Deleting files is a common task in automation, scripting, and file management systems. Python makes it easy to delete files and folders using the built-in os and pathlib modules.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn:

• How to delete a file using Python

• How to check if a file exists before deleting it

• How to delete folders

• The difference between os and pathlib

• A complete working example

• Tips and common pitfalls

Modules You Need

To delete files in Python, you typically use either:

• os module – the traditional way

• pathlib module – modern and object-oriented

import os
from pathlib import Path

Delete File Using os.remove()

import os

file_path = "sample.txt"

if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)
    print("File deleted successfully.")
else:
    print("File not found.")

✅ Good Practice:

Always check if the file exists using os.path.exists() before attempting to delete it. This prevents errors.

Delete File Using pathlib.Path.unlink()

The pathlib module offers a more Pythonic approach:

from pathlib import Path

file = Path("sample.txt")

if file.exists():
    file.unlink()
    print("File deleted successfully.")
else:
    print("File not found.")

Deleting Folders (Use with Care!)

Delete Empty Folder with os.rmdir()

os.rmdir("empty_folder")

Delete Folder with Contents Using shutil.rmtree()

import shutil

shutil.rmtree("my_folder")

⚠️ Use shutil.rmtree() with caution — it deletes everything inside the folder.

Preventing Errors with Try-Except

Always wrap file deletion in a try-except block to handle errors gracefully.

try:
    os.remove("important.txt")
    print("File deleted.")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File not found.")
except PermissionError:
    print("Permission denied.")

✅ Complete Working Example

import os

def delete_file(filename):
    if os.path.exists(filename):
        try:
            os.remove(filename)
            print(f"{filename} deleted successfully.")
        except PermissionError:
            print(f"Permission denied to delete {filename}.")
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Error: {e}")
    else:
        print(f"{filename} does not exist.")

# Test the function
delete_file("testfile.txt")

⚠️ Common Pitfalls

Tips for Safe File Deletion

• ✅ Use os.path.exists() or Path.exists() to check before deletion

• ✅ Use try-except blocks to catch and handle errors

• ✅ Log deleted files to a file or console

• ✅ Use soft-delete (move files to a "trash" folder) for safety

• ✅ Never delete user files automatically without confirmation

Summary Table

Final Thoughts

Python provides powerful tools to manage files, including deleting them. Whether you’re cleaning up logs, automating workflows, or building a file manager, learning how to safely delete files is essential. Just remember to always check file existence, handle exceptions, and use caution when deleting folders or important files.