You have to delete all the items in this folder before you can delete the folder.

Question

Hi All

i have a folder in team site. When i am trying to delete the folder i am getting the below error.

You have to delete all the items in this folder before you can delete the folder.

Documents->Test1->Test2
I am trying to delete Test2 folder and the folder is empty it doesn't have any files or folders in it. Please help me

Answer 1

@Glenn Maxwell

Whether this issue occurs in a specific folder, a specific library or a specific site collection?

Whether the folder has unique permission? Have you enabled versioning and approval in the library?

1.Go to library settings -> Manage files which have no checked in version -> Make sure all files are checked in.
2.Go to Microsoft 365 admin center -> Security -> Policies -> Retention.
3.Try to delete folder by using PowerShell.

#Config Variables  
$SiteURL = "https://tenant.sharepoint.com/sites/emilytest"  
$ListName ="Branding"  
$FolderServerRelativeURL = "/sites/emilytest /doc/test"  

Try {  
    #Connect to PnP Online  
    Connect-PnPOnline -Url $SiteURL -UseWebLogin  

    #Get All Items from Folder in Batch  
    $ListItems = Get-PnPListItem -List $ListName -FolderServerRelativeUrl $FolderServerRelativeURL -PageSize 2000 | Sort-Object ID -Descending  

    #Powershell to delete all files from folder  
    ForEach ($Item in $ListItems)  
    {  
        Remove-PnPListItem -List $ListName -Identity $Item.Id -Recycle -Force  
        Write-host "Removed File:"$Item.FieldValues.FileRef  
    }  
}  
Catch {  
    write-host "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)" -foregroundcolor Red  
}  

---

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Answer 2

This is a common issue. One Drive does little good if we can't delete subfolders without having to delete everything below it, one at a time, first. When will this be fixed?

I can't back up server files to One Drive if I can't use them properly. Since Dos 6.22 I've been able to delete subfolders. Having me spend hours deleting files one by one is a lousy design.

Give us the ability in One Drive for Business to actually delete subfolders without having to delete every single file underneath it first!

Answer 3

Solution:
Either you disable the Hold for the site from Office 365 Security and Compliance center as Global Administrator (and allow some time to take effect!) or as the error message says, delete all files and sub-folders inside the folder first! You can use “View in File Explorer” or PowerShell too to make it easier.

Read more: https://www.sharepointdiary.com/2018/08/fix-you-have-to-delete-all-items-in-this-folder-before-you-can-delete-folder-error-sharepoint-online.html#ixzz7AxuXgASa

BTW @Martinez, Michael you can and you should backup files to Onedrive.

"lousy design" was made in Dos 6.22 allowing any threat actor with unattended access to your credentials or files, to go on and delete all your files. DLP or Data Loss prevention was created to address that exact "lousy design"

Answer 4

Just hit this issue and found the quickest way to delete is to sync the document library to OneDrive on your local computer, then in OneDrive you can delete the top level folder and this will cause SharePoint to automatically delete from the lowest level items and folders, and work its way up to the top folder.

Answer 5

NO NEED FOR ANYTHING COMPLICATED

Simply go into to the sharepoint folder you wish to delete in a browser.
In the top left click the checkbox that selects all folders.
Click delete. It will take some time to delete all folders.
Back out one directory level. Delete the folder.
Done