10 Ways to Permanently Delete Computer Files

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 02:28

There are several ways to permanently delete files, depending on the type of device you are using. This tutorial describes the best way to delete files on mobile devices, laptops and desktop computers with various operating systems (including Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux). Thanks to special applications and easy-to-follow procedures, you can more easily delete sensitive information or files to free up storage space that is already full.

Step

Method 1 of 10: Using iPhone Data Eraser (for iPhone/iPad)

Step 1. Download iPhone Data Eraser to your computer or laptop

Use a computer or laptop that can be connected to your iPhone via a USB port. You can download it from https://www.recover-iphone-ios-8.com/iphone-data-eraser.html. Make sure you check the “Mac” circle next to the “Supported OS:” label. After that, you can click on the “Free Trial” option or buy the app.

iPhone Data Eraser works on iPhone (6/5s/5c/5/4s/4/3GS), iPad (including iPad 1/2/Mini/New iPad) and iPod (including Classic/Touch/Nano/Shuffle versions)

Step 2. Install iPhone Data Eraser app

You just need to click on the download location and wait for the installation file to open. After that, drag the “Wondershare SafeEraser” icon and drop it into the “Applications” directory next to it in the installation window. After that, the application will be displayed as “Wondershare SafeEraser” in the “Applications” directory, unless you want to move it to another directory.

Step 3. Run the iPhone Data Eraser program

Look for the file in the “Applications” directory or any other directory you previously selected. Click the icon to open and run the application.

Step 4. Connect your iPhone (or iOS device) to the computer

You need to connect your mobile device to your computer or laptop using a USB port cable. Once the device is connected, iPhone Data Eraser will detect your device and display an interface that displays both used and free storage space.

Step 5. Select the desired file cleaning/deletion options

You can see the four options displayed on the “Hello iPhone” welcome page. Each option offers a different level of deletion.

Step 6. Choose “Express Cleanup”

In this option, the residual or 'junk files' on the device will be deleted. After clicking on that option, press the “Start Scan” button so the application can find any leftover files that can be deleted. After the scan is complete, various residual files will be displayed and you can select the files you want to delete. You can also view additional details about the file by clicking the blue file icon to the right of each category. Once you've selected the files you want to delete, check the box next to them and click the blue button labeled “Erase Now”.

Step 7. Choose “Erase Private Data”

In this option, history files, cookies, and a number of other personal information will be deleted. After clicking this option, press the “Start Scan” button so the application can search for the files in question. Once the scan is complete, various personal files will be displayed and you can select the files you want to delete. You can also view additional details about these files by clicking on the blue file icon to the right of each category. After selecting the files you want to delete, check the box next to them and click the blue button labeled “Erase Now”. You will be asked to type “delete” to confirm the deletion.

Step 8. Choose “Erase Deleted Files”

In this option, files that have been moved to the “Trash” directory will be deleted. After clicking the option, press the “Start Scan” button so the application can search for files that were moved to that directory. After that, the files that were previously deleted/moved to the “Trash” directory will be displayed and you can select the files you want to permanently delete. You can also view additional details about these files by clicking on the blue file icons to the right of each category. By default, all categories of files will be marked for deletion. However, you can unmark the files that you want to keep. Once you have selected the files you want to delete, click the blue button labeled “Erase Now”. You will be asked to type “delete” to confirm the deletion.

Step 9. Choose “Erase All Data”

In this option, all personal files will be deleted and the device will be restored to its default settings. You will be provided with three levels of security associated with different deletion procedures so read the descriptions carefully and decide which procedure best suits your needs. You will also be asked to type “delete” to confirm the deletion.

Method 2 of 10: Using Secure Delete (for Android)

Step 1. Install the Secure Delete app on your Android device

This free application can be used on Android devices with version 2.3.3 or later. You can search and install it via Google Playstore, or download it from

Step 2. Run the application

Once the app is installed on your device, you can find it among other apps and can move it to any other location or directory you want. Click the Secure Delete app icon to open it.

Step 3. Specify the type of file you want to delete

In the Secure Delete screen, there is a drop-down menu at the top of the screen. Click the menu and look for, for example, photos, app directory, SD card or downloaded files. After that, the application will display a list of file directories found on the device.

