Windows Cant Delete Folder Try Again
How to delete a file, directory, or folder
Updated: 02/07/2022 by Calculator Hope
Now and then, it is a skillful idea to clean up your drives and delete indistinguishable photos, documents, temporary files, shortcuts, videos, or other unneeded or unused files or folders. The steps to delete a calculator file, directory, or folder vary on the method you desire to use and your operating arrangement. To proceed, cull from the list of options below and follow the instructions.
How to delete files in Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows users can delete an unwanted file or folder (directory) from a hard drive or external deejay bulldoze using many different methods. Below are the more common methods for deleting a file or folder in Microsoft Windows.
Annotation
Users not familiar with Windows should realize that if yous delete a folder or directory, all files and folders in that folder or directory are deleted.
Delete key
Locate the item yous desire to delete, highlight it past left-clicking the file or folder with your mouse once, and press the Delete key. You can scan the location of the file or folder using My Computer or Windows Explorer.
Tip
Y'all tin can delete multiple files or folders by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking each file or folder before pressing Delete.
Tip
You lot can concord downwardly the Shift key while pressing the Delete key to prevent files from going to the Recycle Bin when deleted.
Delete file or folder past right-clicking
Open My Computer or Windows Explorer. Nosotros recommend you lot make sure the directory or binder is empty before proceeding, unless you intend to delete everything in it. Locate the file or folder yous want to delete and right-click information technology. Choose the Delete choice from the popular-upward menu.
How to delete from the local disk
Important
The local disk contains files and folders that are imperative for your computer to run correctly. Unless you know what you are deleting, please do not delete whatsoever files from this section.
Open My Computer or Windows Explorer. On the left side of the screen, click This PC. On the right side of the screen, locate and double-click the local disk (ordinarily C: or D:). Double-click the binder containing the file you want to delete. Select the file or folder yous want to delete, click File in the top menu bar, and select Delete.
How to delete from an external drive
To delete from a USB wink drive, floppy drive, retention bill of fare, or external hard drive, open up My Computer or Windows Explorer. On the left side of the screen, click This PC. On the right side of the screen, locate and double-click the bulldoze, which is labeled as USB, wink drive, external hard drive, or the manufacturer'southward proper noun. Select the file or folder yous want to delete, click File in the tiptop menu bar, and select Delete.
Delete from the file menu
Open up My Computer or Windows Explorer. Locate and select the file or folder you want to delete, click File in the top menu bar, and select Delete.
Tip
If the File carte du jour is not visible in My Figurer or Windows Explorer, press the Alt fundamental to brand the menu bar visible, including the file bill of fare.
Problems during delete
Some documents and folders may be protected from deletion through encryption or password protection. In this case, y'all may exist asked for a password to decrypt or remove the password protection.
A file may be set as read-merely, meaning the user can but open it for viewing and not modify or delete it. When trying to delete a read-only file, you lot become a bulletin stating the file is write-protected and cannot be deleted. Y'all need to modify or write permissions to delete the file.
Some files may simply be deleted with administrator permissions. To delete these files, yous would demand to have ambassador rights on the computer. If you are using a piece of work calculator, the technical support staff often are the just users with administrator rights on the computer.
Another possible cause of problems with deleting a file or binder is a virus or malware infection. Viruses and malware can prevent files or folders from existence modified or deleted. If this is the case, you demand to remove the virus or malware infection to delete the affected file or folder.
Windows command line
See the MS-DOS and Windows command line section below for data about deleting a file or binder at the Windows command line.
Uninstalling a program
See our uninstalling a program steps for help with uninstalling (deleting) software programs from the computer.
How to restore a deleted file or folder
If you've deleted a file by fault, you can see our folio on how to restore a deleted file for further information on recovering a deleted file.
How to delete files in MS-DOS and the Windows control line
Note
Keep in heed that any deleted file or directory in MS-DOS is not sent to the Windows Recycle Bin.
Before y'all follow any of the steps below, you must become to an MS-DOS prompt or the Windows control line. If you are new to the command line, you may also want to read through the post-obit pages first.
Files
MS-DOS users can delete files using the del command. Come across this page to get boosted information and help with this command. Below is an example of how to utilise this control.
del example.txt
Equally seen in the example above, when deleting a file, you need to enter the full file name, including the file extension.
