Folders you should not delete
There is times people need to move folders and files to an external storage device and remove files and folders from their computer to clear up space. There are folders that should not be deleted. Below is a list of folders you should not delete and information on the contents. This is not a full list of folders so take caution and be sure you are OK with deleting a folder. You should make up a backup of the files and folders in case you accidentally delete something you shouldn't.
Some of the folders you should not delete (For information on accessing the folder, click on the link)
- Contacts - you can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
- Desktop - you can delete the contents inside the folder Except for recycle bin, but do not delete the folder itself.
- Documents - You can delete contents inside Documents but not the Documents folder itself(There are specific folders inside My Documents that shouldn't be deleted as well)
- Downloads - you can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
- Favorites - Do not delete the folder. You can delete the contents but if you do, you will not be able to access your favorites at all, even if you have them on an external drive. Most folders are for storage only and the user has to manually access the folder on a different drive. This folder is different. When you use the favorites feature in Internet Explorer, that feature accesses the favorites folder that is located on the main drive. Internet explorer will not look at an external drive for the favorite. It will only look at this folder. If the favorite is not there it won't access it. Do not get confused. You can delete unwanted favorites out of this folder but do not delete favorites you want to keep.
- My Documents - You can delete contents inside My Documents but not the My Documents folder itself(There are specific folders inside My Documents that shouldn't be deleted as well)
- Music - you can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
- My Music - You can delete the contents inside My Music folder but do not delete the folder itself.
- My Pictures - You can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
- Pictures - You can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
- My Videos - you can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
- Saved Games - you can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
The folders above have contents that will not harm your system if you delete the contents. NOTE: be sure you saved the contents of those folders to a different location or you are OK with loosing the files that are in those folders before deleting the files in the above folders.
Below is folders you DO NOT want to delete. Also DO NOT delete the folders or contents inside these folders.
- Application Data
- i386
- Local Settings
- Windows folder
- Program Files
- Program Files (x86) (if it exists)
- WINNT (if it exists)
- Any folder that stores programs you have installed (The programs normally get installed in the Program Files folder but sometimes do get installed in other locations so be sure you know what your doing before deleting a folder or file)
The above is only a guide. There may be other folders that you should not tamper with. Unfortunately without looking at the system, I cannot say.
There are times that a file or folder may need to be deleted in the folders above but the times are rare. They are only deleted in advanced troubleshooting and only done for troubleshooting purposes. If you do decide to delete a file or folder in the Windows folder, program files, Program Files (x86) WINNT or another program file or folder, be sure you know what you are doing and you have it backed up.
When you move or copy folders and files to a different location, be sure they move or copy completely.Here is a page on verifying the size of the folder.
If you want the default location of My Music, My Pictures and My Documents to be a different location than the C drive,click here.
| | FAQs
Contacts - you can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself. Desktop - you can delete the contents inside the folder Except for recycle bin, but do not delete the folder itself. Downloads - you can delete the contents inside the folder but do not delete the folder itself.
What folders are safe to delete in Windows 10? ›
Windows Temp Folder
The files and folders inside contain info that Windows used at one time but doesn't need anymore. Aside from cleaning via Disk Cleanup. you can visit this folder and delete its contents by pressing Ctrl + A to select everything and then hit Delete.
What files are safe to delete to free up space? ›
Windows suggests different types of files you can remove, including recycle bin files, Windows Update Cleanup files, upgrade log files, device driver packages, temporary internet files, and temporary files.
Is it safe to delete all empty folders? ›
Safe Deletion Practices:When deleting empty folders, it's important to exercise caution to avoid accidentally deleting important files or system folders. Before deleting any folder, double-check its contents to ensure it is truly empty.
Does deleting a folder free up space? ›
When a file is deleted, the space used on the disk is not reclaimed until the file is truly erased. The trash (recycle bin on Windows) is actually a hidden folder located in each hard drive. To completely delete the file, another step must be performed.
What type of folder is best? ›
Choosing the right folder depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you prioritize durability and rigidity, vinyl folders may be the best option for you. However, if you prefer more customization options in terms of colors and styles and value recyclability, polypropylene folders are the way to go.
Which folders can I delete from C drive? ›
Using the tool, you can:
- Delete system temporary files;
- Delete system prefetch files;
- Execute a system file checker;
- Empty the recycle bin;
- Clear history, cookies, and cache for the installed web browsers;
- Disable search indexing; and.
- Enable storage sense.
Answer. Answer: Windows 10's This PC evolves from its previous version's My Computer, and keeps its default six folders: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Videos, the last five of which are, like library folders.
What is taking up all my storage? ›
Personal files such as videos, music, photos, and documents can take up a lot of space on your device. To see which files are using the most space: Select File Explorer from the taskbar and find the files you want to move. Under This PC in the menu on the left, select a folder to see what files are saved in it.
What should I delete when PC Storage is full? ›
Here's how to free up hard drive space on your desktop or laptop, even if you've never done it before.
- Uninstall unnecessary apps and programs. ...
- Clean your desktop. ...
- Get rid of monster files. ...
- Use the Disk Cleanup Tool. ...
- Discard temporary files. ...
- Deal with downloads. ...
- Save to the cloud.
When your Android internal storage is full (or nearly full), you need to delete data to clear storage space. Clearing cached temporary files, videos, photos, and audio files frees up space in your Android's storage. You should also manage your apps and restrict background data usage to those apps you use most often.
What should I delete to get more Storage? ›
- Close apps that don't respond. You don't usually need to close apps. ...
- Uninstall apps you don't use. If you uninstall an app and need it later, you can download it again. ...
- Clear the app's cache & data. You can usually clear an app's cache and data with your phone's Settings app.
Program Files and Program Files (x86)
Those folders include all configuration information the program needs to work; if some of them are getting lost or messed up, the program cannot work anymore.
What not to delete on Windows? ›
Program files folder: Program files named folder contains all the programs that are installed in your PC by default. So deleting this folder will result in a crash or malfunction in the system and lead to data loss. WinSxS folder: It comes under the windows folder that is abbreviated for windows side by side.
How do I delete unnecessary folders? ›
Press the Windows key, then type "Disk Cleanup." Next, select the files and folders you want to delete and click OK.
Is it safe to delete folders? ›
Its only safe if everything that uses those folders recreate them when they are needed. If they do not then you would have issues.
Should I delete all folders in temp? ›
Yes, it's safe to delete temporary files from Windows. Most of the time, they'll be deleted automatically — if they're not, you can delete them yourself from AppData\Local\Temp without many worries. If you're ever unsure about deleting a file in Windows, search for the temp file name online to find out more.
How many levels of folders are too many? ›
Filing system
You would probably have separate high-level folders for data, administrative documentation, publications, etc. Don't let your folder structure become too complicated, and avoid too many layers in your hierarchy (three is comfortable; ideally no more than four at the most).
Is it safe to delete found 000 folders? ›
In most cases, yes. It contains file and directory fragments that were marked as used clusters but were not part of anything in the filesystem. Chkdsk puts them into these directories when it finds them. Each run of chkdsk will have its own directory starting with .
