The Shift + Erase key combination can be used to permanently delete a file or folder. However, there are some directories or files that are so obstinate that no matter what you do, you will always get the error message “Cannot remove [filename]: Access is denied.” A file or folder cannot be deleted for various reasons. For example, if a program is using the file or folder, you cannot delete it until the program is closed. The Recycle Bin is full, the folder is read-only, the disk where the files are stored is write-protected, etc. We have mentioned below the steps to force delete folder or file in Windows 11.
Steps to Force Delete Folder or File in Windows 11
Delete files with command prompt
Take ownership of the folder
Make sure your user account gives you full control of the folder if you are unable to delete it. This is how you can solve the problem:
Enter safe mode
Safe mode is a unique Windows operating state where your computer starts up with only minimal drivers and files. Interestingly, you can remove files or directories that you were unable to in normal mode when in safe mode. In Windows 11, you can access safe mode in several ways. We advise you to launch it directly from the Settings menu for this example.
Final Words
We hope you like our article about how to Force delete folder or file in Windows 11. While Windows 11 has a number of new features and a revamped user interface, it also has several privacy and security flaws. Sometimes restrictions can be quite helpful, but they can also be terrible. To get back to the topic, to keep the storage space free on our Windows PC, we should routinely eliminate junk files.