Step 4. Select the specific files you want to delete

You will see a small box next to each file. Check the box corresponding to the file you want to permanently delete.

Step 5. Permanently delete the selected files

Once you've selected each file you want to delete, click the green button labeled “Secure delete” at the bottom of the screen. You will be asked to confirm your selection so just type “Yes”, then click “OK”. Although the process may take a while, the files you have selected will be permanently deleted from your Android device.

Method 3 of 10: Using the Recycle Bin (for Windows)

Step 1. Delete the file from the original location/directory

Find the file or directory that you want to delete. Right-click on the icon and select “Delete” from the pop-up menu that appears, or left-click the icon once and press the Del key on the keyboard.

If you want to permanently delete a file or directory from your computer without moving it to the Recycle Bin, click the file and press the Shift+Del key combination on your keyboard

Step 2. Open the Recycle Bin

From the desktop, double-click the Recycle Bin icon to open it.

Step 3. Select the file and press the Del key

Find the file or directory that you deleted and move it to the Recycle Bin. Left-click the file icon once and press the Del key on the keyboard.

Step 4. Alternatively, click on the “Empty the Recycle Bin” option

If you want to delete all the contents of the Recycle Bin (not just one file), select “Empty the Recycle Bin” from the toolbar in the window.

• You can also delete all the content in the Recycle Bin, without having to open the program. Right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select “Empty the Recycle Bin” from the pop-up menu that appears.
• Note that this method does not actually delete files from the disk. The option to permanently delete a file (permanently delete) from the Recycle Bin only removes the link to the file in question so that it becomes freer for storage space (and the file is inaccessible to you). This means that the deleted file has not been completely removed from the computer.
• In order to permanently delete files from the disk, you will need to follow the following methods and use a special application.

Method 4 of 10: Using Eraser (for Windows)

Step 1. Download the Eraser app

Eraser is one of the safest, free and most popular file deletion apps. Unlike the 'permanent' deletion options available on the Recycle Bin, this application allows you to safely and permanently delete certain files and directories so that they cannot be recovered. You can download it from

• Step 2. Find the file you want to delete and right-click on it

  Find the file or directory that you want to delete. After that, right-click the icon to open a pop-up menu.

  Pay close attention to the pop-up menu that appears. The menu looks like the menu you normally see, but once the Eraser app is installed, you can see the Eraser sub-menu under the “Open with” option

  

  Step 3. Select “Erase” from the “Eraser” sub-menu

  Drag the mouse pointer over the “Eraser” option from the main menu until a new pop-up menu appears next to it. In the new menu, select “Erase” to permanently delete the selected file or directory.

  • The deletion process will take place immediately. When finished, a pop-up window will appear informing you that the deletion is complete and that the selected file has been safely and permanently deleted.
  • You can also click on the “Erase on Restart” option. In this option, the selected file will not be deleted immediately, but will be deleted after you restart the computer.

  Method 5 of 10: Using SDelete (for Windows)

  

  Step 1. Install the SDelete app

  SDelete is a command line tool created directly by Microsoft and can be downloaded for use through the Command Prompt program. You can download the tools from

  This tool is an alternative application for safe file deletion. As with Eraser, SDelete completely overwrites and rewrites existing file data so that the original file pattern cannot be recovered. While it does not delete the filenames present in the storage space, it does delete all the corresponding file data safely and permanently

  

  Step 2. Open the Command Prompt program

  From the “Start” menu, go to the “Run” option. Type “cmd” into the “Open” text field, then click the “OK” button or press Enter on your keyboard.

  

  Step 3. Look for SDelete

  At the Command Prompt, go to the SDelete storage directory using the “cd” command.

  • For example, if the device is installed in “C:\cmdtools”, type “C:\cmdtools” into the Command Prompt window. If the device is installed in “C:\downloads”, type in “C:\downloads”.
  • After typing in the exact location, press Enter key to enter the directory via Command Prompt.

  

  Step 4. Specify the file or directory that you want to delete

  Use SDelete by typing “sdelete”.

  • In this context, the term file or directory address/location refers to the Windows 'address' that needs to be followed in order for the file or directory to be accessed,
  • For example, you can type an address/location such as “<c:\Users\Public\Public Documents\securedata.txt” to access or reach a text file named “securedata.txt.” in the public documents directory.

