4 Ways to Delete Files Older Than a Certain Number of Days on Windows

Wish to delete the photographs you saved just a few days in the past? Or, maybe you need to take away the recordsdata you downloaded final week.

Regardless of the case could also be, we’ve bought you lined. On this article, we’ll discover alternative ways to delete recordsdata from a particular date, be it a day, per week, a month, or perhaps a 12 months in the past.

1. Use File Explorer

There’s no denying that File Explorer is likely one of the best file administration instruments for Windows. So, let’s try how this device can assist you delete particular recordsdata:

1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the folder containing your recordsdata. On this instance, we’ll navigate to the Downloads folder.
3. Sort datemodified: within the File Explorer search bar. This could show the “Search” tab within the top-left nook.
4. Scroll to the Search tab, click on the Date modified drop-down menu, after which choose your most popular possibility.

Lastly, choose the recordsdata you do not want after which press the Delete key.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to seek for your recordsdata utilizing a particular date. For instance, right here’s how to seek for recordsdata that had been modified on a sure day:

1. Navigate to the folder containing the recordsdata you need to delete.
2. Sort datemodified:28/08/2022 within the File Explorer search bar. Nonetheless, substitute “28/08/2022” together with your most popular date.

Lastly, choose and delete the recordsdata you don’t want.

To choose a date vary, observe these steps:

1. Open the folder containing the recordsdata you need to delete.
2. Sort datemodified:28/08/2022 .. 31/08/2022 within the File Explorer search bar, however substitute “28/08/2022 .. 31/08/2022” together with your most popular date vary.
3. Choose the related recordsdata and delete them.

To seek for your recordsdata based mostly on the date they had been created, observe these steps:

1. Navigate to the folder containing your recordsdata.
2. Sort datecreated:22/09/2022 within the File Explorer search bar, however substitute “22/09/2022” together with your most popular date.

To choose a date vary for the “date created” possibility, observe these steps:

1. Open the goal folder containing your recordsdata.
2. Sort datecreated:15/09/2022 .. 22/09/2022 and substitute “15/09/2022 .. 22/09/2022” together with your most popular date vary.
3. Choose the related recordsdata and delete them.

2. Use the Command Immediate

The Command Immediate is a strong device that you need to use for numerous functions. For instance, you need to use it to tweak the system settings or run numerous apps.

Apparently, the Command Immediate may also enable you take away recordsdata on Windows. So, let’s see how one can delete your outdated recordsdata utilizing this device:

1. Sort Command Immediate within the Begin menu search bar.
2. Proper-click on the Best match end result and choose Run as administrator.
3. Sort the next command:

ForFiles /p "C:Target_Folder" /s /d -Number_of_Days /c "cmd /c del @file"

Substitute the C:Target_Folder with the right folder path. From there, substitute the Number_of_Days command with the variety of days through which the recordsdata had been final modified.

Right here’s how you could find your folder path:

1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the folder containing the recordsdata you need to delete. On this instance, we’ll navigate to the Downloads folder.
3. Sort CMD in File Explorer’s handle bar and press Enter. This could open a Command Immediate window.
4. Choose the folder path displayed and press Ctrl + C to repeat it. On this instance, the folder path is C:UserstladiDownloads.

You now have your folder path.

So, now you can determine on the recordsdata you need to delete. For instance, let’s say you decide recordsdata that had been final modified 14 days in the past.

With all the main points you at present have, right here’s what your command ought to seem like:

ForFiles /p "C:UserstladiDownloads" /s /d -14 /c "cmd /c del @file"

After coming into all the main points in your command, press Enter to begin deleting your recordsdata.

3. Use the Process Scheduler

You may as well delete your recordsdata by utilizing the Process Scheduler. Listed below are the steps it’s good to observe:

1. Sort Process Scheduler within the Begin menu search bar and choose the Best match.
2. Proper-click on the Process Scheduler Library possibility within the top-left nook and choose New Folder.
3. Identify the folder as Delete Previous Information or one thing related.
4. Press OK to avoid wasting these modifications.

Proper-click on the Delete Previous Information folder and choose Create Process. This could take you to the “Common” tab on the “Create Process” window.

Specify the duty identify within the “Identify” field. For instance, you’ll be able to identify the duty as Delete Previous Information within the Downloads Folder.

From there, scroll down and choose the Run whether or not person is logged on or not possibility. Subsequent, click on the Configure for drop-down menu and choose the related possibility.

From there, scroll to the Triggers tab and press the New button on the backside. This could show the “New Set off” window.

Observe these steps when you’re on the “New Set off” window:

1. Click on the Start the duty drop-down menu and choose On a schedule.
2. Choose whether or not you need to run the duty as soon as, day by day, weekly, or month-to-month by selecting the related possibility within the top-left nook.
3. Press OK to avoid wasting these modifications. This could take you again to the “Triggers” tab.

Navigate to the Actions tab and press the New button on the backside. This could show the “New Motion” window.

Observe these steps once you’re on the “New Motion” window:

1. Sort ForFiles.exe within the Program/script field.
2. Sort the next command within the Add arguments field:

/p "%userprofilepercentTarget_Folder" /s /d -Number_of_Days /c "cmd /c del @file"

Substitute the Number_of_Days command with the variety of days through which the recordsdata had been final modified. For instance, you’ll be able to decide 21 if you need recordsdata that had been final modified three weeks in the past.

From there, substitute the Target_Folder command with the right folder path. For instance, in case your authentic folder path is C:UserstladiDownloads, then it’s best to substitute Target_Folder with UserstladiDownloads.

By now, you’ve gotten all the data you want. So, it’s best to have ForFiles.exe within the “Program/script” field and the next command within the “Add arguments” part:

/p "%userprofilepercentUserstladiDownloads" /s /d -21 /c "cmd /c del @file"

Press the OK button after coming into the main points.

Now, your recordsdata ought to be deleted routinely utilizing the duty you’ve created. To eliminate this process at a later stage, open the Process Scheduler and take away the Delete Previous Information folder.

4. Use the System Settings

Wish to routinely delete outdated recordsdata from the Recycle Bin or the Downloads folder? The system settings can assist.

Listed below are the steps it’s good to observe:

1. Sort Settings within the Begin menu search bar and choose the Best match.
2. Choose System from the choices.
3. Click on Storage on the left after which choose Configure Storage Sense or run it now on the right-hand facet.
4. Click on the Delete recordsdata in my Downloads folder in the event that they haven’t been opened for greater than drop-down menu.
5. Choose 1, 14, 30, or 60 days from the choices.

Subsequent, click on the Delete recordsdata in my Recycle Bin if they’ve been there for drop-down menu and configure the settings to your liking.

Lastly, shut the settings windows and restart your system to avoid wasting these modifications.

Delete Any File on Your Windows Machine, Problem-Free

Deleting recordsdata on Windows is kind of simple. However generally, you simply need to delete recordsdata utilizing a particular date vary.

So, if it’s good to delete recordsdata older than a sure variety of days, strive the options we’ve lined. And if these recordsdata refuse to depart your system, there are answers for that too.