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Remove-Item

  • Reference
Module:
Microsoft.PowerShell.Management

Deletes the specified items.

Syntax

Remove-Item
      [-Path] <String[]>
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [-Force]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [-Stream <String[]>]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Remove-Item
      -LiteralPath <String[]>
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [-Force]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [-Stream <String[]>]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Remove-Item
      [-Path] <String[]>
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [-Force]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [-DeleteKey]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Remove-Item
      -LiteralPath <String[]>
      [-Filter <String>]
      [-Include <String[]>]
      [-Exclude <String[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [-Force]
      [-Credential <PSCredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [-DeleteKey]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Remove-Item
      [-Path] <string[]>
      [-Filter <string>]
      [-Include <string[]>]
      [-Exclude <string[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [-Force]
      [-Credential <pscredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]
Remove-Item
      -LiteralPath <string[]>
      [-Filter <string>]
      [-Include <string[]>]
      [-Exclude <string[]>]
      [-Recurse]
      [-Force]
      [-Credential <pscredential>]
      [-WhatIf]
      [-Confirm]
      [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The Remove-Item cmdlet deletes one or more items. Because it's supported by many providers, it can delete many different types of items, including files, folders, registry keys, variables, aliases, and functions.

Examples

Example 1: Delete files that have any file extension

This example deletes all files with names that include a dot (.) from the C:\Test folder. Because the command specifies a dot, the command doesn't delete folders or files that have no file extension.

Remove-Item C:\Test\*.*

Example 2: Delete document files in a folder

This example deletes from the current folder all files that have a .doc file extension and a name that doesn't include *1*.

Remove-Item * -Include *.doc -Exclude *1*

It uses the wildcard character (*) to specify the contents of the current folder. It uses the Include and Exclude parameters to specify the files to delete.

Example 3: Delete hidden, read-only files

This command deletes a file that's both hidden and read-only.

Remove-Item -Path C:\Test\hidden-RO-file.txt -Force

It uses the Path parameter to specify the file. It uses the Force parameter to delete it. Without Force, you can't delete read-only or hidden files.

Example 4: Delete files in subfolders recursively

This command deletes all the CSV files in the current folder and all subfolders recursively.

Because the Recurse parameter in Remove-Item has a known issue, the command in this example uses Get-ChildItem to get the desired files, and then uses the pipeline operator to pass them to Remove-Item.

Get-ChildItem * -Include *.csv -Recurse | Remove-Item

In the Get-ChildItem command, Path has a value of (*), which represents the contents of the current folder. It uses Include to specify the CSV file type, and it uses Recurse to make the retrieval recursive. If you try to specify the file type in the path, such as -Path *.csv, the cmdlet interprets the subject of the search to be a file that has no child items, and Recurse fails.

Note

This behavior was fixed in Windows versions 1909 and up.

Example 5: Delete subkeys recursively

This command deletes the "OldApp" registry key and all its subkeys and values. It uses Remove-Item to remove the key. The path is specified, but the optional parameter name (Path) is omitted.

The Recurse parameter deletes all of the contents of the "OldApp" key recursively. If the key contains subkeys and you omit the Recurse parameter, you are prompted to confirm that you want to delete the contents of the key.

Remove-Item HKLM:\Software\MyCompany\OldApp -Recurse

Example 6: Deleting files with special characters

The following example shows how to delete files that contain special characters like brackets or parentheses.

Get-ChildItem

Directory: C:\temp\Downloads

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
-a---          6/1/2018  12:19 PM           1362 myFile.txt
-a---          6/1/2018  12:30 PM           1132 myFile[1].txt
-a---          6/1/2018  12:19 PM           1283 myFile[2].txt
-a---          6/1/2018  12:19 PM           1432 myFile[3].txt

Get-ChildItem | Where-Object Name -Like '*`[*'

Directory: C:\temp\Downloads

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
-a---          6/1/2018  12:30 PM           1132 myFile[1].txt
-a---          6/1/2018  12:19 PM           1283 myFile[2].txt
-a---          6/1/2018  12:19 PM           1432 myFile[3].txt

Get-ChildItem | Where-Object Name -Like '*`[*' | ForEach-Object { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $_.Name }
Get-ChildItem

Directory: C:\temp\Downloads

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
-a---          6/1/2018  12:19 PM           1362 myFile.txt

Example 7: Remove an alternate data stream

This example shows how to use the Stream dynamic parameter of the Remove-Item cmdlet to delete an alternate data stream. The stream parameter is introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

Get-Item C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier

FileName: \\C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1

Stream                   Length
------                   ------
Zone.Identifier              26

Remove-Item C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier
Get-Item C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1 -Stream Zone.Identifier

Get-Item : Could not open alternate data stream 'Zone.Identifier' of file 'C:\Test\Copy-Script.ps1'.

