Batch Script: Delete Folder if it exists

We can check whether a folder or directory is existing on our system with "IF EXIST <folder name>".

The deletion can be done with "RMDIR /S /Q <folder name>" (or also using RD or DEL alternatively).

In a batch script this can look like:

IF EXIST c:\folder RMDIR /S /Q c:\folder

If we do not want to repeat the path, for example because it is too long, we can also work with variables:

SET F="c:\folder"

IF EXIST %F% RMDIR /S /Q %F%

By the way, we are using the parameters /S and /Q here.

• The parameter /S (standing for sub directories) cares about that also all sub folders including all files will be deleted. 
• The parameter /Q (quiet) ensures that all will be deleted without any notification / question dialog.

If we omit the parameters, the opposite happens accordingly.
Last update on 2021-04-25 | Created on 2016-10-03