Windows
Linux
File Management
PowerShell File Cmdlets
Windows PowerShell Remove-Item -Recurse -Force equivalent in Linux
Deletes a directory tree without prompting.
Windows
→
PowerShell Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
Linux equivalents
rm -rf directory
rm -rf directory
rm -rf directory
Overview
What this command does
Deletes a directory tree without prompting.
Migration tip: Check the distro-specific rows before copying; package names and service names can differ even when the tool name is similar.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Force-remove a folder tree
Deletes a directory tree without prompting.
rm -rf directory
Force-remove a folder tree
rm --help
Show command help when supported
man rm
Open the manual page when installed
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
rm -rf directory
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
# Windows equivalent: PowerShell Remove-Item -Recurse -Force
rm -rf directoryReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
rm -rf directory | Force-remove a folder tree |
rm --help | Show command help when supported |
man rm | Open the manual page when installed |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
The equivalent is shown for Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch. Some rows use a different package manager or helper tool where Linux distributions commonly diverge.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | rm -rf directory |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | rm -rf directory |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | rm -rf directory |
Same command on this distribution. |
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