Web/API/FileSystemDirectoryEntry/removeRecursively

ObsoleteThis feature is obsolete. Although it may still work in some browsers, its use is discouraged since it could be removed at any time. Try to avoid using it.

This is an experimental technologyCheck the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The FileSystemDirectoryEntry interface's method removeRecursively() removes the directory as well as all of its content, hierarchically iterating over its entire subtree of descendant files and directories.

To remove a single file, or an empty directory, you can also use FileSystemEntry.remove().

Syntax

FileSystemDirectoryEntry.removeRecursively(successCallback[, errorCallback]);

Parameters

successCallback: A function to call once the directory removal process has completed. The callback has no parameters.
errorCallback Optional: A function to be called if an error occurs while attempting to remove the directory subtree. Receives a FileError describing the error which occurred as input.

Return value

undefined.

Errors

If an error occurs and an errorCallback was specified, it gets called with a single parameter: a FileError object describing the error. The FileError.code specifies what type of error occurred, as follows:

FileError.INVALID_MODIFICATION_ERR: An attempt was made to remove the root directory; this is not permitted.
FileError.NO_MODIFICATION_ALLOWED_ERR: The file system's state doesn't permit modification.
FileError.NOT_FOUND_ERR: The directory represented by the FileSystemDirectoryEntry no longer exists.
FileError.NOT_READABLE_ERR: The directory is not accessible; perhaps it's in use by another application or is locked at the operating system level.
FileError.SECURITY_ERR: The directory could not be removed for security reasons. Possible reasons include:

The directory and/or its contents may not be safe to access from a Web application. Too many file system calls are being made. Other security concerns as raised by the user agent or the operating system.

If you try to delete a directory which contains one or more files that can't be removed, or if an error occurs while deletion of a number of files is underway, some files may not be deleted. You should provide an errorCallback to watch for and handle this, perhaps by trying again.

Example

directory.removeRecursively(function() {
  /* The directory was removed successfully */
}, function() {
  /* an error occurred while removing the directory */
});

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`removeRecursively` Deprecated'Non-standard'	Chrome Full support 8	Edge Full support 79	Firefox No support 50 — 52 Notes' No support 50 — 52 Notes' Notes' While the `removeRecursively()` method existed, it immediately called the error callback with `NS_ERROR_DOM_SECURITY_ERR`.	IE No support No	Opera No support No	Safari No support No	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android No support 50 — 52 Notes' No support 50 — 52 Notes' Notes' While the `removeRecursively()` method existed, it immediately called the error callback with `NS_ERROR_DOM_SECURITY_ERR`.	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.': Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.': Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.