If you’re trying to delete or move a file or folder in Windows 10 or 11 and you receive the error message “Directory is not empty” with error code 0x80070091, you’re not alone. This error can occur for a variety of reasons, including incomplete file operations, permission issues, or corrupted files. Fortunately, there are several solutions you can use to fix the error and successfully delete or move your files or folders.

Solution 1: Use Command Prompt

One of the simplest and most effective ways to fix the “Directory is not empty” error in Windows 10 and 11 is to use Command Prompt. Here are the steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run box.

2. Type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

3. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /f X: (replace X with the drive letter where the problematic folder is located) and press Enter.

4. Type Y and press Enter to confirm the disk check operation.

5. Wait for the disk check to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of the drive and the number of files on it.

6. After the disk check has completed, close Command Prompt and try deleting or moving the problematic folder again.

Solution 2: Change Folder Permission

If you don’t have permission to access or modify the problematic folder, you may encounter the “Directory is not empty” error. To fix this issue, you can change the permission settings for the folder. Here’s how:

1. Right-click on the problematic folder and select Properties.

2. Click on the Security tab and then click on Edit.

3. Click Add and enter your user account name.

4. Click OK and then select your user account from the list.

5. Check the Full Control option to grant yourself full permission to the folder.

6. Click OK to save the changes and then try deleting or moving the folder again.

Solution 3: Use Third-Party Software

If the above methods fail to resolve the “Directory is not empty” error in Windows 10 and 11, you may want to use third-party software to fix the issue. One such software is Unlocker, which allows you to unlock and delete files and folders that are in use or locked by other processes.

Here’s how to use Unlocker to fix the error:

1. Download and install Unlocker from the official website.

2. Right-click on the problematic folder and select Unlocker.

3. In the Unlocker window, select the file or folder that is causing the error and click on Unlock.

4. Once the file or folder is unlocked, you should be able to delete or move it without encountering the “Directory is not empty” error.