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Use CMD to Delete Large Folders on Windows

Understand Use CMD to Delete Large Folders on Windows with clear explanations, practical examples, and useful tips. This updated guide covers the essential...

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Use CMD to Delete Large Folders on Windows is easier to understand when the core ideas are paired with practical examples. The sections below explain the topic clearly, highlight useful steps, and point out details that can prevent common errors.

Large folders on the system are one of the perpetrators who "consume" quite a lot of system space. A lot of folders that you create, after deleting, will come back later. Maybe it's junk folders that you try to remove.

To delete these folders, you can use right-click the folder and select the Delete option or press Shift + Delete.

However, with folders containing large files, you can use the Command Prompt to "clean up" these files.

1. Clean up the files in the folder

Step 1:

Open Command Prompt by entering cmd in the Search box on the Start Menu. From the search results list, click Command Prompt.

Or alternatively press the Windows + X key combination to open the Power User Menu. Here, click Command Prompt to open the Command Prompt window.

Use CMD to Delete Large Folders on Windows example image 1

Step 2:

On the Command Prompt window, enter the following command into:

del /?

Use CMD to Delete Large Folders on Windows example image 2

You can set the property next to the del command to / P or / F or / S, followed by the directory name.

Depending on whether you want to receive confirmation messages before deleting or forcing a folder to be deleted or deleting specific files in a folder. The explanation will be displayed on the Command Prompt window.

For instance,, using the del / P command hello, you will receive a confirmation message deleting all the files in the Hello folder.

2. Delete all folders, including files and subdirectories

If you want to delete the entire folder, including all subdirectories and folders, files, follow the steps below:

Step 1:

Open Command Prompt by entering cmd in the Search box on the Start Menu. From the search results list, click Command Prompt.

Or alternatively press the Windows + X key combination to open the Power User Menu. Here, click Command Prompt to open the Command Prompt window.

Use CMD to Delete Large Folders on Windows example image 3

Step 2:

Enter the following command into the Command Prompt window:

rmdir /?

Use CMD to Delete Large Folders on Windows example image 4

The location attribute next to rmdirn can be / S or / Q, depending on whether you want to delete the folder and the files in the particular directory.

Refer to some of the following articles:

  • Use CMD to create an 'undeleted' folder on Windows
  • All Frequency Restart, Shutdown, Remote Off. with Command Prompt
  • No need to use an antivirus program, this is how to get rid of the virus on your computer

Good luck!

FAQ

What should you know about 1. Clean up the files in the folder Step 1?

Open Command Prompt by entering cmd in the Search box on the Start Menu. From the search results list, click Command Prompt.

What should you know about step 2?

On the Command Prompt window, enter the following command into:

What should you know about 2. Delete all folders, including files and subdirectories?

If you want to delete the entire folder, including all subdirectories and folders, files, follow the steps below:

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