Tip
The del command tin can delete any file.
Delete multiple files
Yous can as well utilize wildcards to delete multiple files or a group of files, equally shown in the case below.
del *.txt
In the example above, this command would delete all text files that cease with a .txt file extension.
Tip
The del control can delete any file extension.
Directory
MS-DOS users can delete directories (dir) in MS-DOS using the deltree command or rmdir control. See either of these links for additional information about these commands. Below is an case of how to utilise this.
rmdir example
Annotation
If the directory is full or has other subdirectories, you get an error message. To delete a full directory, you need to use a switch with the above example. For example, "rmdir example /s" to remove a full "case" directory. See our deltree command or rmdir control for additional examples and switches.
Deleting a subdirectory
To delete a subdirectory, subfolder, folder within a binder, or directory within a directory, use a command similar to the example below.
rmdir instance\examination
In the example above, the "examination" directory in the "instance" directory is deleted. You lot could also employ the cd command to alter the directory to the instance directory and so delete the "exam" directory using our first example shown above.
How to delete a directory or file name with a infinite
To delete a directory or file name with a space in the name, you must surround the directory or file proper name with quotes, as shown below.
del "my example file.txt"
rmdir "my example directory"
In the above examples, we are deleting the file named "my example file.txt" with quotes surrounding the consummate file proper name and extension and removing the "my example directory" directory.
Tip
The rmdir control can delete any file.
How to delete files in Linux, Unix, and other variants
Files
Linux and Unix users tin can delete files through the console using the rm control. See this folio for additional information about this command. Below is an example of how to use this command.
rm example.txt
Equally seen in the example above, when deleting a file, y'all demand to enter the full file proper noun, including the file extension.
Tip
The rm control can delete any file.
Delete multiple files
You lot tin can besides use wildcards if you want to delete multiple files, as shown in the example below.
rm *.txt
In the instance to a higher place, this command would delete all files with a .txt file extension.
Tip
The rm control can delete any file of file extensions.
Directory
Linux and Unix users can delete folders through the console with the rmdir control. See this page for additional information about this command. Below is an example of how to utilise this control.
rmdir instance
Tip
Like Microsoft Windows, with Linux and Unix, you can likewise delete files through the GUI by locating the file and pressing the delete cardinal on the keyboard.
Deleting a subdirectory
To delete a directory in another directory (subdirectory), use a command similar to the instance below.
rmdir example\exam
In the example above, the "examination" directory in the "instance" directory would be deleted. You could besides employ the cd control to change the directory to the case directory and and then delete the "test" directory using our first example shown above.
How to delete a directory or file proper name with a space
To delete a directory or file name with a space in the proper name, you must environment the directory or file name with quotes, as shown beneath.
rm "my instance file.txt"
rmdir "my example directory"
In the examples higher up, we are deleting the file named "my example file.txt" with quotes surrounding the complete file proper name and extension. We are also removing the "my example directory" directory.
Tip
The rmdir command can delete any file.
How to delete files on macOS
Apple tree macOS users can delete photos, documents, or other files or folders (directory) on their Mac using many different methods. Below are the more mutual methods for deleting a file or folder.
Note
Users not familiar with Apple macOS should realize that information technology deletes all the files in a folder if you delete that folder.
Delete primal
The delete key on the keyboard past itself does not delete a file or folder on macOS. To delete a file or folder, press and hold Command, so press the delete fundamental. You can browse to the location of the file or folder using Finder.
Correct-click and choosing Motility to Trash
Open Finder, locate the file or binder you want to delete, and correct-click the file or folder. In the right-click menu that appears, click the Move to Trash selection.
Delete from the file card
Open Finder, locate and select the file or binder you want to delete. Click File in the summit carte bar and select Movement to Trash.
Terminal
To delete files or directories in the Concluding command line, employ the rm command.
How to delete files on Microsoft Windows 3.X
File Manager
- Open File Director
- Locate the binder or file you want to delete, then click File and Delete.
MS-DOS
See the MS-DOS user section above for information near deleting a directory in MS-DOS.
Windows Cant Delete Folder Try Again
Source: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000743.htm