How to Delete Files and Folders Using PowerShell in Windows

How to Delete Files and Folders Using PowerShell in Windows 11

Let’s face it—deleting files or folders should be straightforward, right? Just send them to the Recycle Bin and you’re done. But when you’re automating tasks or need a bit more control, PowerShell is the tool to turn to. It’s quite powerful—though admittedly a bit intimidating at first. I’ve been there, nervously typing commands and worrying I might wipe out everything on my drive. So, here are some practical tips based on my experience to help you get started safely.

Finding the Full Path of Your Files and Folders

Before you start running commands, you need to know exactly where your files are located. Windows can be a little quirky with this, especially if you’re new to it. To copy the full path, open File Explorer with Windows key + E. Locate the file or folder you want to delete, select it, then do a Shift + Right-Click. Choose “Copy as path”. This will give you the full file path — like "C:\Users\YourName\Documents\File.txt". When pasting into PowerShell, don’t include those quotes unless instructed, as they can cause errors. Just paste the path without the surrounding quotes.

Alternatively, you can click on the address bar in Explorer, select “Copy address as text”. Sometimes this gives a cleaner path, but watch out for unusual characters like “<” and “>” that Windows might add. To double-check, you can open PowerShell or Command Prompt in that folder and run Get-Item . or Resolve-Path .. It’s helpful if the path is complex or includes spaces.

Running PowerShell as an Administrator

It’s best to run PowerShell with administrator rights—this way, you won’t run into permission issues when deleting system or protected files. To do this, press Windows key + R, type powershell, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter. You’ll likely see the User Account Control (UAC) prompt — just click “Yes”. If you skip this step, you might get “Access Denied” errors later. Alternatively, right-click the PowerShell icon or Start menu, then select “Run as administrator”. Some folks prefer to open Windows Terminal this way, as it offers added flexibility, especially if managing multiple tabs or profiles.

How to Delete a Single File

Here’s where it gets serious. To delete a specific file, use this command:

Remove-Item -Path "C:\Full\Path\To\Your\File.txt" -Confirm

Paste your full file path inside the quotes—spaces require quotes. The -Confirm flag prompts PowerShell to ask for your approval before deleting, acting like a safeguard. It’s a good idea to double-check before confirming, especially since deletion is permanent. When prompted, press A (for “Yes to All”) and hit Enter. This way, if you’re deleting multiple files or folders, PowerShell will ask once and then delete everything in one go. Without it, you’ll be prompted each time, which can be a pain but reduces the risk of accidental deletion.

Deleting Folders (and Everything Inside)

Deleting folders is similar, but you need to add -Recurse to remove everything inside. For example:

Remove-Item -Path "C:\Path\To\Your\Folder" -Recurse -Confirm

The -Recurse parameter tells PowerShell to delete all subfolders and files. Combining it with -Confirm prompts you before deleting each item—press A to authorise all at once. Be very careful with this command; recursive deletions can wipe out hundreds of files very quickly. It’s powerful but potentially destructive if misused.

Notes on Confirmations and Batch Deletes

Every time you use -Confirm, PowerShell will ask for permission. If you’re 100% confident, you can add -Force to bypass prompts—though that’s risky when deleting multiple items. I recommend confirming once and then running commands for each path you want gone. It’s safer to double-check than to have to recover from a mistake, trust me.

Troubleshooting & Handy Tips

• Always double-check your full path! One typo could send you deleting the wrong file or folder. Run Test-Path or Resolve-Path first to confirm the target location.
• If a file won’t delete, it might be in use or protected. Close all programs that might be accessing it, or boot into Safe Mode and try again. Sometimes Windows locks files to protect itself, and Safe Mode can help. Remember, admin rights are often required for certain files.
• Never delete critical Windows system folders like C:\Windows unless you’re in recovery mode and know what you’re doing. Removing essential files can break your OS. Test commands first on dummy files or in a sandbox folder to get comfortable with the process.

Additional Considerations & BIOS Implications

In rare cases, deleting certain files or folders may require changing security settings in your BIOS or UEFI—like Secure Boot or TPM configurations—especially if you’re working with protected system files or hardware-level components. Usually, your permissions are the main barrier. If certain options are greyed out or inaccessible, check for OEM restrictions or consider updating your BIOS/UEFI firmware. Just be cautious; modifying these settings can have serious implications. If unsure, consult your device’s manual or a professional before proceeding.

Wrapping Up

Using PowerShell to delete files and folders is a handy skill, whether for cleaning up large amounts of data or automating routine chores. It’s not complicated once you get the hang of paths, syntax, and prompts. With a bit of practice, it can even be quicker than clicking through Windows. Just remember: double-check your paths, avoid deleting what you shouldn’t, and back up important data before undertaking any risky deletions.

Hopefully, this guide helps you avoid the frustration I went through. Once you’re comfortable with these commands, you’ll find managing files in PowerShell a powerful, time-saving trick. Good luck, and happy cleaning!