Explanation :
There are about 15 subfolders in the node_modules directory. When going to perform any operation (deleted, moved or renamed) it popup below message.
Error message:
The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file
system. Try moving to a location which has a shorter path name, or try
renaming to shorter name(s) before attempting this operation.
Screenshot :
sub folder inside npm_modules directory.
node_modules\gulp-connect\node_modules\gulp-util\node_modules\dateformat\node_modules\meow\node_modules\normalize-package-data\node_modules\validate-npm-package-license\node_modules\spdx-expression-parse\node_modules\spdx-license-ids\spdx-license-ids.json
Tried so far:
I also tried to delete the folder (node_modules) using command prompt using command rmdir <dirname> /S but did not work as well.
There is a way to do this is that go into subfolder after subfolder, renaming each folder to something short like 'b'. Eventually the path is short enough to allow deletion. This will waste quite a bit of time.
Is there any efficient way to delete this node_modules directory?
Newest versions of npm fix this issue flattening the path: https://github.com/npm/npm/issues/3697.
Try
D:\vms\fe> robocopy d:\path\to\temp\dir node_modules /purge
to remove the nested dirs.
Update
As pointed by Coding Professor, another option is use rimraf util (which basically calls rm -rf):
> npm install -g rimraf
> rimraf node_modules
For the record, and because of the release of a newish open-source project released by Microsoft, you can easily delete paths that are too long using WinFile (which was introduced in WinXP).
Sometimes you have to go "Back to the Future". This can delete paths too long on Microsoft networks share as well.
WinFile (compiled for Win10) available here https://github.com/Microsoft/winfile
To find many paths that are too long and automate a fix, I recommend Path Too Long Auto Fixer - a free demo is available.
Upon trying to remove the node_modules directory created by npm install:
The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file
system. Try moving to a location which has a shorter path name, or try
renaming to shorter name(s) before attempting this operation
I also tried shift + delete and still having the same issue.
Since this the top google result, this is what worked for me:
Update, if you have npm v5, use npx:
npx rimraf ./**/node_modules
Otherwise install RimRaf:
npm install rimraf -g
And in the project folder delete the node_modules folder with:
rimraf node_modules
If you want to recursively delete:
rimraf .\**\node_modules
[ http://www.nikola-breznjak.com/blog/nodejs/how-to-delete-node_modules-folder-on-windows-machine/ ]
I've simply done that by using Winrar, this may seem a strange solution but working very well.
right click on node_modules folder
select Add to archive ... from the menu.
Winrar dialog opens
just check the option delete files after archiving
Don't forget to delete the node_modules.rar after finished.
[UPDATE]
This also works with 7Zip
DELETE only by using DOS command without any installation:
Create an empty folder "test" on C or D drive and use following DOS command
robocopy /MIR c:\test D:\UserData\FolderToDelete > NUL
After completing above command, your folder will be empty, now you can delete the folder.
Don't worry your test folder will always be empty, so you can delete it at any time.
I used GitBash to remove de folder!
rm -r node_modules
It took a while to delete everything, but worked for me!
You can use Git Bash to remove the folder:
example:
c:\users\olefrank\projects\mynodeproject
rm -rf /c/users/olefrank/projects/mynodeproject
Please save yourself the need to read most of these answers and just use npx rather than trying to install rimraf globally. You can run a single command and always have the most recent version with none of the issues seen here.
npx rimraf ./**/node_modules
Try Visual Studio Code
After trying many solution i find this one is pretty simple.
just open the project in Visual code and delete it. the UI may freeze for some seconds but it will definitely works.I test using many large size node_modules folder with it
Thanks
Delete Deep Netsted Folder like node_modules in Windows
Option 1
Delete using rimraf NPM package
Open command prompt and change your directory to the folder where
node_modules folder exists.
Run
rimraf node_modules
Missing rimraf ERROR then Install
npm install rimraf -g
When the installation completes, run
rimraf node_modules
Option 2:
Detele without installing anything
Create a folder with name test in any Drive
robocopy /MIR c:\test D:\UserData\FolderToDelete > NUL
delete the folder test and FolderToDelete as both are empty
Why this is an issue in windows?
One of the deep nested folder structure is node_modules, Windows can’t delete the folder as its name is too long. To solve this, Easy solution, install a node module RimRaf
I think this was not mentioned before. but the best way to delete unwanted node_modules is to install an utility called npmkill.
Installation:
From your terminal:
npm i -g npkill
And to use it:
From your terminal:
npkill
or alternatively, you can directly use it without installation by writing:
npx npkill
You will then be presented with a list of projects, and by hitting space bar you can delete their node_modules.
simple just run for windows I haven't tested it for other operating systems
rm -r node_modules
in fact, you can delete any folder with this.
like rm -r AnyFolderWhichIsNotDeletableFromShiftDeleteOrDelete.
just open the gitbash move to root of the folder and run this command
Hope this will help.
Thanks,
Ajay Kotnala
On Windows Platform the simplest way is to use the terminal.
Please Run the command RMDIR /Q/S foldername to delete the folder and all of its subfolders.
Example: RMDIR /Q/S node_modules
The Above Command deletes node_modules folder and its subfolders.
For information please visit this https://www.ghacks.net/2017/07/18/how-to-delete-large-folders-in-windows-super-fast/
You can use Git Bash to remove the folder:
example:
c:\users\stu\projects\mynodeproject
rm /c/users/stu/projects/mynodeproject -rfd
I had a similar problem and RD didn't work, for some unknown reason.
NPM can get rid of its own mess though, so if you do npm uninstall [module-name] for each directory in node_modules, you'll get rid of them.
