How to delete folder with python?

Question

I want to delete a folder inside the Windows drive 'C'

but i get PermissionError

I used the 'os' module as usual but I do not know exactly how to solve the access problem

Code:

import os
os.remove("C:\\Users\name\AppData\Local\Temp")

Error:

line 2, in <module>
   os.remove("C:\\Users\name\AppData\Local\Temp")
PermissionError: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'C:\\Users\\name\\AppData\\Local\\Temp'

I think ```AppData``` is protected by windows. It is always ```hidden``` until you manually reveal it — , Aug 06 '21 at 15:52
Did you check this: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6996603/how-to-delete-a-file-or-folder — Sup, Aug 06 '21 at 15:52
Is the real path **exactly** as posted here? Cause you have: *"C:\\Users **\n** ame\AppData\Local\Temp"*. Double the backslashes (although in the exception text they are *OK*). What does *os.path.isdir* indicate for that folder? **Is the user *name* same user that runs the script**? — CristiFati, Aug 06 '21 at 16:07
So, after all, it is a *dupe* of https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6996603/how-to-delete-a-file-or-folder. Unfortunately, I can't mark the question again. — CristiFati, Aug 06 '21 at 18:56

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 06 '21 at 15:51

2

In order to delete a folder in Python you can use os.rmdir but only for empty directories

For non-empty ones you can use shutil.rmtree, see https://docs.python.org/3/library/shutil.html#shutil.rmtree

answered Aug 06 '21 at 15:51

Peter Burkert

461
4
13

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 06 '21 at 16:05

2

Use this:

import shutil
shutil.rmtree(folder_name)

This deletes the folder, even if it contains files.

answered Aug 06 '21 at 16:05

Despereaux

201
2
10

How to delete folder with python?

2 Answers2