How you delete Windows depends on your goal. If Windows is a second installation in a dual-boot setup, start the operating system you’re keeping, remove the old Windows boot entry, then delete its partition in Disk Management and extend your main drive into the space. If you want Windows gone from the whole computer, boot from the installer of the new operating system and format the drive during setup. You can’t delete the copy of Windows you’re currently running, and everything on a deleted partition is lost, so back up first.
Quick Answer
Back up. Dual boot: remove the boot entry, then Disk Management > right-click the old Windows partition > Delete Volume. Whole PC: format the drive while installing the new OS.
Steps to Remove a Second Windows Installation
- Back up any files you need from the Windows you’re removing.
- Start the Windows you’re keeping.
- Press Windows + R, type msconfig, open the Boot tab, select the other Windows entry and click Delete. Don’t delete the entry marked Current OS.
- Right-click Start and open Disk Management.
- Right-click the old Windows partition (check the drive letter and size carefully) and choose Delete Volume.
- Right-click your main partition and choose Extend Volume to use the free space, if it’s next to it.
Which Option Fits
| Goal | Method |
|---|---|
| Remove a second Windows | msconfig boot entry + Disk Management |
| Replace Windows with another OS | Format the drive in the new OS installer |
| Wipe the PC before selling | Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC > Remove everything, with drive cleaning |
| Delete leftovers after an upgrade | Remove the Windows.old folder with Disk Cleanup or Storage settings |
Troubleshooting
- Delete Volume is greyed out: The partition is in use (system, boot or recovery). Don’t force it.
- Can’t extend the main drive: The free space must sit right after it. A recovery partition in between blocks Extend Volume.
- Dual boot with Linux: See removing a dual boot.
- Related clean-up: See deleting a partition and deleting the Windows.old folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall Windows like an app?
No. Windows is removed by deleting or formatting the partition it’s on, from another operating system or installer.
Will deleting Windows remove my files?
Yes, everything on the deleted or formatted partition is erased. Files on other drives are untouched.
Do I lose my Windows licence?
Digital licences are usually tied to the hardware, so reinstalling Windows later on the same PC typically reactivates.
Summary
- Back up your files.
- Pick dual-boot removal, a new OS install or a reset.
- Delete the right partition in Disk Management.
- Extend your main drive into the free space.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.