How To Delete Files That Cannot Be Deleted Windows 10?
Are you having trouble deleting files on your Windows 10 computer? Are you getting an error message telling you that the file cannot be deleted? Don’t worry! You’re not alone. Many Windows 10 users have encountered this problem. In this article, we’ll show you how to delete files that cannot be deleted in Windows 10. So, if you’re having trouble deleting files, read on to find out how to do it.
- Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run window.
- Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
- Type del followed by the path to the file or folder you want to delete, and then press Enter.
- If the file or folder is locked, a message will appear on the screen.
- Type del /f /q followed by the path to the file or folder, and then press Enter.
How to Delete Files That Cannot Be Deleted Windows 10?
Having trouble deleting a file or folder on Windows 10? It’s likely because the file or folder is locked by an application or system process. Here are a few tips to help you delete those pesky files and folders.
Use Safe Mode to Delete Problematic Files
The first thing to try when you are having trouble deleting a file or folder is to restart your computer in Safe Mode. This will disable all the applications and stop any processes that might be causing the file or folder to be locked. Once the computer is in Safe Mode, you should be able to delete the file or folder with no problems. To restart in Safe Mode, press the Windows + R keys and type in “msconfig”. In the System Configuration window, select the “Boot” tab and then select “Safe Boot”. Click “OK” to restart your computer in Safe Mode.
Unlock the File or Folder
If restarting in Safe Mode did not work, then you may need to unlock the file or folder before you can delete it. You can use a free utility called “Unlocker” to unlock the file or folder. Once you have installed Unlocker, right-click on the file or folder and select “Unlock”. This will unlock the file or folder so that you can delete it.
Delete the File or Folder with Command Prompt
If you are still having trouble deleting the file or folder, then you can try using the Command Prompt. To do this, press the Windows + R keys and type in “cmd”. This will open the Command Prompt. Then, type in the following command to delete the file or folder:
del [file or folder name]
Replace [file or folder name] with the name of the file or folder that you want to delete.
Terminate the Process That Is Locking the File or Folder
If the file or folder is still locked, then you may need to terminate the process that is locking it. To do this, press the Windows + R keys and type in “taskmgr”. This will open the Task Manager. In the Processes tab, look for the process that is locking the file or folder and select it. Then, click “End Task” to terminate the process.
Take Ownership of the File or Folder
If the file or folder is still locked, then you may need to take ownership of the file or folder before you can delete it. To do this, right-click on the file or folder and select “Properties”. Then, click the “Security” tab and then click “Advanced”. In the Advanced Security Settings window, click “Change” next to the Owner field. Then, select your user account and click “OK”. You should now be able to delete the file or folder.
Disable System Restore
If the file or folder is still locked, then you may need to disable System Restore to delete it. System Restore is a feature of Windows that allows you to restore your system to a previous state. To do this, press the Windows + R keys and type in “sysdm.cpl”. This will open the System Properties window. In the System Protection tab, select the drive you want to disable System Restore on and click “Configure”. Then, select “Disable system protection” and click “OK”.
Delete the File or Folder with Third-Party Software
If all else fails, then you may need to use third-party software to delete the file or folder. There are a variety of free programs available that can help you delete stubborn files and folders. Examples include Unlocker and File Assassin.
Disable the Antivirus Software
If the file or folder is still locked, then you may need to disable your antivirus software before you can delete it. This is because some antivirus software can lock files and folders to prevent them from being modified or deleted. To do this, open your antivirus software and look for an option to disable the real-time protection.
Check for Malware
If the file or folder is still locked, then it may be due to a malware infection. To check for malware, you can run a full scan of your system using your antivirus software. If any malware is detected, then you should remove it before trying to delete the file or folder again.
Check for File System Errors
If the file or folder is still locked, then it may be due to a file system error. To check for file system errors, you can use the Windows Error Checking tool. To do this, press the Windows + R keys and type in “chkdsk”. This will open the Windows Error Checking tool. Then, select the drive that contains the file or folder and click “Scan Drive”.
Format the Drive
If the file or folder is still locked, then you may need to format the drive to delete it. This will erase all the data on the drive, so make sure you have a backup of any important data before formatting the drive. To do this, press the Windows + R keys and type in “diskmgmt.msc”. This will open the Disk Management window. Then, right-click on the drive and select “Format”.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Reasons for a File Cannot Be Deleted?
The primary reason why a file cannot be deleted is because it is being used by a program or some other process. When a file is open or being used by another process, it cannot be modified or deleted. Other reasons can include permissions issues or the file being marked as read-only. Additionally, if the file is located in a system folder or a protected area, it can be difficult to delete.
Another reason why a file cannot be deleted is because it is corrupted or infected by a virus or other malicious software. In these cases, the malicious software must be removed before the file can be deleted.
How to Delete Files That Cannot Be Deleted Windows 10?
The first step in deleting a file that cannot be deleted is to identify the process that is using the file. The easiest way to do this is to open the Task Manager and look for the process that is using the file. Once the process is identified, it should be stopped and the file should be released.
Once the process is stopped, the file can be deleted by using the command line or by using a third-party file-deletion utility. To delete a file through the command line, the ‘del’ command should be used. To delete the file through a third-party utility, a program such as Unlocker or Process Explorer can be used. These programs allow users to terminate any process associated with a file and then delete it.
What if the File is Infected or Corrupted?
If the file is infected or corrupted, it must be removed before it can be deleted. In these cases, it is important to use reliable anti-virus software to scan the system and remove the malicious software. Once the malicious software is removed, the file should be released and then it can be deleted.
Another option to remove the malicious software is to use a system restore point. System restore points can be used to restore the system to a previous state, before the malicious software was installed. Once the system is restored, the file should be released and then it can be deleted.
What if I Cannot Delete a File in a Protected Area?
If the file is located in a protected area, such as the Program Files folder, it can be difficult to delete. In these cases, the user may need to modify the permissions of the file before it can be deleted. To modify the permissions, the user should right-click on the file, select Properties, and then select the Security tab. From there, the user can modify the permissions of the file so that they have full control.
If the user still cannot delete the file, they may need to use a third-party utility or the command line to delete it. The third-party utility Unlocker or the ‘del’ command can be used to delete the file. It is important to note that it is not recommended to modify the permissions of system files, as this can cause system instability.
What if the File is Still Not Deleted?
If the file is still not deleted after attempting the steps above, it may be due to a permissions issue or the file being marked as read-only. To fix these issues, the user should right-click on the file and select Properties. From there, they should select the Security tab and make sure that the user has full control. Additionally, they should uncheck the Read-Only option.
If the file is still not deleted, the user may need to use a third-party file-deletion utility. Programs such as Unlocker or Process Explorer can be used to terminate any process associated with the file and then delete it. It is important to note that these programs should only be used as a last resort, as they can cause system instability.
Force Delete a File That Cannot Be Deleted Windows 10
Deleting files that cannot be deleted in Windows 10 can be a daunting task for many. However, it is possible to delete these stubborn files by using a combination of the Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, or a third-party tool. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully delete those unwanted files and free up the storage space on your computer. With this method, you can keep your Windows 10 system running smoothly and efficiently.
