I have one or more folders in Windows that look empty, but they refuse to be deleted. I've tried right-clicking Delete, Shift+Delete, moving them to the Recycle Bin, compressing them with 7-Zip, starting Windows in Safe Mode, and running Command Prompt as administrator. I'm out of ideas—what else can I try?
1 Answer
Try a file-unlocking utility such as Unlocker. These tools can identify handles or processes that are keeping a corrupted folder locked and then let you delete, rename, or move it. Download it only from a reputable, trusted source, since old utilities are sometimes bundled with unwanted software.
Unlocker has been useful for stubborn files and folders for years, especially when Windows reports that nothing is inside but still refuses to remove the folder.