Deleting a file removes that file from the location where it is stored. If the storage location is your hard disk, the file is moved to the Recycle Bin. If the storage location is a disk, CD, or network location, the file is destroyed.

You cannot delete a file while someone has it open in any program. The file must be closed, and if it is a shared file, it must be checked in.

  1. Do the following in these Microsoft Office system programs:

    Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Access

    • Click the Microsoft Office Button button image, and then click Open.

      Keyboard shortcut To display the Open dialog box, press CTRL+O.

    InfoPath, OneNote, Outlook, Project, Publisher, SharePoint Designer, or Visio

    • On the File menu, click Open.

      Keyboard shortcut To display the Open dialog box, press CTRL+O.

  2. In the Look in list, click the folder or drive that contains the file that you want to delete.

    Note By default, the files that you see in the Open dialog box are only those files that are created by the program that you are using. For example, if you are using Microsoft Office Excel, you do not see files that are created by using Microsoft Office Word unless you click All Files in the Files of type box.

  3. In the folder list, locate and open the folder that contains the file that you want to delete.
  4. Right-click the file, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu .

    Note You can also select more than one file to be deleted at the same time.

    How do you select more than one file?

    Do one of the following:
    • To select nonadjacent files in the Open dialog box, click one file, hold down CTRL, and then click each additional file.
    • To select adjacent files in the Open dialog box, click the first file in the sequence, hold down SHIFT, and then click the last file.

      Tip If you select a file that you don't want, hold down CTRL, and then click the file again.

Note For more information about deleting and restoring files and folders, see the Microsoft Windows Help and Support Center, which you can access by clicking Help and Support on the Start menu.

See also: