looking to delete shadow copies in Windows 11 to free up disk space, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out.
Step 1: Open the System Properties
To begin, you need to open the System Properties window. You can do this by following these steps:
1. Right-click on the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
2. In the command prompt or terminal, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
powershell
“`
3. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
systeminfo
“`
4. Look for the “System Restore” section in the output and note down the path mentioned there. It typically looks like this: `C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\SystemRestore`.
Step 2: Access the System Restore Settings
Now that you have the path to the system restore folder, follow these steps to access the system restore settings:
1. Open File Explorer by pressing `Win + E` or by clicking on the File Explorer icon on the taskbar.
2. In the address bar, paste the path you noted down in Step 1 and press Enter.
3. You will see a folder named “System Volume Information.” This is the system restore folder.
4. Right-click on the “System Volume Information” folder and select “Properties.”
Step 3: Delete Shadow Copies
With the system restore settings open, you can now delete the shadow copies. Here’s how:
1. In the “System Volume Information” properties window, click on the “Security” tab.
2. Click on the “Edit” button to modify the security settings.
3. In the “Group or user names” list, find and select “Everyone.”
4. In the “Permissions for Everyone” section, check the box for “Deny” under the “Full control” column.
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
6. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
After following these steps, the shadow copies in Windows 11 should be deleted, freeing up disk space and potentially improving system performance. However, keep in mind that deleting shadow copies will prevent you from using the system restore feature to revert your system to a previous state.
