rd/rmdir - Delete a folder
To delete a folder from the command prompt or a batch file, use the rmdir command (rd for short).
Which command and options you need depends on whether the target is a file or a folder, and whether the folder is empty.
This article explains how to delete a folder, from basic usage and options to troubleshooting when a folder cannot be deleted.
A different command is needed to delete files. See the following article for details.
How to Delete a Folder
To delete a folder, use the rmdir command. Typing rd gives the same result.
The rmdir command is used as follows:
rmdir [/s] [/q] [<Drive>:]<Folder_Path>The most basic usage is to specify the path of the folder you want to delete after rmdir.
The following example deletes the test folder directly under the current directory.
After running it, the test folder is deleted.
Without options, rmdir can only delete an empty folder. If the folder contains files or folders, you will get the following error:
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How to delete a non-empty folder is explained in the options section below.
If the path contains spaces, enclose it in double quotation marks, such as rmdir "my folder".
Options for the rmdir Command
The rmdir command has the following options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
/s | Deletes the specified folder itself and all files and subfolders in it |
/q | Deletes without displaying a confirmation message (used together with /s) |
By specifying the /s option, you can delete a folder together with its contents.
When /s is specified, a confirmation message is displayed, and the folder is deleted when you enter Y:
If you do not want to display this message, specify the /q option in addition to /s.
When using rmdir /s in a batch file, the program stops at the confirmation message, so it is recommended to specify the /q option.
Folders deleted with rmdir /s /q are not moved to the Recycle Bin and cannot be restored. A wrong
path can destroy important data, so when building the path from a variable, make sure the value is
not empty before running the command.
Examples of Deleting a Folder
Deleting a Temporary Folder in a Batch File
When a batch file creates a temporary folder to do some work, delete it with the rmdir command after the work is done.
@echo off
setlocal
mkdir workspace
rem ...perform operations here...
rmdir /s /q workspace
endlocalThe temporary folder may contain files, so the /s and /q options are specified.
Delete if the Specified Path Is a Folder
To delete the entered path only if it is a folder, write the following:
@echo off
setlocal
set /p target=Please enter the path of the folder you want to delete:
if exist "%target%\" (
rmdir /s "%target%"
echo %target% has been deleted.
) else (
echo %target% does not exist as a folder.
)
endlocalAppending \ as in if exist "path\" makes the condition true only when a folder (not a file) exists.
The variable is named target rather than path because assigning to path would overwrite the PATH environment variable used to locate executables.
When you run the code above, you are prompted for the folder to delete and a confirmation message is displayed.
When a Folder Cannot Be Deleted
The main reasons rmdir fails to delete a folder are as follows:
- The folder is not empty: specify the
/soption. - Another application has a file in the folder open: close the application and run the command again.
- The current directory is the folder you are trying to delete: move to another folder with
cdfirst. - You do not have permission: try again in a command prompt run as administrator.