▷ How to delete a folder that cannot be deleted in windows 10

In this new step-by-step we will see how to delete a folder that cannot be deleted in Windows 10. And sometimes we have really annoying folders or files that cannot be deleted in the traditional way if we can even send them to the trash or modify them. That is why today we will see how to get rid of these annoying files forever.

Index of contents

But not only do we have to look at the file and its permissions in question, but sometimes the error of not being able to delete the file is simply because another program (explorer) has this open. Anyway, we will immediately clear all these doubts in the following sections. Let's start.

I can't delete a file because Windows has it open

The first of the possibilities that we will see is that we cannot delete a folder or file because Windows has something inside it open.

It may be like in this example that the Word process has hung and does not stop us from deleting the folder or simply because the Windows folder explorer has decided to leave the folder hanging as an open process.

This is normally the most common situation, so the window will show the warning that " The action cannot be completed because the folder is open in Windows Explorer " or something similar.

To solve this, we will have to do the delete or restart the process that have this folder or file open. For this we follow the following steps:

Press the key combination " Ctrl + Shift + Esc " to open the task manager. Or if we prefer, we click on the taskbar with the right mouse button and choose “ Task Manager ”. In any case, we will obtain the following:

Now we must identify the process that has our file or folder open. This would appear previously in the message that showed the warning when trying to delete the file. In our case it was Word. Then we look for the name in the list and right click on it.

We select " End Task " to close the process in question and now try to delete the folder.

At this point it is possible that it is the folder explorer that has the directory wrongly opened. In which case we will identify the " Windows Explorer " process and right click on it to choose " Restart"

We try again to delete the folder to see if we can now.

Delete folder that cannot be deleted

If what we want is to delete a locked folder in Windows 10 due to user permissions that we do not have or other reasons, we will have to make it more severe.

This is very common with files that create programs such as Nod32, which is our example. These folders are impossible to delete by common method. So we are going to try several things to see if we can get it.

Delete file in safe mode

We can use safe mode to try to delete a file. To do this, of course, start Windows in safe mode. To do this, we will do the following:

• Press the key combination " Windows + R " to open the Run tool. Now we type msconfig and press Enter. A window will open in which we will have to go to the " Start " tab. We must choose " Error-proof start " in the lower area. ”Choose here“ Minimum ”and click on Apply and accept and restart the equipment

Now we test again if it is possible to delete the file in safe mode. otherwise, we move on in this tutorial.

So that the next time we restart our computer it will do so in normal mode we will need to deactivate the previous option in safe mode by accessing the configuration window again.

Delete folder that cannot be deleted with IObit Unlocker

If we have not been able to with the previous method, we will test with third-party software to see if it is possible to eliminate it. This is called IObit Unlocker and what it does is unlock the folders and files so that it is possible to delete them.

We can download it for free from this link. And we carry out the installation process as normal as any other application.

To unlock a folder and delete it we will have two options. The first through its graphical interface. Or also directly from the options if we right-click on the file.

Then, we open the program and click on " Add " to add the directory or file that is resisting us.

Once located in the program window, we activate the “ Forced mode ” option. Next, click on the arrow next to the " Unlock " button to have more options.

Click on " Unlock & Delete " the folder should be deleted without any problem.

We can also unlock a file by right-clicking on it and choosing the " IObit Unlocker " button that has now been placed in the options menu.

In this way we will be able to delete any file that resists us from our team. in our case, we have achieved this with the IObit Unlocker software method.

It will also be interesting:

How could you delete the file that was resisting you? Leave us in the comments some other method that you have used if these have not worked for you.