Having trouble deleting a file that stubbornly refuses to be deleted? Have you ever wondered why this happens and what steps you can take to forcefully delete it? This article will provide a comprehensive explanation of the reasons behind this issue and offer solutions to help you resolve it. Continue reading to find answers to your questions.

Why Can't I Delete a Specific File?

Are you searching for a method to delete a particular file that prevents you from doing so? In such cases, you might consider forcefully deleting the file or folder.

Some individuals may question why they cannot delete a file, and typically, users are prevented from deleting, editing, or moving a file when it is in a locked state.

This locked state can be resolved when the file is no longer in use, but occasionally, the process may be interrupted or delayed for various reasons. If you wish to force Windows to delete the file, you can first attempt the following steps to unlock it.

1. Close all running programs and terminate any related processes in Task Manager.
2. Close all open windows, particularly File Explorer.
3. Perform a virus scan.
4. Restart your computer.

Afterward, you can proceed with the following methods to forcefully delete files.

How to Forcefully Delete a File/Folder?

Method 1: Forcefully Delete a File Using MiniTool System Booster

MiniTool System Booster is an excellent PC optimization tool designed to enhance your computer's performance. It helps improve PC speed, fix system issues, clear or recover files/folders, and more.

You can also utilize MiniTool System Booster to end running tasks using the Process Scanner feature and subsequently employ the Incinerator Extension feature to remove and destroy the files.

Note:

You can download and install the program by clicking the button below and enjoy a free trial for 15 days. To forcefully delete files, follow these steps.

Step 1: Launch the program and switch to Toolbox from the Performance Home menu.

Step 2: Under File Management, click Incinerator Extension and activate the Incinerator toggle.

Upon activation, an Incinerator icon will appear on your desktop. You can directly drag the file or folder onto this icon and then right-click on it to select Incinerate all items.

Alt=drag your file to this Incinerator bin

Alternatively, you can right-click on the desired file and choose Incinerate now. If you accidentally drag the wrong file into it, open the Incinerator bin, select the file, and click Restore this item.

Method 2: Forcefully Delete a File Using Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use the keyboard shortcut to forcefully delete a file or folder. This is a quick and straightforward approach. Simply select the file or folder you wish to delete, press the Shift Delete keyboard combination, and confirm when prompted.

Method 3: Forcefully Delete a File Using CMD

You can use Command Prompt to forcefully delete a file with the "DEL" command. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press Win R to open Run, type cmd, and press Ctrl Shift Enter to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

Step 2: If a User Account Control window appears, click Yes.

Step 3: Once the window opens, type del file/folder link and press Enter to execute the command. Replace file/folder link with the actual one. To obtain the file link, refer to this guide: How to Create a Link to a File or Folder Easily? Three Ways.

For instance, if the file you want to delete is located at C:\Users\bj\Desktop\test.txt, the command you should enter is del C:\Users\bj\Desktop\test.txt.

Method 4: Forcefully Delete a File Using Safe Mode

If the previous methods fail to help you forcefully delete a file, you can boot your computer into Safe Mode and then delete the file.

Step 1: Open Settings by pressing Win I and navigate to Update & Security > Recovery > Restart now.

Step 2: Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Step 3: In the Startup Settings window, press F4 or F5 to enable Safe Mode.

Step 4: Once in Safe Mode, delete the file and restart your Windows to automatically exit Safe Mode.

There are additional ways to access Safe Mode, and you can explore these articles for further guidance:

• How to Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode (While Booting) [6 Ways]
• How to Start/Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode? (7 Ways)

How to Recover a Deleted File?

Unintentionally deleted your files? No worries, MiniTool System Booster can help you recover your deleted files. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch the program and go to the Toolbox page.

Step 2: Select Search & Recover under File Management and specify your search location and the destination for recovered files.

Step 3: Click Search to initiate the drive scan. Afterward, select the files you wish to recover and click Recover selected files to save them.

Conclusion:

This article has guided you through the process of forcefully deleting a file. If you encounter the "cannot delete a file" issue again, try the solutions mentioned above—they should prove helpful.

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