Batch script to delete specific folders

Question

I want to be able to run a script at a parent folder that contains other folders, the script will delete all the folders of a certain name.

So for example to remove all the bin folders and only them: \parent\a\bin, \parent\a\subfolder\bin, \parent\b\bin.

I found a similar script here, but it doesn't seem to work:

for /d /r %%i in (bin) do @rmdir /s %%i

We probably need to empty the bin folder first and then remove it, how can it be done?

Answer 1

The script will delete all the folders of a certain name

You don't need to empty the directory as the rd option /s will do that for you.

Use the following batch file:

@echo off
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
rem find directories called bin
for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`dir /b /s /a:d bin`) do (
  rem delete the directories and any files or subdirectories
  rd /s /q "%%i"
  )
endlocal

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Further Reading

• An A-Z Index of the Windows CMD command line - An excellent reference for all things Windows cmd line related.
• dir - Display a list of files and subfolders.
• for /f - Loop command against the results of another command.
• rd - Delete folder(s).