Sometimes, when deleting a file in Windows, we encounter an annoying dialog box indicating that the file is locked or that we are not allowed to perform the action. In such cases, we need to use the Command Prompt. With the command prompt, you can delete any file or folder on Windows.
1. First of all, open the Windows Search box.
2. In the Windows Search box, search for CMD.
3. Right-click on the CMD and select the option Run as administrator.
4. Navigate to the folder where the file is stored.
Find file path in Windows: Right Click > Properties > Details
To navigate the folder, use the command:
cd folderpath
Note: Replace ‘folderpath’ with the actual path where the file is stored. For example, cd C:\Users\techviral\desktop
5. After navigating to the folder, you need to execute the delete command. Execute the command given below.
del /f /s <filename>
Note: Replace the <filename> with the file’s actual name. Also, include the file extension. For example, del /f /s notepad.txt
6. Now, on the Command prompt, type Y and press the Enter button.
This article explains how to delete locked files in Windows via the command prompt. I hope it helped you. Please share it with your friends. If you have any questions, let us know in the comment box below.
