How to Delete Corrupted Files that are Impossible to Delete?

Do you also have that one file in your system that you try to delete, and a message pops you “File cannot be deleted”, or that particular file is stuck in the file explorer and appears again after multiple attempts of deletion? Well, that’s a corrupted file. 

Now you might be wondering, “How to delete corrupted files,” because manual methods do not work. Then do not worry. You are at the right place. 

In this guide, we will discuss “Why it is important to get rid of corrupted files”, various manual methods step by step, so that you can finally delete corrupted files on Windows, Android, or an SD card. And how to use specialised tools that will come in handy when manual methods do not work. So let’s learn how you can remove corrupted files and clean up your device. 

What are Corrupted Files? 

A corrupted file is a digital file that does not function properly. In most cases, you can neither open, read, edit, nor delete such files. Due to reasons like a damaged storage spot or an interruption, these files are not encoded/decoded, which makes their access and use abnormal. 

How do you know that the file is corrupted?

Before you learn how to delete corrupted files, it’s important to first confirm whether the file is truly corrupted or if there is some other reason that you are not able to remove it. Here’s how you can identify a corrupted file: 

• You can not open or edit a corrupted file. 
• If you can open the file, it has incomplete or abnormal text.
• When you access the properties of a corrupted file, you might find improper details like 
• “File Size is 0 KB” or “wrong file format”. 
• Often, Antivirus flags the corrupted file. 
• File Icon of a corrupted file looks broken or generic. 

Why Is It Important to Delete Corrupted Files?

On the surface, a corrupted file might seem harmless, but it is important to remove these corrupted files from your system due the the following reasons: 

• Reduces System Speed: Having a corrupted file can significantly reduce system speed, as your device will repeatedly try and fail to process the file. 
• More Storage: A corrupted does not serve any purpose on your service. It just sits up and occupies space in your device. You can free up storage by deleting corrupted files.
• Avoid Antivirus Error Pop Ups: Your system’s antivirus often considers corrupted files as malicious and repeatedly asks you to force delete corrupted files.
• Data Security: Corrupted files can be metadata and affect other files, too. Thus, it can spread like malware, which can lead to data loss, making it important to get rid of corrupted files. 
• Seamless Data Backup:  A corrupted file often blocks the data backup or sync process, and if you do not remove corrupted files, it can leave your data stranded and prone to loss. 

How To Delete Corrupted Files? 

Deleting a corrupted file may not be as simple as deleting a standard file in your system.  It may involve additional steps, and you can try different methods until you find the one that works for you. 

Method 1: Delete corrupted files using CMD

Using the CMD to force delete corrupted files on Windows 10/11 is an effective method. It allows you to bypass safety checks. It gives you the access of powerful direct commands. Follow the steps to remove corrupted files in Windows:

1. Copy the Path of the File: Go to the corrupted file location and copy path. Right-click, and from the pop-up, choose “Copy as Path”.
   Note: Ensure that you have closed the file you need to delete.
2. Open Command Prompt: Press Windows key + R. Type CMD. And Hit “Run”.
3. Input Command: Enter command attrib -r -s -h “Paste the copied path here” and hit Enter.
4. Delete the File Using CMD: Enter the second command del /f “Paste the copied path here”
5. The system will delete the corrupted file.

Method 2: Delete Corrupted Files In Safe Mode

You can also rely on Safe Mode, which is the most basic way in which your computer can operate to get rid of the corrupted files from your Windows 10/ 11 device. Often time corrupted files can not be discarded as they might be used in another program that you are not able to detect. Here is how to remove a corrupted file using Safe Mode: 

1. Turn On Safe Mode: Press Windows+R. In the Run tab, enter msconfig. Hit “OK”. 
2. Go to the “Boot Tab”. From the bottom, choose the “Safe Mode” option. Press Ok. 
3. Restart your PC if the device does not restart on its own. 
4. Try deleting the File: Delete corrupted files as you would a normal file. Right-click and Press “delete.”
5. Try CMD in Safe Mode: If not, try CMD to remove the corrupted file in safe mode. Use the command >>del /f “Paste the copied path here” to wipe out corrupted files from Windows.
6. Exit Safe Mode using msconfig and restart the computer. 

Note: Make sure you empty the recycle bin also. 

Method 3: Use Check Disk Utility (Chkdsk) 

Many times, due to a file being damaged disk structure, you cannot delete corrupted files from the hard drive. Using the Chkdsk command is an efficient way to determine if it is the file or the file structure that’s broken. The Chkdsk often helps “unlock” the corrupted file, too. 

1. Open Command Prompt: Press Windows + R and type in cmd.
2. Enter Command: Type in chkdsk C: /f. Here, C: is the drive where your corrupted file is located. 
3. In most cases, since C is the drive that is in use. Chkdsk will revert “This drive is in use. Do you want to schedule a scan at the next restart?” 
4. Type Y in the command prompt, and your computer will restart. If it does not automatically restart. Make sure you restart your computer manually. 
5. Once the system restarts, delete the corrupted files from your Windows device. 

