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I know how to delete a single sub folder or multiple ones by mask:

rmdir /s /q C:\Somedir\DirToDelete

or

rmdir /s /q C:\Somedir\DirsToDelete*

But I want to delete all sub folders, say, with name DeleteMe, from all sub folders within C:\Somedir.

Ideas?

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3 Answers 3

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First you want to list all the directories you want to remove. Then use that to delete them all. Here's a quick and dirty example using what you put in there.

for /f "usebackq" %%a in (`"dir C:\Somedir /ad/b/s DirsToDelete"`) do rmdir "%%a"

Please test this out before you kick it off for your environment. I usually would replace the rmdir with echo to make sure it works.

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    rmdir will only remove empty directories so in some cases rmdir /s /q "%%a" might be more appropriate.
    – Steve Chambers
    May 23, 2018 at 12:38
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    %%a is for Batch file, use %a for a command-line. For me, the working solution is (including support for space in directory name): for /f "usebackq delims=^=^" %a in (`"dir DirsToDelete /ad/b/s"`) do rmdir /s /q "%a"
    – Matt Roy
    Feb 7, 2019 at 16:18
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Another way is (only PowerShell)

 Remove-Item -path e:\path\*\path\*\* -Filter *DeleteMe* -WhatIf

Remove all DeleteMe dirs recursive in last "asterisk" path.

-WhatIf = only show which dirs will remove, no do it - nice for check before destroy other data:)

UPDATE 1 After some labor... this update is better... line before can delete only empty folders. This can delete folder with content:

get-childitem -path E:\path\*\path\*\* -recurse -filter *DeleteMe* | remove-item -whatif -force -recurse
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    I'm pretty sure the OP wanted cmd/batch compatible commands... You should at least mention that this is PowerShell.
    – Chris S
    Jan 6, 2014 at 19:39
  • True, notice added
    – Pavel
    Jan 6, 2014 at 19:47
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    +1, and the OP should mention he wanted to use a batch script, as Powershell definitely counts as Windows command line nowadays.
    – MDMoore313
    Jan 6, 2014 at 20:00
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    I had to add '-recurse' in order to get this to work like so: get-childitem <strong> -recurse </strong>` -path C:\dev* -filter target | remove-item -whatif -force -recurse`
    – Darrin
    Feb 16, 2017 at 15:26
  • +1 I like the way it doesn't have double quotes so I can put the folder name in double quotes for folders with spaces in the name, also the fact that I could remove (for example) cover and covers folders with cover* is nice.
    – iѕєρєня
    Apr 15, 2022 at 20:11
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  1. Create a bat file, update and paste below code

FOR /d /r . %%d IN ("Your folder name to be deleted") DO @IF EXIST "%%d" rd /s /q "%%d"

  1. Copy this bat file to your parent folder (could be C: or D: too)
  2. Run it
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