“Could not find this item” error occurs when you try to access a certain file to delete, rename or open it. In order to locate a file and view it on your system, you must require having a clear access to it. Sometimes, this type of error occurs and users feel like can’t do anything with the file.
It could be possible that the file is created by third party service and the problem occurs because there is the extension of the file is not properly defined. However, there are other factors also possible causing the issue. Follow the guide for the fix for could not find this item when deleting in windows, as many users are looking for this option.
Fixes for could not find this item when deleting in windows
Very first, you should require pressing F 5 key to refresh the screen and check the then if the file or folder really exists. It might have been deleted by some programs and only the ghost icon appears. If the file or folder appears even after the refresh, here are the methods you should apply to delete the file or folder:
Fix 1: Delete the file from Command Prompt
You should use the below command to delete the problematic file or folder. You might need to delete it as it is linked with the software you uninstalled sometimes before, especially when it is taking up a lot of space on your disk:
- Simply search for Command Prompt on Start menu,
- Right-click on Command Prompt on result page and select then the Run as Administrator,
- Type the below command in the command line and hit Enter:
rd /s \\?\X:\bad\folder\path
(Here X is a placeholder letter here. You should input the letter corresponding to the driver’s letter where it is located. Also, make sure you use correct path to the file including its name)
- You receive message operation completely successfully. If not, move to our next solution.
Fix 2: Rename the file or folder by tweaking command prompt
You should rename the problematic file with the below commands to some non-problematic name and see if this is working:
- Press Win +R, type in cmd and hit Enter,
- Type cd followed by the file path in the format like C:\Folder 1\Folder 2\ Folder 3. Here, in the last folder, you should mention the folder where the problematic file is located:
cd C:\Folder1\Folder2\Folder3
- Enter the below commands next to this (and do not forget to hit Enter after each time):
DIR /A /X /P
RENAME (the current name of the problematic file) (a non-problematic name)
EXIT
(Here, you should separate the current file and new name with space).
Fix 3: Files without extension
If the problematic file does not have any viable extension, you should use this method. This is the situation that indicates that the Windows can’t know what to do with file and so it displays the above message. The problematic file is usually created by browser plug-ins and here is how you can delete it:
- Navigate to the file’s location like the way we described above,
- Now, use the below command to delete the problematic file with the problematic extension or lack of it:
del *.*
- Open File Explorer and check if the file is gone.
Fix 4: Archive the file
If could not find this item when deleting in windows problem continues, you should opt for this option. This is actually a workaround but works more than that as it helps you get the job done. That’s being said, this method is perfect for those who want to control the graphical environment using mouse instead of command prompt. Here is what you have to do:
- You need a program named WinRAR for the operation,
- Then, after the download, navigate to the problematic file or folder on your computer, right-click on it and choose Add to Archive,
- In the Archive options, locate Delete files after archiving and click on it,
- Then click Ok to start the archiving process,
- When done, see if the problem remains,
- Delete the archive you created as well, by right-click on it and selecting Delete option.
Conclusion
That’s all! We have provided all possible fixes for could not find this item when deleting in windows. If none of the methods works, you should look for automatic option and use PC Repair Tool to check for possible Windows related issues for their automatic fix.
