How to Fix Can't Delete a File That's Stuck on Desktop

One day I downloaded a file, unpacked it, and then tried to delete it after realizing it was for a Mac. The issue is that the extracted folder is still there on my desktop. There are several files there that I am unable to remove. How to fix this problem and delete these files?

Best Answered by

Dany· Answered on Apr 19, 2024

It is super annoying that some files or folders are stuck on the desktop and refuse to be deleted. Many situations can cause this problem, and we will help you get rid of these files which have issues. Pick one of the following methods to delete the files you cannot delete:

1. Sometimes, your files or folders cannot be deleted because some applications and programs are using these files. Files cannot be removed while using, so you should shut down the programs and applications, then try again.

2. It's conceivable that Windows 10's File Explorer is what's preventing the file from being deleted. You can open the Task Manager to shut down Windows File Explorer by right-clicking the "End" button.

3. Maybe a reboot can help shut down the software that is using the files. Sometimes, restarting your computer can solve many problems.

4. If the file you're attempting to remove has been locked in any way, Safe Mode could unlock it. Click the link to learn how to boot into Safe Mode.

5. It is possible that the files you want to delete are damaged or corrupted somehow, and you can delete the corrupted files by using Command Prompt. You should use this command to force delete the files: Del /F /Q /A follows the file path.

6. If you still cannot delete the files that are stuck on your desktop, you can download a free program to help you delete the files.

If you lost important files while force deleting the troublesome files, you could use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to get them back.
 

Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover deleted or lost files easily and quickly.

Tutorials on how to recover lost, deleted, or formatted data from HDD, SSD, USB, SD card, or other storage media on Windows and Mac.

People Also Ask

How to Recover Deleted Files on Windows 10 in 2024

If you deleted some files on Windows 10, you should go check the Recycle Bin immediately. If you cannot find them in the Recycle Bin and the File History is not enabled, you can try the methods we mentioned in this short passage.

Dany

Apr 15, 2024

Quickly Delete Massive File Structure on Windows Server 2012

Normally, the deletion of large files takes a long time. Your computer needs to confirm and analyze the data, which will take time. The methods below may help you quickly delete massive files structure on Windows Server 2012.

Dany

Apr 16, 2024

How to Fix 'Can't Delete a File on Windows Server' Issue

It will sometimes happen that you cannot access or delete a specific file suddenly. We think the methods below will help you get out of this situation, and you can have a try.

Dany

Jun 17, 2024

How to Recover Crashed Excel Files or Restore Its Previous Version

This post includes complete solutions to help you perform Microsoft Excel file recovery. If you accidentally deleted Excel files, lost an unsaved Excel file, or Microsoft Excel 2016 crashed on saving or opening files, relax. Follow the fixes here to restore your lost Excel files with ease now.

Jaden

Jun 17, 2024

How to Recover Deleted .lnk Files on Windows 10

Have you ever experienced files with .lnk extensions being deleted, and you can not find the document anywhere? This post offers two methods to recover deleted .lnk files on Windows. Read the post to find out solutions.

Daisy

May 07, 2024

How to Delete the OS from a Hard Drive but Keep the Data

Let us now look at removing Windows OS from a hard drive with retaining the data. In other words, without formatting it. It's also the methods of how to remove and uninstall Windows 7, 8, or 10 from a dual boot PC.

Jaden

Jun 17, 2024