How To Fix: OSError: [WinError 145] The Directory is not Empty Python / Python Remove Folder With Content

"How to fix OSError: [WinError 145] The directory is not empty in Python / Python remove folder with content"

Directory errors in Python, such as OSError: [WinError 145], can be frustrating. This error occurs when trying to remove a non-empty directory.

This guide will show you how to handle this error and effectively remove directories and their contents using Python.

Whether you're managing dynamic directories or tidying up your file system, our solutions and code snippets will help you overcome this challenge.

Let's learn how to resolve the OSError [WinError 145] and ensure your directory operations run smoothly.

When I run this command below:

I get this error: 

The os.removedirs function removes directories recursively, but it will only remove empty directories.

If you encounter OSError: [WinError 145] The directory is not empty, it means there are still files or subdirectories within the directory you're trying to remove.

You must first remove all the files and subdirectories inside the target directory before attempting to remove it.

Here's a Python function that will remove all contents within the directory and then remove the directory itself:

import os
import shutil


# deleting the create folder with content in it
# os.removedirs(r'C:\Users\User\Desktop\variables_python\create')  # Removes directories recursively


def python_remove_folder_with_content(dir_path):
    if os.path.exists(dir_path):
        shutil.rmtree(dir_path)
        print(f"Removed directory: {dir_path}")
    else:
        print(f"Directory does not exist: {dir_path}")


# deleting/ removing the create folder with content in it
dir_path = r'C:\Users\User\Desktop\variables_python\create'
python_remove_folder_with_content(dir_path)

#Before removing the folder with content python:

#After removing the folder with content Python:

#Terminal OutPut:

Conclusion

Dealing with the OSError: [WinError 145] The directory is not empty, and an error can be a common hurdle when managing directories in Python.

However, you can effectively remove directories and their contents by using the shutil.rmtree function. This allows your scripts to run smoothly.

We hope this guide has provided practical solutions for handling directory removal in Python. Happy coding!

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