How to delete all files and folders in a folder by cmd call

windows batch-file
ufukgun picture ufukgun · Oct 1, 2009 · Viewed 347.5k times · Source

I use Windows.

I want to delete all files and folders in a folder by system call.

I may call like that:

>rd /s /q c:\destination
>md c:\destination

Do you know an easier way?

Answer

Joey picture Joey · Oct 1, 2009

No, I don't know one.

If you want to retain the original directory for some reason (ACLs, &c.), and instead really want to empty it, then you can do the following:

del /q destination\*
for /d %x in (destination\*) do @rd /s /q "%x"

This first removes all files from the directory, and then recursively removes all nested directories, but overall keeping the top-level directory as it is (except for its contents).

Note that within a batch file you need to double the % within the for loop:

del /q destination\*
for /d %%x in (destination\*) do @rd /s /q "%%x"

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