Question: After update, old Eclipse plugins remain in "plugins" folder (there are also leftovers in "features" folder).

Is there a way to remove those automatically?

Answer: 
For me this works:

```
eclipse -application org.eclipse.equinox.p2.garbagecollector.application -profile SDKProfile

```

Tested Eclipse v4.9. Removes old version of my plugins.
The profile `epp.package.jee` mentioned in other solutions returns "not existing" for me.
The most simple, clean and efficient solution is to simply delete the current Eclipse installation and install the latest Eclipse version (or reinstall the current version).

* The key is to install Eclipse via the zip package rather than the installer or **Install / Update**.
* See: <https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/packages/>
* e.g. Eclipse IDE for Enterprise Java and Web Developers: `eclipse-java-2021-06-R-win32-x86_64.zip`
* Note: All of the Eclipse user preferences are persevered because they are stored in your Eclipse workspace.

### Steps

* (1) Manually delete the existing `eclipse` directory containing the current Eclipse installation
* (2) Download the latest Eclipse IDE zip file
	+ <https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/packages/>
* (3) Unzip the latest Eclipse IDE zip file to the `eclipse` directory
* (4) Start the latest Eclipse IDE
* (5) Select your existing Eclipse workspace
* (6) Perform the Eclipse workspace migration if prompted
	+ Note: Back-up workspace if paranoid (prior to this step)