(I'll look up how to batch loop this later, for those who have lots of dependencies.)
npm install -g remove-node-modules
cd to root and remove-node-modules
or remove-node-modules path/to/folder
Source:
https://github.com/j-quelly/node-cleanup
I just do del node_modules inside my project folder on PowerShell, it will ask you if you want to remove it and its children folder, just hit 'Y' and that's it
Just use powershell..
Run powershell and cd to the parent folder and then:
rm [yourfolder]
as in:
rm node_modules
Tried everything but didn't work. All the above methods did nothing. At last I was able to delete via VSCode.
Just Open your root folder with VSCode.
Select node_modules folder and delete.
Profit. (It will take few milliseconds to delete.)
On Windows, using Total Commander all you have to do is select the folder click shift + delete . Don't forget about the shift key.
Any file manager allow to avoid such issues, e.g Far Manager
I made a Windows context item to fast delete node_modules or other folders.
I use it when Windows doesn't delete a folder because of some invalid chars in the directory path.
HOW TO INSTALL?
Install rimraf => npm install rimraf -g
Create a new file named delete.bat, set the content as below and copy it into c:\windows\system32\
delete.bat:
#ECHO OFF
ECHO.
ECHO %CD%
ECHO.
ECHO Are you sure to delete the folder with Rimraf?
PAUSE
SET FOLDER=%CD%
CD /
rimraf "%FOLDER%"
rem DEL /F/Q/S "%FOLDER%" > NUL
rem RMDIR /Q/S "%FOLDER%"
EXIT
Run fast-delete.reg file to import into registry.
Done!
The PowerShell way:
PS > rm -r -force node_modules
# The same, but without using aliases
PS > Remove-Item -Recurse -Force node_modules
And if you want to delete every node_modules in sub directories:
Note Potentially dangerous as it deletes recursively, be sure of what you're doing here
PS > dir -Path . -Filter node_modules -recurse | foreach {echo $_.fullname; rm -r -Force $_.fullname}
I needed to clean up an entire Projects directory for backup purposes, so I installed rimraf and ran this at the root dir (inside a git bash prompt):
find . -name "node_modules" -type d -prune -exec rimraf '{}' +
Very effective, truly recursive (avoids children node_modules) and fast on windows (thanks to rimraf).
Sources:
https://rtmccormick.com/2018/01/10/clear-node-modules-folders-recursively-mac-linux/
The accepted answer in this question that suggests rimraf but lacks in the recursive aspect
One solution that I use:
(I would prefer to avoid installing a new extension (rimraf) when working with CI environments.)
A) Rename packages.json to something else. B) Specially on CI - after npm install, I usually remove the file instead of renaming it, but if you need it, you don't have to do this. That's your choice.
run npm init - this will create an empty packages.json file (no dependencies)
run npm prune - this will match node_modules with the dependencies section of packages.json - which is now empty as the result of step #2.
If you have chosen #1.A. step, delete the newly created packages.json, and rename original packages.json back to its original name.
Its too easy.
Just delete all folders inside node_modules and then delete actual node_module folder.
This Works for me. Best luck....
Sometimes, even if you install rimraf globally you can have a local rimraf dependency (SASS usually have it). In this case I would run following commands:
Follow first 2 steps as usagidon recommended, if you have issues or errors try
npm uninstall rimraf & rimraf node_modules
this will delete local rimraf and use the global one
On Windows my go to solution is using the rmdir command:
rd /S .\node_modules\
If it fails the first time -- try one more time.
Also check if you have running scripts currently using the modules (npm run serve or similar).
From this looks of this MSDN article, it looks like you can now bypass the MAX_PATH restriction in Windows 10 v1607 (AKA 'anniversary update') by changing a value in the registry - or via Group Policy
I'm on windows 10 and I could'nt delete folders with message "directory not emtpy". Neither rimraf nor rm -rf worked.
Copying an empty text file to every single folder did the trick - I was able to delete the complete node_modules folder.
Not exactly related, but as this is the first post I found in my search for a similar solution I think it's worth posting here.
I was running into permission issues on Windows 10 trying to delete my node_modules folder after a failed attempt at installing electron-redux. It seems electron-redux added #types to my node_modules, which had incorrect permissions set up.
rimraf did not work as it still ran into permission issues.
I ended up renaming node_modules then a simple delete worked.
Okay so my problem was that i had .bin folder inside node_modules and i wasn't able to delete that, I tried all the above solutions for the same but nothing worked.
Error which was repeating was "u do not have permission to delete the folder or its been used by some other program".
Solution that i found "I had Antivirus installed on my pc ,which was unknowingly using the files from node_modules folder".
I uninstalled the antivirus or u can change permission setting from antivirus setting option (depends on which antivirus u have).Now i am able to delete node_modules folder.
Have some problems with NSIS uninstall code.
RMDir /r "$SMPROGRAMS\${PRODUCT_NAME}"
In Windows 7 this code uninstall files from the folder, but don't uninstall the folder in Start Menu.
In Windows XP this code don't uninstall anything. It's just don't work.
Make sure that you aren't trying to RMDir the current working directory.
From the NSIS Documentation:
Note that the current working directory can not be deleted. The
current working directory is set by SetOutPath. For example, the
following example will not delete the directory.
SetOutPath $TEMP\dir
RMDir $TEMP\dir
Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\shortcut.lnk" -if u have any shortcut links
RMDir "$SMPROGRAMS\${PRODUCT_NAME} " -to remove the product entry from start menu
Delete all the sub entries like shortcuts first and then go for RMDir.