What Are Best Ways To Remove Folder On Windows 11?

To remove a folder on Windows 11, consider these best practices and alternative approaches based on the provided sources:

Common Methods:

1. Standard Right-Click: Navigate to the folder you wish to delete, right-click on it, and select "Delete" to send it to the Recycle Bin. Confirm the action if prompted.

2. Keyboard Shortcut: While navigating to the desired folder, press the DELETE key on your keyboard to initiate the deletion process.

Advanced Methods for Stubborn Folders:

1. Safe Mode:

   1. Boot your Windows 11 PC into Safe Mode to disable unnecessary applications that might block folder removal.
   2. Open File Explorer, find the problematic folder, and right-click to select "Delete".

2. Command Prompt:

   1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.

   2. Type the following command and press Enter, replacing PATH with the actual folder path. If the path includes spaces, surround it with double quotes.

      rmdir /s /q PATH
      

   3. Example: To delete a folder named 'Unwanted' in the Documents folder on your C drive, use this command:

      rmdir /s /q C:\Documents\Unwanted
      

   4. Empty the Recycle Bin afterwards to permanently remove the folder.

3. WinRAR:

   1. Download and install the free version of WinRAR.
   2. Restart your Windows 11 PC so that WinRAR integrates into the context menu.
   3. Locate the folder you want to delete, right-click on it, and select "Add to Archive".
   4. In the "Archive Name and Parameters" window, enable the "Delete Files After Archiving" option and click "OK".
   5. WinRAR will create an archive and then delete the original folder.

4. Third-Party Software:

   1. Use a third-party app like Unlocker to unlock and delete stubborn folders.
   2. Download and install Unlocker, choose the folder to delete, and click "OK" to confirm the deletion.

Remember, you cannot delete built-in folders like Inbox, Outbox, or Sent Items. Always double-check that you're deleting the correct folder, as these methods are irreversible once the folder is deleted.