How to delete locked folders/files? When I try to delete them an error occurs: "Error removing file: Permission denied" I am root. See the image below to know what kind of folders/files.
thanks
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Did you launch your file explorer as root?– HenryMar 23, 2015 at 20:18
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I am sorry, I have no idea what you are talking about, I'm new...– LeonardoMar 23, 2015 at 20:18
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Try going to the terminal at typing in "sudo nautilus", then press enter. Type your password when prompted, this will open the file explorer (nautilus) and give it root permissions– HenryMar 23, 2015 at 20:20
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Sorry, but if you're new, then are you sure you really need to delete these?– user300458Mar 23, 2015 at 20:24
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@ user300458 - yes, I am sure. @ Henry - I will try thanks– LeonardoMar 23, 2015 at 20:25
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5 Answers
Launch your file explorer as root using:
gksudo nautilus
This will open your file explorer, and grant it root, so it should be able to view/delete the directory/file.
If you are like me, and don't care about the warnings in this question you can use this instead:
sudo nautilus
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sudoworks as well, I never understood why people usedgksudo, it always caused my more trouble because I needed to install it, as it was not included with my system. And I find it more annoying to have to wait for the window to open, then type in my password, possibly blocking other open windows. I prefer if it just asked for my password in the terminal, it's quicker and less obstructive.– HenryMar 23, 2015 at 20:23 -
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Try the following: launch Terminal and enter
sudo rm -rf '/path/to/locked/folder'
And be VERY careful with the path to folder!
answered Mar 23, 2015 at 20:20
Steps:
- Open Terminal.
Run command:
sudo su- Command above would ask for your password.
Once the correct password is given, you would give following command.
chmod a+rwx folder/fileand go to home and just delete the folder/file.
Exit for root user type
exit.
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@Zanna:
sudo suworks on my system and I didn't change the root account or thesudoersconfiguration in a relevant way. But it's unnecessary because one could just runsudo chmod ...instead. Oct 25, 2016 at 10:02 -
@DavidFoerster I thought I had deleted that comment already! but yes indeed it's completely unnecessary– Zanna ♦Oct 25, 2016 at 10:03
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1This answer is basically the same as kos' but with less detail and worse practices. Oct 25, 2016 at 10:04
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The lock symbol means your user currently have no write permission on the file/folder. To change this:
- Check the current owner/group/permissions status by right clicking the file/folder, clicking
Propertiesand then switching to thePermissionstab. - Open a
Terminalby hitting Ctrl+Alt+t.- If you are the
Ownerof the file (i.e. theOwnerfield shows your username): add write permission to the owner by running this command:chmod u+w <path_to_file_folder> - If you are not the
Ownerof the file, but you are in theGroupgroup (i.e. theGroupfield shows your username or a name of a group to which you belong, e.g.sudo): add write permission to the group by running this command:sudo chmod g+w <path_to_file_folder> - If you are not the
Ownerof the file and you are not in theGroupgroup: add write permission to the others by running this command:sudo chmod o+w <path_to_file_folder>
- If you are the
- Run
exit
And then just delete the file/folder from Nautilus.
Alternatively:
- Open a
Terminalby hitting Ctrl+Alt+t.- Remove the file/folder as
rootby running this command:sudo rm -rf <path_to_file_folder>
- Remove the file/folder as
Here is something , that I found was easier to do instead of opening terminal. Right-Click the file and open properties. Then switch to the permissions tab. Then wherever it says Access: change it from whatever it is to Create And Delete Files. This should remove the lock and then you can delete the file normally.
