Speed Up Folder Deletion in Windows 11 with These Techniques

Since updating your operating system to Windows 11, you may have noticed that certain processes, like deleting folders in File Explorer, are not as swift as before. Microsoft‘s changes to the system have affected the efficiency of some tasks. However, fear not; there are alternative methods that can help speed up folder deletion in Windows 11. In this post, we’ll explore these alternatives to make your file management smoother.

Changes to File Explorer in Windows 11 have elicited mixed opinions from users. Some find the modifications beneficial, while others have encountered challenges. To address the issue of slow folder deletion, we’ll present two alternative methods that can be more efficient and user-friendly.

Method 1: Using the Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges. You can do this by searching for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, right-clicking on it, and selecting “Run as administrator.”
2. Keep the Command Prompt window open and navigate to the folder you want to delete in File Explorer.
3. Right-click on the folder you wish to delete and select “Copy as path” from the context menu. This will copy the folder’s path to your clipboard.
4. Return to the Command Prompt window and type the following command, replacing “C:\folder-that-you-have-copied” with the path you copied: cd "C:\folder-that-you-have-copied".
5. Press Enter to navigate to the folder using the Command Prompt.
6. Now, enter the command to delete all files and subfolders within the folder: del /f /q /s *.* > null.
7. Finally, type the command to permanently delete the folder: rmdir /q /s folder-name, replacing “folder-name” with the name of the folder you want to delete.

This method allows you to delete folders quickly without the potential slowdowns encountered in File Explorer.

Method 2: Using a Script and Modifying the Registry

This alternative method involves creating a script and modifying the Windows Registry. Please proceed with caution, especially when editing the Registry, as it can affect your system if not done correctly.

1. Open a new Notepad file and paste the text from the provided script (see the article for the script). Save the file with a .bat extension, such as “quick_delete.bat.”
2. Access the Windows Registry Editor by searching for “Registry Editor” in the Start menu and running it with administrator privileges.
3. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell.
4. Create a new key within the “shell” folder and name it “Quick Delete.”
5. Within the “Quick Delete” key, create another key named “command.”
6. Double-click the “Default” entry on the right-hand side and set its value to: cmd /c "cd %1 && quick_delete.bat"

By following these steps, you’ll have added a new function to the context menu in File Explorer, allowing you to delete folders more swiftly. Simply right-click on a folder, look for “Quick Delete” among the options, and use it whenever you need to expedite the deletion process.

These alternative methods can help you regain control over the folder deletion process in Windows 11, saving time and effort while avoiding the slowdowns associated with File Explorer.