  

  Step 5. Press Enter key

  Once you press Enter, SDelete will launch and start deleting the specified file or directory.

  Once done, you will get a confirmation on the Command Prompt telling you that the data has been permanently deleted. After that, you can close the Command Prompt window and the wipe is complete

  Method 6 of 10: Using Trash (for Mac)

  

  Step 1. Delete the desired files

  Find the file that you want to permanently delete from your computer. Left-click a file and press the Del key on your keyboard, or drag and drop the file on the Trash icon on the taskbar.

  

  Step 2. Click and hold the Trash icon

  After that, a pop-up options menu will be displayed. Usually, there are two options displayed, namely “Open” and “Empty Trash”.

  By default, the “Empty Trash” option will only delete the link or data address in the Trash. Although it can free up storage space on the disk, this option will not permanently delete data so data can still be recovered if you just use the regular “Empty Trash” option

  

  Step 3. Hold down Command key

  Press the Command key on your keyboard while leaving the Trash menu open. After that, you can see that the “Empty Trash” option changes to “Secure Empty Trash”.

  

  Step 4. Choose “Secure Empty Trash”

  One-click the option to delete all content in the Trash safely and permanently.

  • Note that this option only allows you to permanently delete all content in the Trash at once. You cannot delete one or two specific files, while others are left undeleted.
  • This feature is only available for Mac operating system version 10.3 and later.

  

  Step 5. Troubleshoot file deletion in Trash

  Some users are having problems deleting files and getting messages like, “This operation could not be completed because the item '(file name)' is locked”. In this case, try holding down the Option key and selecting “Empty Trash” from the “Finder” menu. If that doesn't work, something is interfering with the process of deleting files in the Trash.

  • Check if one or more files in the Trash are locked. For Mac OS X version 10.1 (or later), try pressing and holding the Shift+⌥ Option key combination while selecting “Empty Trash”. For users of Mac OS X versions 10.0 to 10.0.4, try right-clicking the file and selecting “Show Info”, then make sure the box next to “Locked” is unchecked. If the described solution doesn't work, try reading more information at
  • Check that you have permission to modify the files that were dumped/moved to the Trash. Otherwise, you may get a warning message indicating that you do not have permission or rights to delete the file. For Mac OS X version 10.2 (or later), select “Applications”, then click “Utilities” and open “Disk Utility”. After that, click the “Repair Disk Permissions” button. If that doesn't work (or you're using an older operating system), try reading the article at the following link for more information:

  Method 7 of 10: Using Permanent Eraser (for Mac)

  

  Step 1. Download the Permanent Eraser program

  Permanent Eraser is a secure erasing program available for the Mac operating system for free. This program can safely and permanently delete files, directories, and data from your computer, and can be used to empty the Trash or delete selected files. You can download it from

  This program performs a more secure deletion than the “Secure Empty Trash” option. In the previous option, the data was only overwritten and rewritten seven times. However, the Permanent Eraser program overwrites and rewrites the data 35 times, scrambles the original filenames, and trims the file size to near-empty before removing the entire file link from the system

  

  Step 2. Drag and drop files onto the Permanent Eraser icon

  Find the file or directory that you want to delete and make sure that the Permanent Eraser icon is displayed on the screen, either in the original installation directory, in the Dock, or in the Finder sidebar. Click the file, then drag and drop it onto the Permanent Eraser icon.

  • When you do this, the program will run and start deleting the file from the disk.
  • Place the Permanent Eraser icon in the Dock by searching for the program and dragging its icon to an available empty space in the Dock.
  • Place the Permanent Eraser icon on the Finder sidebar by dragging and dropping it onto an empty space on the sidebar.

  

  Step 3. Open the Permanent Eraser to empty the Trash of the contents in it

  Click the Permanent Eraser icon to run the program, either from the original installation directory, from the Dock, or from the sidebar. Once you are prompted to confirm your deletion options, all content in the Trash will be permanently deleted. This option will delete all content, not just a single file or directory.

  Method 8 of 10: Using Trash (for Linux)

  

  Step 1. Select the files you want to delete

  Find the file or directory you want to delete and single-click the file name or icon to select it. Keep in mind that while this option is available for Gnome or other Linux platforms, not all Linux platforms have this option.

