{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T13:49:26+00:00","modifiedTime":"2017-06-23T19:07:05+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:07+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33513"},"slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Basic Skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33514"},"slug":"basic-skills","categoryId":33514}],"title":"How to Delete a File or Folder on Your Laptop","strippedTitle":"how to delete a file or folder on your laptop","slug":"for-seniors-delete-a-file-or-folder-on-your-laptop","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"If you don’t need a file or folder anymore, you can clear up clutter on your laptop by deleting it. Remember, keeping your files organized and deleting unused o","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"If you don’t need a file or folder anymore, you can clear up clutter on your laptop by deleting it. Remember, keeping your files organized and deleting unused or unnecessary files or folders will keep your laptop working at its best.\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Locate the file or folder by using File Explorer. (Click the File Explorer icon on the Desktop, and then browse or search to locate the file you want to delete.)</p>\r\n</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">In File Explorer, right-click the file or folder that you want to delete and then choose Delete from the shortcut menu. (Or you can simply click the file to select it and then press the Delete key.)</p>\r\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/404125.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"497\" height=\"400\" /></li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<p class=\"Tip\">When you delete a file or folder in Windows, it’s not really gone. It’s removed to the Recycle Bin. Windows periodically purges older files from this folder, but you might still be able to retrieve recently deleted files and folders from it.</p>\r\nTo try to restore a deleted file or folder, double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop. Right-click the file or folder and choose Restore. Windows restores the file to wherever it was when you deleted it.","description":"If you don’t need a file or folder anymore, you can clear up clutter on your laptop by deleting it. 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Windows periodically purges older files from this folder, but you might still be able to retrieve recently deleted files and folders from it.</p>\r\nTo try to restore a deleted file or folder, double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop. Right-click the file or folder and choose Restore. Windows restores the file to wherever it was when you deleted it.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33514,"title":"Basic Skills","slug":"basic-skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33514"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":172026,"title":"Repurposing Items for Beautiful Holiday Decorating","slug":"decorating-for-the-holidays-with-what-you-already-have","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","crafts","gifts-holidays"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/172026"}},{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":193770,"title":"How to Play Rummy: All You Need to Know","slug":"rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/193770"}},{"articleId":153792,"title":"Format Numbers in Thousands and Millions in Excel Reports","slug":"format-numbers-in-thousands-and-millions-in-excel-reports","categoryList":["technology","software","microsoft-products","excel"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/153792"}},{"articleId":147241,"title":"How to Use the Z-Table","slug":"how-to-use-the-z-table","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","statistics"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/147241"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":248604,"title":"How to Run a Scan on Your Windows 10 Laptop with Windows Defender","slug":"run-scan-windows-10-laptop-windows-defender","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248604"}},{"articleId":248601,"title":"Understanding Windows Update Options","slug":"understanding-windows-update-options","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248601"}},{"articleId":248598,"title":"Understanding Security Threats to Your Windows 10 Laptop","slug":"understanding-security-threats-windows-10-laptop","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248598"}},{"articleId":248595,"title":"How to Go Online Using Your Laptop’s Cellular Network","slug":"go-online-using-laptops-cellular-network","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248595"}},{"articleId":248588,"title":"How to Use Microsoft’s Discussion Board","slug":"use-microsofts-discussion-board","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248588"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":true,"relatedBook":{"bookId":281751,"slug":"laptops-for-dummies-6th-edition","isbn":"9781119041801","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119041805/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119041805/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119041805-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119041805/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119041805/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/laptops-for-dummies-6th-edition-cover-9781119041801-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Laptops For Dummies, 6th Edition","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"9003\">Dan Gookin</b></b> wrote the very first For Dummies book in 1991. 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How to Delete a File or Folder on Your Laptop

Updated: 06-23-2017

Laptops For Dummies, 6th Edition

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If you don’t need a file or folder anymore, you can clear up clutter on your laptop by deleting it. Remember, keeping your files organized and deleting unused or unnecessary files or folders will keep your laptop working at its best.

Locate the file or folder by using File Explorer. (Click the File Explorer icon on the Desktop, and then browse or search to locate the file you want to delete.)
In File Explorer, right-click the file or folder that you want to delete and then choose Delete from the shortcut menu. (Or you can simply click the file to select it and then press the Delete key.)

When you delete a file or folder in Windows, it’s not really gone. It’s removed to the Recycle Bin. Windows periodically purges older files from this folder, but you might still be able to retrieve recently deleted files and folders from it.

To try to restore a deleted file or folder, double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop. Right-click the file or folder and choose Restore. Windows restores the file to wherever it was when you deleted it.

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