{"id":468728,"date":"2022-06-28T20:00:09","date_gmt":"2022-06-28T17:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/"},"modified":"2022-06-28T20:00:09","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T17:00:09","slug":"how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/","title":{"rendered":"#How to Force Delete a Folder on Windows 10 and 11"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2f134ded348\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2f134ded348\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/#%E2%80%9CHow_to_Force_Delete_a_Folder_on_Windows_10_and_11%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;How to Force Delete a Folder on Windows 10 and 11&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/#Reasons_You_Cant_Delete_a_Folder_on_Windows\" >Reasons You Can\u2019t Delete a Folder on Windows<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/#Method_1_Use_Command_Prompt\" >Method 1: Use Command Prompt<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/#Method_2_Boot_in_Windows_Safe_Mode\" >Method 2: Boot in Windows Safe Mode<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/#Method_3_Use_Third-Party_Software\" >Method 3: Use Third-Party Software<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-to-force-delete-a-folder-on-windows-10-and-11\/#Method_4_Use_WinRAR_to_Force_Remove_Folders\" >Method 4: Use WinRAR to Force Remove Folders<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CHow_to_Force_Delete_a_Folder_on_Windows_10_and_11%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;How to Force Delete a Folder on Windows 10 and 11&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage alignnone size-full wp-image-751196\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/windows-11-and-10.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Windows 11 and 10 desktop backgrounds.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Are you having trouble deleting a folder from your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC? If so, that may be a system folder or a folder being used by other <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>s. We\u2019ll show you how to successfully delete \u201cundeletable\u201d folders on your computer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reasons_You_Cant_Delete_a_Folder_on_Windows\"><\/span>Reasons You Can\u2019t Delete a Folder on Windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The most common reason you can\u2019t delete a folder is that your folder is a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/358101\/what-is-a-windows-system-file\/\">Windows system folder. In this case, the system prevents you from removing the folder as it can make your PC unstable.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re sure yours is not a system folder, then your \u201cundeletable\u201d folder may be in use by your installed apps. When a folder is being used by an app, Windows prevents you from making changes to that folder. In this case, you can close the app using your folder and then try to delete the folder.<\/p>\n<p>If your case doesn\u2019t match either of the above scenarios, you may want to use one of the following methods to force remove your folder.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Use_Command_Prompt\"><\/span>Method 1: Use Command Prompt<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One quick way to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/742224\/how-to-delete-files-and-folders-using-command-prompt-on-windows-10\/\">force delete a folder is to use Command Prompt. You can run a command from this tool that deletes your selected folder.<\/p>\n<p>To do that, first, open your \u201cStart\u201d menu and search for \u201cCommand Prompt\u201d. Then, on the right pane, click \u201cRun as Administrator.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811451\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/1-launch-cmd-as-admin.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Select &quot;Run as Administrator&quot; on the right.\" width=\"650\" height=\"297\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll see a \u201cUser Account Control\u201d prompt. Select \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Command Prompt opens, type the following command and press Enter. In this command, replace <code>PATH<\/code> with the path to the folder you want to delete.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_tip\"><p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> If your path has spaces in it, enclose the path with double quotes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<pre>rmdir \/s \/q PATH<\/pre>\n<p>For example, to delete a folder named <code>Unwanted<\/code> in the <code>Documents<\/code> folder on your <code>C<\/code> drive, you\u2019d use the following command.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"admonishment_warning\"><p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> The command permanently deletes your folder, so make sure you really want to do that.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<pre>rmdir \/s \/q C:\\Documents\\Unwanted<\/pre>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811452\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/2-force-delete-folder-cmd.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Type the command and press Enter.\" width=\"650\" height=\"302\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The specified folder is now removed from your Windows PC, and you\u2019re all set.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Boot_in_Windows_Safe_Mode\"><\/span>Method 2: Boot in Windows Safe Mode<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you aren\u2019t sure what app has hijacked your folder so you can\u2019t delete it, reboot your PC in safe mode and then try to delete the folder. In safe mode, your PC only loads the essential Windows files, preventing any third-party apps from automatically launching.<\/p>\n<p>To use this method, first, boot your <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/107511\/how-to-boot-into-safe-mode-on-windows-8-the-easy-way\/\">Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC in safe mode using our guide.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019re in safe mode, launch File Explorer and locate the folder to delete. Then, right-click this folder and choose \u201cDelete.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811453\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3-delete-folder-safe-mode.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"556\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Your folder is now deleted.<\/p>\n<p>You may want to remove the folder from Recycle Bin as well, which you can do by opening the Recycle Bin, right-clicking your folder, and choosing \u201cDelete.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811454\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/4-delete-folder-recycle-bin.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"321\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s all there is to getting rid of stubborn folders on your PC. Enjoy!<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_3_Use_Third-Party_Software\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_3\">Method 3: Use Third-Party Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If your folder still won\u2019t delete, there\u2019s a free third-party app called Unlocker that can help you remove your folders. This app basically unlocks your folder from any locks due to which it can\u2019t be deleted, and then allows you to finally get rid of the folder.<\/p>\n<p>To use this method, first, download and install the free <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.softpedia.com\/get\/System\/System-Miscellaneous\/Unlocker.shtml\">Unlocker<\/a> app on your PC. Then launch the newly installed app.<\/p>\n<p>On Unlocker\u2019s main window, choose the folder to delete. Then, at the bottom, click \u201cOK.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811455\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/5-unlocker-choose-folder.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"527\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>On the screen that follows, click the drop-down menu and select \u201cDelete.\u201d Then click \u201cOK.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811457\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/6-unlocker-remove-folder.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"541\" height=\"232\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Unlocker will unlock your folder and delete it from your PC. You\u2019re all done.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_4_Use_WinRAR_to_Force_Remove_Folders\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_4\">Method 4: Use WinRAR to Force Remove Folders<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This might sound strange but you can use WinRAR (a file compression app) to delete your stubborn folders. The way this works is that you create an archive out of your \u201cundeletable\u201d folder and then ask the app to delete the original folder after the archive is made.<\/p>\n<p>That way, when WinRAR has created an archive from your folder, it deletes the original folder. You can then delete the newly-created archive as well.<\/p>\n<p>To do that, first, grab the free version of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.win-rar.com\/\">WinRAR<\/a> and install it on your PC. Then restart your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC so WinRAR integrates with your context menu.<\/p>\n<p>When your PC turns back on, open File Explorer and find the folder to delete. Then right-click this folder and choose \u201cAdd to Archive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811458\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/7-add-folder-to-archive.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"439\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>On the \u201cArchive Name and Parameters\u201d window, in the \u201cArchiving Options\u201d section, enable the \u201cDelete Files After Archiving\u201d option. Then, at the bottom of the window, select \u201cOK.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-811459\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/8-remove-folder-after-archive.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"\" width=\"556\" height=\"500\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Let WinRAR make an archive from your selected folder. When that\u2019s done, WinRAR will remove the original folder. At this point, you may now delete your newly created archive.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s how you go about ridding your Windows PC of any unwanted and stubborn folders. Very useful!<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>While you\u2019re at it, consider clearing your Windows PC\u2019s cache to get rid of unwanted files from your storage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to Clear Your Cache on Windows 11<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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If so, that may be a system folder or a folder being used by other apps. We\u2019ll show you how to successfully delete \u201cundeletable\u201d folders on your computer. RELATED:&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":468729,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/windows-11-and-10.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-468728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}