In Windows Command Prompt, del deletes files that match the name or pattern you specify; it does not send them to the Recycle Bin. Before using a wildcard, run dir with the same quoted path and pattern, inspect the results, then delete only the intended files. Microsoft warns: “If you use del to delete a file from your disk, you can’t retrieve it.”
What the DEL command does
del removes one or more files matching the names or wildcard pattern you provide. The command also accepts directory targets in its syntax, but it is for deleting files, not a way to remove a directory and all its contents as a directory operation. erase is an alias for del and performs the same actions.
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Microsoft’s documented syntax is:
del [/p] [/f] [/s] [/q] [/a[:]<attributes>] <names>
erase [/p] [/f] [/s] [/q] [/a[:]<attributes>] <names>Use del /? in Command Prompt to display the command’s help. Microsoft’s reference lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 as applicable systems and was last updated February 3, 2023: Microsoft Learn: del.
What /f, /s, and /q mean
| Switch | Effect | Safety implication |
|---|---|---|
/f |
Forces deletion of read-only files. | It can remove a protection that would otherwise prevent deletion; use it only when you intend to remove those files. |
/s |
Applies the specified file target through the current directory and its subdirectories. | A matching pattern can affect files in multiple folders, not just the current one. |
/q |
Quiet mode: suppresses the delete confirmation prompt. | It removes a chance to confirm during deletion; it is not a safety switch. |
For per-file confirmation, use /p. Command Prompt asks before deleting each specified file; the documented prompt is FileName, Delete (Y/N)?. Enter Y to delete that file or N to skip it and continue. CTRL+C stops the command.
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Preview wildcard matches before deleting
A wildcard such as *.tmp can match several files. Microsoft recommends using the same wildcard characters with dir to list the files that will be selected. For example, to inspect temporary files in a specific folder and then request confirmation for each one:
dir "C:WorkDrafts*.tmp"
del /p "C:WorkDrafts*.tmp"- Run the
dircommand and check every listed filename and the folder path. - If the match list is exactly what you intend to remove, run the corresponding
del /pcommand. - Answer the prompt for each file. Stop with
CTRL+Cif the prompt reveals an unexpected target.
The listing is only a preview of matches at the time you run dir; it cannot guarantee the files will remain unchanged before deletion. Keep the target narrow and check the command again before pressing Enter.
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Quote paths that contain spaces
Enclose the full path and pattern in double quotes when a folder name contains spaces. For example, Microsoft documents the form del "c:test folder*.*". Quoting the path helps Command Prompt treat it as one target rather than separating it at the space.
Use attribute filters deliberately
The /a[:]<attributes> option selects files by attributes. Microsoft lists these attribute letters:
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r: read-onlyh: hiddeni: not content indexeds: systema: ready for archivingl: reparse point
Prefix an attribute with - to select files that do not have that attribute. For example, Microsoft gives del /a:r *.* as a way to delete read-only files in the current directory. Because attributes can select files that are not obvious in a normal listing, confirm the folder and target carefully before using an attribute filter.
Choose the scope and confirmation level
- One known file: specify its full path and filename; quote the path if it has spaces.
- A group in one folder: use a specific wildcard, preview it with
dir, and consider/pfor per-file review. - Files in nested folders: add
/sonly when the recursive scope is intended; inspect the current directory and matching pattern first. - Quiet operation: omit
/qunless suppressing confirmation is deliberate. Quiet mode does not make deletion safer.
For examples and the complete switch reference, see Microsoft’s DEL command documentation. The command runs in the Command Prompt interpreter described in Microsoft Learn: cmd.
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Deletion is not a recovery or secure-erase feature
Microsoft’s documented warning is direct: “If you use del to delete a file from your disk, you can’t retrieve it.” Do not assume del places files in the Recycle Bin, or that it securely erases their data. If you are uncertain whether a match is safe to remove, cancel rather than running the command.
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