To delete a file, the method depends on your device and operating system:
On Windows (using File Explorer)
- Open File Explorer (shortcut: Windows Key + E).
- Locate the file you want to delete.
- Select the file and press the Delete key or click the Delete button on the Home tab.
- The file moves to the Recycle Bin, from which you can restore or permanently delete it later
If a file cannot be deleted because it is in use or locked, you can force delete it using Command Prompt:
- Open Command Prompt.
- Use the command
del /f "full_path_to_file"to force delete the file (e.g.,del /f C:\Users\Owner\Desktop\example.txt)
On macOS
- Locate the file in Finder.
- Drag it to the Trash or right-click and select Move to Trash.
- Empty the Trash to permanently delete.
On Linux/Unix (using terminal)
- Use the
rmcommand:rm filenameto delete a file. - You must have write permission on the directory.
- To delete multiple files interactively:
rm -i mydir/*
On Android
- Open the Files app or Google Drive app.
- Find the file, tap the menu (three dots) next to it.
- Tap Delete or Remove.
- In Google Drive, files go to Trash and can be permanently deleted from there
Additional Notes
- Files on hard drives usually go to Recycle Bin or Trash first.
- Files on network drives or CDs may be permanently deleted immediately.
- You cannot delete a file that is open in any program.
- For stubborn files, specialized tools like Long Path Tool can help when normal deletion fails
This covers the common ways to delete files across various platforms.
