How to delete files from usb flash drive?​

USB flash drives are versatile and portable storage devices used to transfer, store, and back up data. Whether you’re cleaning up old files, managing space, or erasing sensitive information, knowing how to delete files from a USB flash drive efficiently is essential.

The process of deleting files from a USB drive may seem straightforward, but depending on the operating system (OS), device settings, and file types, it can vary. 

1. USB Flash Drives

What is a USB Flash Drive?

A USB flash drive (also known as a thumb drive or pen drive) is a portable storage device that uses flash memory to store data. USB flash drives are used for various purposes, such as transferring files between computers, backing up data, and storing media files like photos, videos, and documents.

Why Delete Files from a USB Drive?

Deleting files from a USB drive is often necessary to:

Free up space: As USB drives fill up with data, you may need to delete files to make room for new ones.

Organize data: If your USB drive is cluttered with old or unnecessary files, deleting them can help keep the drive organized.

Remove sensitive information: When you no longer need certain files, especially confidential ones, deleting them prevents unauthorized access.

Fix errors or corruption: In some cases, deleting problematic files can resolve performance issues with the drive.

2. Method 1: Deleting Files on Windows

Basic Deletion

The simplest way to delete files from your USB flash drive on Windows is to use File Explorer.

Connect the USB Drive: Plug your USB flash drive into a USB port on your Windows computer.

Open File Explorer: Press Windows + E or click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar.

Locate Your USB Drive: In the left sidebar, find your USB drive under the “This PC” section.

Select Files to Delete: Navigate to the files or folders you want to delete. You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on each file.

Delete Files: Right-click the selected files and choose “Delete,” or press the Delete key on your keyboard.

The files will be moved to the Recycle Bin, and you can empty the Recycle Bin to free up space.

Using File Explorer

If you need to delete files directly from File Explorer, follow these steps:

Select Files or Folders: In File Explorer, click on the file or folder you want to delete.

Right-Click: Right-click on the file or folder, and select “Delete” from the context menu.

Confirm Deletion: If prompted, confirm that you want to delete the selected files.

Deleting Files Using Command Prompt

For advanced users, deleting files via the Command Prompt can be useful, especially for bulk deletions or if File Explorer encounters issues.

Open Command Prompt: Type cmd in the search box and press Enter.

Navigate to the USB Drive: Type cd : (e.g., cd E:) to switch to your USB drive.

Delete Files: Use the del command followed by the file name, such as del filename.ext.

Deleting Using Disk Cleanup

Sometimes, space on a USB drive is taken up by unnecessary system files or cached data. Disk Cleanup can help.

Open Disk Cleanup: Type “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar and open the application.

Select Your USB Drive: Choose your USB drive from the list of drives.

Clean Up Files: Check the boxes for types of files you want to delete, including temporary files and system files.

Click OK: Confirm your selections and click “OK” to clean the drive.

3. Method 2: Deleting Files on macOS

Basic Deletion Using Finder

On a Mac, deleting files from a USB flash drive is as easy as using Finder:

Insert the USB Drive: Plug your USB drive into a USB port on your Mac.

Open Finder: Click on the Finder icon in the dock.

Locate the USB Drive: In the Finder sidebar, locate the USB drive under the “Devices” section.

Select Files to Delete: Click on the files or folders you want to delete. You can select multiple items by holding down the Command key while clicking.

Move to Trash: Drag the selected items to the Trash, or right-click and choose “Move to Trash.”

Empty Trash: To permanently delete the files, right-click the Trash icon and select “Empty Trash.”

Using Terminal for Deletion

For more control, you can delete files using Terminal:

Open Terminal: Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

Navigate to the USB Drive: Type cd /Volumes/USBNAME to change the directory to your USB drive.

Delete Files: Use the rm command to remove files. For example: rm filename.ext will delete the file.

Secure Deletion: For secure deletion, use the srm command, which securely erases files by overwriting them.

Secure Erasing Files

If you want to securely erase files (so they can’t be recovered), macOS offers a built-in feature, though it has been removed from newer versions (macOS Mojave and beyond). For older versions:

Use Finder: Right-click the file you want to delete and select “Secure Empty Trash.”

Alternatively, use third-party applications like Permanent Eraser for secure deletion on newer macOS versions.

4. Method 3: Deleting Files on Linux

Using File Manager

On Linux, you can delete files from a USB flash drive using the file manager.

Insert the USB Drive: Plug your USB drive into your Linux computer.

Open File Manager: Open your file manager (e.g., Nautilus, Dolphin, or Thunar).

Locate the USB Drive: In the file manager’s sidebar, find your USB drive and open it.

Select Files to Delete: Right-click on the files or folders you want to delete.

Delete the Files: Choose “Move to Trash” or “Delete” from the context menu. To permanently delete, empty the Trash.

Using Terminal for Deletion

You can also delete files from the command line:

Open Terminal: Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the terminal.

Navigate to the USB Drive: Use the cd command to change to your USB directory.

Delete Files: Use the rm command followed by the file name to delete files, like this: rm filename.ext.

5. Method 4: Deleting Files Using Third-Party Tools

Using File Shredder Software

File shredder tools provide an additional layer of security by overwriting deleted files with random data, making them virtually unrecoverable. Some popular tools include:

Eraser (Windows): A free, open-source tool that overwrites files to ensure permanent deletion.

Permanent Eraser (Mac): A secure deletion tool for macOS that uses the Gutmann method to overwrite files.

Shred (Linux): A command-line tool in Linux for securely erasing files.

Using Data Wiping Tools

For complete wiping of USB drives, you can use specialized software like DBAN (Darik’s Boot and Nuke), which can securely erase all data on a USB drive or hard drive, ensuring it’s unrecoverable.