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10: folder cannot be deleted - what to do?

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Best answer

The folder is still in use
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
The folder has already been deleted
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
Access permissions must be changed
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
Brief instructions: Folder is in use
Quick guide: Folder has already been deleted
Quick guide: changing permissions

Want to delete a folder but it just doesn't work? We'll tell you the solution to this problem..

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It's weird: you have a very ordinary folder in Windows 10, but you just can't delete it. There could be several causes for this problem, but you don't need to despair about it. We present some solutions here.

The folder is still in use

The operation cannot be completed because the folder is open in another program. ” If a program is accessing a file in the folder or the folder itself, this can prevent it from being deleted. In that case the solution is very simple. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions .

1st step:

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Open the Task Manager with the key combination [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc] .

2nd step:

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Quit now, you all running processes , except " Windows Explorer " and " Task Manager " by a right-click to make a process and then " End Task choose".

3rd step:

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Now try again to delete the folder .

The folder has already been deleted

Item was not found. ” If you receive this error message, the folder has already been deleted. Most of the time there is an error in the explorer. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions ..

1st step:

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Open the Task Manager with the key combination [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc] .

2nd step:

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Now right-click on the " Windows Explorer " process and go to " End Task ".

3rd step:

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Then click on " File " in the top left and " Run new task ".

4th step:

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In the new window, enter C: \ Windows \ explorer.exe and press " OK ".

5th step:

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Now see if the folder to be deleted is still there . If so, try it again to delete .

Access permissions must be changed

You need permissions to perform the operation. ” If you see this message, you do not have the permissions to delete the folder. You then have to change them. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions .

1st step:

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Make a right click on the folder and select " Properties " from.

2nd step:

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Now click on the " Edit ... " button .

3rd step:

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Select the user for whom you want to change the permissions and remove the check mark next to " Deny ". Then click on " Apply ".

Brief instructions: Folder is in use

  1. Open the Task Manager with the key combination [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc] .
  2. Stop all tasks except " Windows Explorer " and " Task Manager " by a right-click to make it and "on End Task click".
  3. Try to delete the folder again.

Quick guide: Folder has already been deleted

  1. Open the Task Manager with the key combination [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc] .
  2. After a right click on " Windows Explorer " click on " End Task ".
  3. Now click in the upper left on " File " and " Run new task ".
  4. Enter C: \ Windows \ explorer.exe and click OK .
  5. Now delete the folder again if it is still there.

Quick guide: changing permissions

  1. Make a right click on the folder and go to " Properties ".
  2. Then click on " Edit ... ".
  3. Select the user for whom the permissions should be changed and remove the check mark next to " Deny ". Click on " Apply ".

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