CMS won't let deleting empty folder

1

Hi guys,
i have a folder on my CMS 3.3.11 which is empty but it does not allow me to delete it by saying folder not being empty. Yes, folder says there are two items in “Library” but there isn’t anything.

BTW,
I am trying to delete the folder as system administrator and yet, it won’t let me delete the folder.

2

Hi guys,

is there any solution for this?

I have empty folders and yet i cannot delete them.

3

Hi Gyro, I’m sorry your issue has not been replied to in so long.

Can you go to the Folders page in your CMS and select that folder, then make sure that there are no items being listed as being in that folder?

4

Hi Dan,

thanks for the response!

Yes, the folder does say there is content which is impossible to find and delete.

Two items are supposed be in library and shared with administrator (whatever it means), and yet, i see nothing in there

Screenshot 2025-11-13 at 15.00.23
Screenshot 2025-11-13 at 15.00.231864×574 24.4 KB

5

Ah, interesting.

Can you go to the Media page in your CMS and select that folder in the tree on the left of the page, so I can see that nothing is being shown there? For example, you can see in my screenshot I have selected the B folder (green arrow):

image
image1534×817 115 KB

Please also make sure to click the Clear Filters button (yellow arrow), so we can be sure there are no filters stopping us from seeing those 2 items?

Finally, if nothing appears there, please set the Retired filter to Yes (purple arrow) just in case the items have been retired

6

Hi Dan,

thanks for the response.

I am using Version 3.3.11

I have no “Clear filters” options visible (i am full administrator) and there are no filters set.

Nothing under “Retired”.

7

Thanks for the update. Can you share with me a screenshot showing that nothing appears on the Media page when that folder is selected?

8

Hi Dan,

thanks for the response.

Here it is.

delete
delete3334×998 167 KB

9

Retired = Yes

will give the same result.

10

Thank you for sharing the screenshot.

When you were using this folder, did you use the replace functionality to upload new files? I ask because I wonder if there is a revision still listed against this folder that is not removed.

If you do use replace, but you are happy to clear the old revisions, you could try a tidy library and see if that clears the remaining files. It is up to you whether to try this, it cannot be undone once you run it, so please consider how this may affect media files that you do wish to keep before you decide to do this

If you do decide to try this, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Settings page in your CMS.
  2. Now click the General tab and locate the option named Enable Tidy Library which is highlighted in this screenshot:
    image
    image1738×904 35.8 KB
  3. Save that option and refresh the page. You should now see the red Tidy Library button in the top right of the page (you can see it iun the above screenshot).
  4. Click on that Tidy Library button. Do not use the Tidy Library button on the media page, that is a different Tidy button!
  5. Tick the Remove Old Revisions box and save to run that option. Be sure before you do this as it is irreversible.

If you did clear the old revisions, did that clear the hidden files in your Delete folder?

11

Many thanks Dan!

The “Tidy library” button did the trick :):grinning_face:

1 Like
12

Excellent news! I’m glad that sorted this for you!