Note: What does running “chkdsk” do?

Once you run the chkdsk command, it repairs the disk structure. That unlocks the corrupted file, which is normally hard to delete. 

Why Manual Methods Aren’t Enough to Delete Corrupted Files? 

The manual methods, like restarting the computer, safe mode, CMD, chkdsk, and then trying to delete, are effective tactics, but they have some limitations: 

• Accidental data loss: chkdsk, although it is meant to repair files, often deletes file fragments entirely. 
• Highly Technical: Using CMD, safe mode, and CLI commands is highly technical and complex. One wrong step can cause boot failure and a complete Windows reinstall. 
• Uncertainty: These are not 100% effective solutions to delete corrupted files that may lead to failure. Manual methods are more of a hit-and-trial. 
• Time-consuming: Involves a lot of manual effort and time to delete corrupted files, as it involves a lot of steps.
• Storage Issue: If you have a large amount of corrupted files, running Chkdsk creates unusable CHK fragments, consuming storage space.

Best Way to Delete Corrupted Files Using a Specialized Tool

So you figured out that deleting a corrupted file is more of a hassle than you thought. But there is a sure-shot way that helps you permanently wipe out a corrupted file in a single try without any technical hassle, and it can even function well with bulk files. BitRecover Data Wipe Software is an effective solution that helps you discard corrupted files from your device in just a few clicks and gives you the disk space that you need. 

If you are willing to delete corrupted files from the external hard drive, SD card, or your Windows device using the tool, following the international standards of data destruction, use the live chat section below, and our technical team will guide you with the most effective and safe ways. 

Reasons for Using a Dedicated Tool to Remove Corrupted Files

Using a tool to delete corrupted files has a lot of benefits, such as:

• Safety First: This dedicated, powerful software meets industry standards of data destruction and works offline to help ensure the safety of your data residing on your local computer.
• 100% Guaranteed: The tool will delete corrupted files with 100% guaranteed deletion, which means the files are gone for good and will not return even if you attempt to recover them.
• Deleted Permanently: All corrupted files will be deleted permanently from the device.
• Bulk Deletion: As an added bonus, the dedicated tool will delete multiple corrupted files at a time, which is significantly faster and more efficient than manually deleting corrupted files individually.
• Locked Deleted: If your corrupted file is locked, in addition to an unlocked corrupted file, the dedicated tool will delete locked corrupted files from your device in this scenario as well.
• Save Time: This fast and dependable way of deleting corrupted files will delete all corrupted files immediately without lag or pause for you.

How To Use The Advanced Tool To Delete Corrupted Files?

1. To discard corrupted files from Windows 10 and 11, download the Robust tool in your device.
2. Click on the File and Folder checkbox. Click on Select File.
3. From the pop-up window, choose the corrupted file. Press Open >> Next.
4. In the Preview option of the Robust tool, check the box of the corrupted file you want to remove from your system.
5. Click Next.
6. From the Wipe method option, choose BitWipe SimplePass 1.
7. Click on the Wipe Button.
8. The system will generate and open a log report for future audit purposes after you wipe out your file.

Conclusion

We hope you are now able to delete corrupted files from your Windows device or any external hard drive or SD card without any difficulty.

There are multiple manual ways that you can rely on to wipe out corrupted files, like CMD, Safe Mode, Check Disk Utility, that have proven effective over time, as they help you command the system directly, instead, through the GUI. Thank you for watching.

But deleting corrupted files can be a little technical if done manually. Using specialized software with international standards of data deletion can make this task way easier. Give a try to our robust tool today and reach out to the live chat section for support from our support team.

FAQ’s: Delete Corrupted Files

Q1: How to delete corrupted files on Android? 

If you want to delete corrupted files in your Android device, the best way is to go to the File Manager ( you may also have files by Google in your device ). Locate your file on the device. And then delete it. If it refuses to delete in one go, it is recommended to restart your device. Or you can connect it to your PC and delete it hassle-free with our advanced software to delete files from there.

Q2: Should you delete corrupted files?

Yes, it is always recommended to get rid of corrupted files. They can reduce the efficiency of your device and occupy unnecessary storage. In fact, they may trigger antivirus alerts. Corrupted files can also disrupt the data backup process, so removing them ensures efficient system performance.

Q3: How do I Clean Out corrupt files?

To remove a corrupted file from your system, try rebooting your device and then deleting it again. If an error is prompted or the file reappears after being deleted, use advanced methods like Safe Mode, CMD, or Check Disk. These methods do not foolproof. Rely on specialized tool to delete corrupted data/ files for hassle free and permanent deletion. 

Q4: Can I fix corrupted files?

It is entirely possible to fix some of the corrupted files. You can use the built-in repair tool that Microsoft offers. In fact, the check disk chkdsk command also helps repair corrupted files. But if you want a completely guaranteed solution, use BitRecover Data Recovery Software to do so.