del

Before running this

This is a reference for CMD; commands do not run on this page. Use the matching shell on your own computer. Read the example, expected result and notes before trying it. New to terminals? Start with the shell basics.

Syntax

UPPERCASE words are placeholders to replace. Brackets in the syntax line describe optional arguments; do not type those brackets literally.

del [/p] FILE

Example

del /p renamed-note.txt

Expected result

Requests confirmation before deleting the named lab file.

Notes and traps

DEL does not normally use the recycle bin. Wildcards can select more than expected.

Related commands

• PowerShell: Remove-Item
• Bash: rm

Related tasks may need different flags and have different semantics. Check the entry before translating a command between shells.

Updated 13 September 2026. Examples describe the expected behavior; not every platform is available for execution testing.