FileInfo.Delete Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.IO

Assemblies:: mscorlib.dll, System.IO.FileSystem.dll

Assemblies:: netstandard.dll, System.Runtime.dll

Assemblies:: netstandard.dll, System.IO.FileSystem.dll

Assemblies:: netstandard.dll, System.IO.FileSystem.dll, System.Runtime.dll

Assembly:: System.IO.FileSystem.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Assembly:: netstandard.dll

Source:: FileInfo.cs

Source:: FileInfo.cs

Source:: FileInfo.cs

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Permanently deletes a file.

public:
 override void Delete();

public override void Delete();

override this.Delete : unit -> unit

Public Overrides Sub Delete ()

Exceptions

IOException

The target file is open or memory-mapped on a computer running Microsoft Windows NT.

-or-

There is an open handle on the file, and the operating system is Windows XP or earlier. This open handle can result from enumerating directories and files. For more information, see How to: Enumerate Directories and Files.

SecurityException

The caller does not have the required permission.

UnauthorizedAccessException

The path is a directory.

Examples

The following example demonstrates the Delete method.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;

int main()
{
   String^ path = "c:\\MyTest.txt";
   FileInfo^ fi1 = gcnew FileInfo( path );
   try
   {
      StreamWriter^ sw = fi1->CreateText();
      if ( sw )
         delete (IDisposable^)sw;

      String^ path2 = String::Concat( path, "temp" );
      FileInfo^ fi2 = gcnew FileInfo( path2 );
      
      //Ensure that the target does not exist.
      fi2->Delete();
      
      //Copy the file.
      fi1->CopyTo( path2 );
      Console::WriteLine( "{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2 );
      
      //Delete the newly created file.
      fi2->Delete();
      Console::WriteLine( "{0} was successfully deleted.", path2 );
   }
   catch ( Exception^ e ) 
   {
      Console::WriteLine( "The process failed: {0}", e );
   }
}
//This code produces output similar to the following; 
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
//c:\MyTest.txt was copied to c:\MyTest.txttemp.
//c:\MyTest.txttemp was successfully deleted.

using System;
using System.IO;

class Test
{
    
    public static void Main()
    {
        string path = @"c:\MyTest.txt";
        FileInfo fi1 = new FileInfo(path);

        try
        {
            using (StreamWriter sw = fi1.CreateText()) {}
            string path2 = path + "temp";
            FileInfo fi2 = new FileInfo(path2);

            //Ensure that the target does not exist.
            fi2.Delete();

            //Copy the file.
            fi1.CopyTo(path2);
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2);

            //Delete the newly created file.
            fi2.Delete();
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was successfully deleted.", path2);
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("The process failed: {0}", e.ToString());
        }
    }
}
//This code produces output similar to the following;
//results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
//
//c:\MyTest.txt was copied to c:\MyTest.txttemp.
//c:\MyTest.txttemp was successfully deleted.

Imports System.IO
Imports System.Text

Public Class Test

    Public Shared Sub Main()
        Dim path As String = "c:\MyTest.txt"
        Dim fi As FileInfo = New FileInfo(path)

        Try
            Dim sw As StreamWriter = fi.CreateText()
            sw.Close()
            Dim path2 As String = path + "temp"
            Dim fi2 As FileInfo = New FileInfo(path2)

            'Ensure that the target does not exist.
            fi2.Delete()

            'Copy the file.
            fi.CopyTo(path2)
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2)

            'Delete the newly created file.
            fi2.Delete()
            Console.WriteLine("{0} was successfully deleted.", path2)

        Catch e As Exception
            Console.WriteLine("The process failed: {0}", e.ToString())
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class
'This code produces output similar to the following; 
'results may vary based on the computer/file structure/etc.:
'
'c:\MyTest.txt was copied to c:\MyTest.txttemp.
'c:\MyTest.txttemp was successfully deleted.

The following example creates, closes, and deletes a file.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::IO;
int main()
{
   
   // Create a reference to a file.
   FileInfo^ fi = gcnew FileInfo( "temp.txt" );
   
   // Actually create the file.
   FileStream^ fs = fi->Create();
   
   // Modify the file as required, and then close the file.
   fs->Close();
   
   // Delete the file.
   fi->Delete();
}

using System;
using System.IO;

public class DeleteTest
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Create a reference to a file.
        FileInfo fi = new FileInfo("temp.txt");
        // Actually create the file.
        FileStream fs = fi.Create();
        // Modify the file as required, and then close the file.
        fs.Close();
        // Delete the file.
        fi.Delete();
    }
}

Imports System.IO

Public Class DeleteTest
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        ' Create a reference to a file.
        Dim fi As New FileInfo("temp.txt")
        ' Actually create the file.
        Dim fs As FileStream = fi.Create()
        ' Modify the file as required, and then close the file.
        fs.Close()
        ' Delete the file.
        fi.Delete()
    End Sub
End Class

Remarks

If the file does not exist, this method does nothing.

Applies to

Product	Versions
.NET	Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
.NET Framework	1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard	1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1
UWP	10.0

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