How to Delete a File in Python

If you want to delete a file in Python, the most common way is to use os.remove().

For beginners, the safest approach is:

store the file path in a variable
check whether the file exists
delete it only if it is really there

This helps you avoid common errors like FileNotFoundError.

Quick answer

import os

file_path = "notes.txt"

if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)
    print("File deleted")
else:
    print("File does not exist")

Use os.remove() to delete a file. Check that the path exists first to avoid a FileNotFoundError.

What this page helps you do

Delete a single file with Python
Use the correct function for files, not folders
Check whether a file exists before deleting it
Understand common errors you may see

Delete a file with `os.remove()`

To delete a file, import the os module and pass the file path to os.remove().

import os

os.remove("notes.txt")
print("File deleted")

What this code does

import os gives you access to file system tools
os.remove("notes.txt") deletes the file
"notes.txt" is the path to the file

You can use:

a simple file name like "notes.txt"
a relative path like "data/report.csv"
an absolute path like "/Users/name/Documents/notes.txt"

This removes the file from the file system.

If you are new to file paths, see working with file paths in Python.

Check if the file exists first

A beginner-friendly way to delete a file is to check for it first.

import os

file_path = "notes.txt"

if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)
    print("File deleted")
else:
    print("File does not exist")

Why this helps

It avoids FileNotFoundError
It makes your script easier to understand
It is useful when the file may or may not exist

If you want more detail, see how to check if a file exists in Python and the os.path.exists() function explained.

Use the right path

A wrong path is one of the most common reasons file deletion fails.

Relative path

A relative path starts from the folder your script is currently using.

import os

file_path = "notes.txt"
print(os.getcwd())  # shows the current working folder

if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)

Absolute path

An absolute path gives the full location of the file.

import os

file_path = "/home/user/project/notes.txt"

if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)

If you are not sure what path your code is using

Print the path before deleting:

file_path = "notes.txt"
print(file_path)

You can also print the current working folder:

import os
print(os.getcwd())

If your file path problems are causing errors, see how to understand file paths in Python and how to fix FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory.

Deleting with `pathlib`

You can also delete files with pathlib, which many beginners find easier to read.

from pathlib import Path

file_path = Path("notes.txt")

if file_path.exists():
    file_path.unlink()
    print("File deleted")
else:
    print("File does not exist")

Why use `pathlib`?

The code often reads more clearly
Path objects are convenient for file work
It works well when you do many path-related tasks in one script

Path.unlink() is for files, not directories.

Both styles are fine:

os.remove(path)
Path(path).unlink()

Choose one style and stay consistent in your script.

Common errors when deleting files

Here are the main errors you may see.

`FileNotFoundError`

This usually means:

the path is wrong
the file was already deleted
your script is running in a different folder than you expected

Example:

import os

os.remove("missing_file.txt")

Possible fix:

import os

file_path = "missing_file.txt"

if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)
else:
    print("File does not exist")

For a full fix guide, see FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory.

`PermissionError`

This means your program does not have permission to delete the file.

Example:

import os

os.remove("protected_file.txt")

This can happen if:

the file belongs to another user
the file is protected by the operating system
another program is locking the file

See how to fix PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied.

`IsADirectoryError`

This happens when you try to delete a folder with a file function.

import os

os.remove("my_folder")

os.remove() is for files only.

See how to fix IsADirectoryError: [Errno 21] Is a directory if that happens.

`OSError`

This is a broader file system error. It can happen for different system-level reasons.

A simple way to handle deletion errors is to use try and except:

import os

file_path = "notes.txt"

try:
    os.remove(file_path)
    print("File deleted")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File does not exist")
except PermissionError:
    print("You do not have permission to delete this file")
except OSError as error:
    print("A file system error happened:", error)

Simple safety tips

When deleting files, a few small checks can prevent bigger mistakes.

Print the file path before deleting important files
Test your code with a sample file first
Do not delete files directly from unchecked user input
Use try-except if your script should keep running after an error

Example:

import os

file_path = "test_file.txt"
print("About to delete:", file_path)

try:
    if os.path.isfile(file_path):
        os.remove(file_path)
        print("File deleted")
    else:
        print("That path is not a file")
except PermissionError:
    print("Permission denied")

Common mistakes

These are common causes of problems when deleting files:

Using the wrong file path
Trying to delete a folder instead of a file
Deleting a file that does not exist
Not having permission to delete the file
Confusing relative paths with absolute paths

Useful debugging checks:

print(file_path)

import os
print(os.getcwd())

import os
print(os.path.exists(file_path))

import os
print(os.path.isfile(file_path))

import os
print(os.listdir())

These commands help you answer basic questions:

What path is my code using?
Which folder is my script running in?
Does the path exist?
Is it really a file?
What files are in the current folder?

FAQ

What is the easiest way to delete a file in Python?

Use os.remove(path). For a safer beginner approach, check os.path.exists(path) first.

How do I delete a file only if it exists?

Use an if statement with os.path.exists(path), then call os.remove(path).

import os

file_path = "notes.txt"

if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)

Can `os.remove()` delete a folder?

No. It is for files. Folders need a different function. If you need to create folders, see how to create a directory in Python.

Why do I get `FileNotFoundError` when deleting a file?

Usually:

the file path is wrong
the file was already deleted
your script is running in a different folder than you expect

Should I use `os.remove()` or `pathlib`?

Both work.

os.remove() is common and simple
pathlib.Path.unlink() is also clear and beginner-friendly