  

  Step 2. Press the Ctrl. key combination + Del or Shift + Del.

  Press the Ctrl + Del key combination on your keyboard to delete the temporary files and move them to the Trash. In Trash, you can review or recheck files before deleting them permanently. Usually this option is the preferred choice.

  

  Step 3. Press the key combination Shift + Del on the keyboard if you want to delete files without first moving them to the Trash.

  Press and hold the Shift key first before pressing the Del key. You will be asked to confirm the deletion and, after confirming, the selected file or directory will not be moved to the Trash and will be permanently deleted from the computer immediately.

  

  Step 4. If necessary, right-click the Trash icon to empty it

  If you've deleted files and directories the usual way (via Trash), and they're still in the Trash for deletion, right-click the Trash icon in the sidebar and select “Empty Trash” from the pop-up menu that appears.

  This option will/will not delete files from the disk safely and permanently, depending on the Linux platform you are using. If the option can't delete the file safely and permanently, it will only remove the link or file address (not the file itself) and make the file inaccessible

  Method 9 of 10: Using the Shred Command (for Linux)

  

  Step 1. Open a Terminal window

  Press the Ctrl+Alt+T key combination on your keyboard to open a Terminal window. Alternatively, you can go to the " Applications " menu and select " Accessories ". In this directory, look for “Terminal” and double click on it to open it.

  Note that while Shred's features/tools are available for Ubuntu and most Linux platforms, some Linux-based platforms may not have or be able to run this feature

  

  Step 2. Run the shred command

  In the Terminal window, type the basic file destruction command, “shred [OPTIONS] filename”. In this command, the main command is marked with the word “shred”. Meanwhile, the code “[OPTIONS]” must be filled with the deletion options/settings you want to use.

  • -n [N]. This option allows you to overwrite and rewrite the “N” file multiple times. If you want to overwrite the file 15 times, type “-n 15”.
  • -u. This option instructs the feature to delete files after they are destroyed.
  • -z. This option instructs the feature to overwrite the file with only zero bits after the file is destroyed with zero (0) and one (1) bits. As a result, the file will look like it hasn't been shredded or destroyed.
  • For example, if you want to destroy a file named “secret.txt” 20 times, type “shred –u –z –b 20 secret.txt”.

  

  Step 3. Press Enter key and wait for the process to finish

  Press Enter key on the keyboard and let the feature run. Once the shredding process is complete, you'll get a confirmation in a Terminal window that the shred is complete and the file has been deleted.

  Method 10 of 10: Using Secure-Delete (for Linux)

  

  Step 1. Open Terminal

  Press Ctrl + alt=""Image" + T on your keyboard to open a Terminal window. Alternatively, go to the “Applications” menu and select “Accessories”. In that directory, find “Terminal” and double-click it to open it.

  It should be noted that while the Secure-Delete feature/tool pack is available for Ubuntu and some other versions of Linux, not all Linux platforms have or can run this feature

  

  Step 2. Install the Secure-Delete feature pack

  In the Terminal window, type “apt-get install secure-delete”. Press Enter to install the package. This feature pack consists of four different commands.

  • The command you need to permanently delete files from your computer is the “srm” or “secure remove” command.
  • Other options include “smem” (secure memory wiper) which can erase traces of data from computer memory, “sfill” (secure free space wiper) which removes traces of data from free space on disks, and “sswap” (secure swap wiper) which can remove traces of data from the replacement partition.

  

  Step 3. Run the Secure-Delete command

  To delete a file using this command, type “srm myfile.txt.” on the Terminal window. Replace “myfile.txt” with the name of the file you want to delete.

  

  Step 4. Type “srm –r myfiles/” and replace “myfiles/” with the name of the directory you want to delete

  This command will delete the entire directory, and not just certain files. As previously described, this feature pack includes several other options:

  • Type “smem” into the Terminal window.
  • Type “sfill mountpoint/” into the Terminal window.
  • Type “cat/proc/swaps” into the Terminal window.

  

  Step 5. Press Enter key and wait

  After you type the command, press Enter key. After that, the command will run and delete the specified file or directory safely and permanently.