The Stream parameter Get-Item gets the Zone.Identifier stream of the Copy-Script.ps1 file. Remove-Item uses the Stream parameter to remove the Zone.Identifier stream of the file. Finally, the Get-Item cmdlet shows that the Zone.Identifier stream was deleted.

Parameters

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet. For more information, see the following articles:

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Credential

Note

This parameter isn't supported by any providers installed with PowerShell. To impersonate another user, or elevate your credentials when running this cmdlet, use Invoke-Command.

Type:PSCredential
Position:Named
Default value:Current user
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-DeleteKey

This is a dynamic parameter made available by the Certificate provider. The Certificate provider and this parameter are only available on Windows platforms.

When provided, the cmdlet deletes the private key when the certificate is deleted.

For more information, see about_Certificate_Provider.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Exclude

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet excludes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as *.txt. Wildcard characters are permitted. The Exclude parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

When using Recurse with Exclude, Exclude only filters results of the current directory. If there are files that match the Exclude pattern in subfolders, those files are removed along with its parent directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Filter

Specifies a filter to qualify the Path parameter. The FileSystem provider is the only installed PowerShell provider that supports the use of filters. You can find the syntax for the FileSystem filter language in about_Wildcards. Filters are more efficient than other parameters, because the provider applies them when the cmdlet gets the objects rather than having PowerShell filter the objects after they're retrieved.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Force

Forces the cmdlet to remove items that can't otherwise be changed, such as hidden or read-only files or read-only aliases or variables. The cmdlet can't remove constant aliases or variables. Implementation varies from provider to provider. For more information, see about_Providers. Even using the Force parameter, the cmdlet can't override security restrictions.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Include

Specifies, as a string array, an item or items that this cmdlet includes in the operation. The value of this parameter qualifies the Path parameter. Enter a path element or pattern, such as "*.txt". Wildcard characters are permitted. The Include parameter is effective only when the command includes the contents of an item, such as C:\Windows\*, where the wildcard character specifies the contents of the C:\Windows directory.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-LiteralPath

Specifies a path to one or more locations. The value of LiteralPath is used exactly as it's typed. No characters are interpreted as wildcards. If the path includes escape characters, enclose it in single quotation marks. Single quotation marks tell PowerShell not to interpret any characters as escape sequences.

For more information, see about_Quoting_Rules.

Type:String[]
Aliases:PSPath, LP
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Path

Specifies a path of the items being removed. Wildcard characters are permitted.

Type:String[]
Position:0
Default value:None
Required:True
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:True

-Recurse

Indicates that this cmdlet deletes the items in the specified locations and in all child items of the locations.

The Recurse parameter might not delete all subfolders or all child items. This is a known issue.

Note

This behavior was fixed in Windows versions 1909 and newer.

Type:SwitchParameter
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Stream

This is a dynamic parameter made available by the FileSystem provider. This parameter is only available on Windows. This parameter can't be used in combination with the Recurse parameter.

You can use Remove-Item to delete an alternative data stream, such as Zone.Identifier. However, it isn't the recommended way to eliminate security checks that block files that are downloaded from the Internet. If you verify that a downloaded file is safe, use the Unblock-File cmdlet.

This parameter was introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0. As of Windows PowerShell 7.2, Remove-Item can remove alternative data streams from directories as well as files.

For more information, see about_FileSystem_Provider.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:True

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet isn't run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

String

You can pipe a string that contains a path, but not a literal path, to this cmdlet.

Outputs

None

This cmdlet returns no output.

Notes

PowerShell includes the following aliases for Remove-Item:

  • All platforms:
    • del
    • erase
    • rd
    • ri
  • Windows:
    • rm
    • rmdir

The Remove-Item cmdlet is designed to work with the data exposed by any provider. To list the providers available in your session, type Get-PsProvider. For more information, see about_Providers.

When you try to delete a folder that contains items without using the Recurse parameter, the cmdlet prompts for confirmation. Using -Confirm:$false doesn't suppress the prompt. This is by design.