How to delete corrupted files windows 11？

Deleting corrupted files on Windows 11 can be a tricky task, but with the right tools and steps, you can safely remove or repair these files. Corrupted files can appear in many forms: system files, documents, or media files that suddenly stop working or fail to open. When these files cause issues, it’s important to know how to identify, repair, or delete them to maintain your system’s integrity and performance. 

Sudden system shutdowns or crashes.

Malware infections that modify or damage files.

Storage device failures (e.g., hard drives, USB drives, or SD cards).

File system errors or improper shutdowns.

Bad sectors or issues on your hard drive.

Corrupted files might not only fail to open but may also cause performance issues or errors during operation. In such cases, it’s necessary to delete or repair them. Let’s walk through the methods you can use to delete these corrupted files.

Method 1: Use File Explorer to Delete Corrupted Files

One of the simplest ways to delete corrupted files is to use File Explorer. However, this method is most effective when dealing with less severe types of corruption. Here’s how to delete corrupted files manually:

Navigate to the file location:

Open File Explorer and go to the folder where the corrupted file is located.

Try to delete the file:

Right-click the corrupted file and select Delete.

If the file deletes successfully, you’re done! If you encounter an error stating that the file cannot be deleted, proceed to the next step.

Force delete with Shift + Delete:

Sometimes, holding the Shift key and pressing Delete can bypass certain restrictions on file deletion. Try this method if the regular delete option doesn’t work.

Check for errors:

If you still can’t delete the file, the file might be in use or locked. You can check for this in Task Manager and close any processes that are using the file.

Method 2: Use Check Disk (CHKDSK) Utility

When corrupted files are the result of file system errors or bad sectors on your hard drive, the CHKDSK (Check Disk) utility can help. This tool scans your storage devices for errors and fixes them. Here’s how to use CHKDSK in Windows 11:

Open Command Prompt:

Press Windows + S to open the search bar.

Type cmd and select Run as administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt.

Run CHKDSK:

Type the following command in Command Prompt and press Enter:

bash

复制编辑

chkdsk C: /f /r

Replace C: with the drive letter where the corrupted files are located (e.g., D: or E:).

The /f flag tells CHKDSK to fix any errors, and the /r flag locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

Schedule CHKDSK:

If the drive is in use, you will be asked to schedule the check to run the next time you restart your computer. Type Y and press Enter to schedule the scan.

Restart your computer:

Restart your computer to allow CHKDSK to scan and fix any errors on the drive.

Delete corrupted files:

After CHKDSK completes, try to delete the corrupted files again. The file system errors that were preventing deletion should now be fixed.

Method 3: Use the System File Checker (SFC)

The System File Checker (SFC) is another tool built into Windows 11 that can help repair corrupted system files. While SFC is primarily used to fix system files, it can also help with issues caused by corrupted files in certain cases.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

Press Windows + S, type cmd, and right-click Command Prompt. Select Run as administrator.

Run the SFC tool:

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

bash

sfc /scannow

Wait for the scan to complete:

The system will scan for corrupted system files and attempt to repair them. This process may take some time, depending on the size of your system files.

Review the results:

After the scan completes, check the results. If SFC finds and repairs corrupted files, restart your computer and attempt to delete the corrupted files again.

Use DISM if SFC fails:

If SFC fails to fix the issue, you can try using the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM):

bash

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Method 4: Use Safe Mode to Delete Corrupted Files

If you’re still unable to delete corrupted files after trying the methods above, booting into Safe Mode can help. Safe Mode loads only essential system files, allowing you to delete files that may be in use during regular operation.

Enter Safe Mode:

Press Windows + I to open Settings.

Go to System > Recovery.

Under Advanced Startup, click Restart now.

When your computer restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Once your PC restarts again, select 4) Enable Safe Mode or 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Delete corrupted files:

Once in Safe Mode, navigate to the location of the corrupted file and try to delete it. Since Safe Mode doesn’t load unnecessary processes, you should be able to delete the file without any conflicts.

Method 5: Use Third-Party File Recovery or Deletion Software

Panda Assistant File Recovery is a powerful and intuitive tool designed to help users recover lost or deleted files from various storage devices. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted important documents, photos, videos, or even encountered data loss due to a system crash, Panda Assistant provides an easy-to-use solution to recover your files.

With its simple interface, Panda Assistant allows users to scan a variety of devices, including hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, and more. The software supports recovery from both FAT and NTFS file systems, ensuring compatibility with most types of storage devices.

Method 6: Manually Remove Files Using the Windows Registry

If you are dealing with corrupted system files that don’t appear in File Explorer, you can attempt to manually remove them by editing the Windows Registry. This method is for advanced users and should only be performed if you are familiar with registry editing.

Back up the registry:

Before making any changes, press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Go to File > Export, and save a backup of your registry.

Find the corrupted file entry:

In Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Locate any keys related to the corrupted files and delete them.

Reboot your system:

After deleting the registry entries, restart your computer to complete the process.

Method 7: Perform a System Restore

If the corrupted files are causing severe system instability, performing a System Restore might be the best option. This will revert your computer to a previous state before the file corruption occurred.

Open System Restore:

Press Windows + S, type Create a restore point, and select it from the results.

In the System Properties window, click the System Restore button.

Select a restore point:

Choose a restore point before the file corruption began.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process.

Delete corrupted files:

After your system is restored, try deleting the corrupted files again.