Unable to delete items in SharePoint and OneDrive

Summary

You may find that you are unable to delete files in SharePoint or OneDrive. This article describes ways to narrow down the issue and find a solution.

There are several reasons why you may be unable to delete a file. Try each of these until you find one that resolves your issue.

Ensure the item is not checked out to another user.
Always make sure you have the appropriate permissions to delete the item or have a site collection administrator attempt remove the item.
Retention label policies can cause this. For more information about the restrictions on which actions are allowed or blocked, see this comparison table.

Note Folder deletion can be prevented due to retention policies. In this situation, first move or delete any files in the folder that are subject to retention.
The site might have exceeded its storage limit. Increase the site quota and delete the item.
Administrators can use SharePoint Patterns and Practices (PnP), which contains a library of PowerShell commands that allows you to perform complex management actions such as force the deletion of items you cannot otherwise delete.

Still need help? Go to SharePoint Community.