How to Delete All Files and Folders Using Command Prompt (CMD) in Windows

Deleting all files and folders in a directory using the Command Prompt (CMD) in Windows can be a straightforward process. However, it is crucial to understand that this action is irreversible and can lead to data loss. Always ensure you take necessary precautions before proceeding.

Warning

This action is irreversible. Make sure you want to delete everything in the specified directory before proceeding.

Always back up important data before performing bulk deletions.

Steps to Delete All Files and Folders

1. Open Command Prompt: To access the Command Prompt, type Win R, type cmd, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to the Directory: Use the cd command to change to the directory from which you want to delete files and folders. For example:

cd C:pathtoyourdirectory

3. Delete All Files: Use the DEL command in quiet mode with the /F force deletion option to delete all files.

del /Q /F .

4. Delete All Folders: Use the RMDIR command to delete all folders. Include the /S and /Q options for a forceful and quiet deletion.

rmdir /S /Q .

5. Complete Command Example: If you are in the directory where you want to delete everything, run the following command:

del /Q /F .  rmdir /S /Q .

Notes

The del command deletes files, whereas rmdir removes directories. The wildcard . indicates all files and folders in the current directory. Ensure you are in the correct directory to avoid accidental data loss.

Alternative Methods

For more comprehensive deletions, especially when you want to clear the entire disk, consider the following:

Deltree.exe

Deltree.exe is a 32-bit application that was dropped in Windows 2000. It can be used to delete directories and their contents. However, it may not delete all system files that Windows requires to function correctly, leaving your system in an unstable state.

Formatting an External Partition

If you need to clear a non-system partition, formatting the drive will work more effectively. Formatting removes the directory structure and recreates it with no entries, whereas deleting files using del, rmdir, or other methods only marks files as deleted and resets the file space to 0 without physically clearing the data.

Nonetheless, it’s important to note that formatting the C drive while running Windows can be dangerous. For such operations, it is recommended to use a recovery partition or a bootable USB drive to format the drive appropriately.