4 Ways to Delete Read-Only Documents

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4 Ways to Delete Read-Only Documents
4 Ways to Delete Read-Only Documents
Anonim

You may have found it difficult to delete a document from your PC or Mac because it is classified as Read Only. On Windows or Mac OS X, you can work around this problem by changing the document attributes.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Use the Properties Menu to remove the Read-only attribute

Delete Read Only Files Step 1
Delete Read Only Files Step 1

Step 1. Right-click on the document in Windows Explorer

Delete Read Only Files Step 2
Delete Read Only Files Step 2

Step 2. From the drop-down menu, choose "Properties"

Delete Read Only Files Step 3
Delete Read Only Files Step 3

Step 3. Uncheck the box next to the "Read Only" option in the "Properties" menu

  • If the box is checked or grayed out, it may be that the document is in use or that you are not authorized to edit it.
  • Close any programs that are using the document. If necessary, log in as an administrator to get permission to edit the document.

Step 4. Delete the document

Method 2 of 4: Use the Attrib command to disable the Read-only attribute

Delete Read Only Files Step 5
Delete Read Only Files Step 5

Step 1. Click Start and select Run

If you don't see the Run command, click All Programs> Accessories> Run.

Step 2. Remove the read-only attribute and set the System attribute

Type the following command:

  • attrib -r + s drive: \
  • Delete Read Only Files Step 6Bullet2
    Delete Read Only Files Step 6Bullet2

    For the test folder, for example, type attrib -r + s c: / test

Step 3. Delete the document

Method 3 of 4: Delete read-only files in Mac OS X using Finder

Step 1. Open Finder

Find the document you want to delete and click it to highlight it.

Step 2. Click the document at the top of the Finder menu, and select Get Info

Step 3. Select the "Privilege" option in the Sharing and Permissions section

Step 4. Click the box next to "Owner

Sets the document to the Read and Write state.

Step 5. Delete the document

Method 4 of 4: Delete read-only documents in Mac OS X using Terminal

Step 1. Select Applications> Utilities> Terminal

Step 2. Type cd

For example, if you want to change permissions for a document in a document folder, type cd Documents.

Step 3. Issue the command ls -I to display the contents of the directory in the long form

The permissions are shown in the leftmost column.

Step 4. Type chmod u + rwx "filename" to give read, write and execute permissions

Close Terminal.

Step 5. Find and delete the document

Advice

  • For Mac OS X, you can set document permissions for entire groups. "Read-only" documents can be edited and deleted by other users on your network if you give them access.
  • If you still can't delete a read-only document on a Windows computer, try using utilities like MoveOnBoot, Delete FXP Files, Delinv or Unlocker.

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