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How to Delete Files and Images on a Chromebook

Dinsan

To delete a file on a Chromebook, open the Files app, right-click the file, and choose Delete, or press Alt + Backspace. If Delete is greyed out, you are looking at the Images, Audio, or Videos view, which is read-only. Open the file’s real folder, such as Downloads, to delete it there.

Before you start

  • Applies to: All Chromebooks, using the built-in Files app.
  • You need: Nothing extra.

How do I delete a file or image on a Chromebook?

  1. Open the Files app from the launcher.
  2. Browse to the folder that holds the file, such as Downloads.
  3. Right-click the file and choose Delete, or select it and press Alt + Backspace.
Keyboard shortcut to delete files on Chromebook

Why is the Delete option greyed out?

The Files app has Images, Audio, and Videos sections that gather that type of file from every folder on your Chromebook. These are views, not real folders, so Delete and Rename are disabled there. Your files live in places like Downloads or Play files, and the section just shows them in one list.

Delete is greyed out in the Images view

How do I delete a read-only image or video?

  1. Double-click the file to open it, or check its details to see where it is saved.
  2. In the Files app, open that source folder, for example Downloads or Play files.
  3. Right-click the file there and choose Delete, or press Alt + Backspace.

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t I delete files from the Images section?

That section is a read-only view that collects images from all folders. Open the folder where the file is actually stored to delete it.

How do I delete several files at once?

Hold Ctrl and click each file, or press Ctrl + A to select everything in the folder, then press Alt + Backspace.

Where do deleted files go on a Chromebook?

On recent ChromeOS versions, deleted files move to a Trash folder in the Files app, where you can restore them for a limited time. Empty the Trash to remove them for good.

Related guides

Deleting files on a Chromebook is quick once you know the Images, Audio, and Videos sections are read-only views. Head to the real folder, and Delete or Alt + Backspace does the job.

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Dinsan

Founder & Editor

Dinsan Francis is the founder of Chrome Story, which he started in 2009 — the same year Google launched Chrome. He has covered the Chrome browser and Chromebook ecosystem for over 15 years and has used Chromebooks as his primary computing device since 2010. He’s always on the bleeding edge, running the Canary build of both Chrome and ChromeOS as daily drivers.

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Comments

15 responses to “How to Delete Files and Images on a Chromebook”

  1. Jacob van Gunst Avatar
    Jacob van Gunst

    Thanks for your explanation how the “Recent” folder works in Chromook. However, i still have a question: How can I locate the folder where the files are really stored?

    Reply
      1. David F Parsons Avatar
        David F Parsons

        I find this subject fascinating.

        However, perhaps this is a way of deleting image files, as:

        A:
        B:
        C:
        D:
        etc.:

        No explanation necessary, just the specific actions to take to remove the files from the Images short cut, link, whatever.

        Thanks!

      2. Daniel Pierson Avatar
        Daniel Pierson

        Use CX FIle Explorer and select “Libraries” in the middle.

        Voila.

        Is this a Chromebook app that comes with the machine, or is it something you have to download to fix a Chromebook problem?

        I don’t know.

  2. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    I made some “snips” using the snip-it app (nowhere near as good as the one on my surface but don’t start ne!) I now have a TON of snipped images that I cannot delete and there is NO sign of them in downloads or anywhere else- please can you help?!

    Reply
    1. Dinsan Francis Avatar
      Dinsan Francis

      Hi Beth,

      Are you using an Android app? You might want to try the Play Files folder. Click the three-dots icon and select “show hidden files”. Check if your snip-it app has a folder there.

      Reply
  4. DENISE B SPEICHER Avatar
    DENISE B SPEICHER

    I appreciate your video and advice.
    I get a “decoding failed” image when I click on a red icon next to photos in my recent or images files.
    Thank you for any advice you can give me!

    Reply
  5. ryan woodward Avatar
    ryan woodward

    i flowed the guide and tried to delete the photos but it says file cant be changed

    Reply
  6. Joshua hooper Avatar
    Joshua hooper

    It does not work at all, I am a tech nerd and I will be moving to windows as soon as possible because chromebook is not good anymore.

    Reply
  7. someone Avatar
    someone

    Hellooooo (PLEASE READ THIS IS HELPFUL)

    If you hover your cursor on the bottom of your screen where you find what the time is, there’ll be 3 circles next to the time, click on the one furthest to the left, it should be the ‘Pinned Files’ app. Open it, then go to images, then you can find the find app location button.

    If this doesn’t work try updating your Chromebook.

    Hope I can be of help 😀

    Reply
  8. lucas Avatar
    lucas

    i tried to delete a file that was read only but when i went to the original file it still wouldnt let me delete

    Reply
  9. kat Avatar
    kat

    why cant they just make it delete it right from there, Evan if you go to the location of the file some of them you still cant delete! and i am getting mad about it you people need to think stuff through

    Reply
  11. Claire Avatar
    Claire

    I can’t get file explorer to display where the folders are, I can’t delete in multiples, I heavily regret buying a chromebook and am saving for a real laptop. Total waste of money.

    Reply

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