Remove Empty Directories (aka RED)

A open source tool to batch delete empty folders.

What is it good for?

One might think that searching and deleting empty directories is a trivial thing, but once you have hundreds of them it get’s really exhausting. That’s the reason I made RED. It’s a small and simple tool that searches and deletes empty directories recursively below a given start folder. And before deleting anything it let’s you check all empty directories it found.

Features

  • Shows empty directories before deleting them
  • Supports multiple delete modes (including Delete to recycle bin)
  • Allows white and black listing of directories by using filter lists
  • Can detect directories with empty files as empty

Screenshots

Scan progress

Scan progress

Settings dialog

Settings dialog

Download latest beta version (2.3-beta.0)

Update – February 2021: Finally I had some time to work on RED again and there is a new release on the way.
Actually, it is already finished but it still needs some testing. So if you feel like it, you can already try it and optionally send me feedback.
Okay, cool! Show me the beta version.

Disclaimer: A lot of changes went into this release and it also includes new dependencies. I have tested it extensively but it still may contain bugs. Please test it first on smaller directories and maybe do a few spot tests with the results. Additionally, I’m happy for every positive or negative feedback regarding this new version :) Just send me an email at red@jonasjohn.de or if you have a Github account you can also add comments here.

Windows installer (Win32 + Win64) - Recommended

Needs Administrator rights during install but doesn't need them afterwards.

Release date: Feb 2021 / Size: 1.75 MB

Portable version for Windows 64 Bit / X64 systems (ZIP file, no installer)

Suitable for portable devices such as USB drives.

Release date: Feb 2021 / Size: 209 KB

Portable version for Windows 32 Bit / X86 systems (ZIP file, no installer)

Suitable for portable devices such as USB drives.

Release date: Feb 2021 / Size: 209 KB

Download latest stable version (2.2)

Windows installer (Normal edition) - Recommended

Works without Administrator rights but therefore can't clean some system directories.

Release date: Feb 2011 / Size: 395 KB

Windows installer (Admin edition)

This edition forces your system to start RED as Administrator everytime you start it if you didn't disable the UAC. (Provides the same functionality as normal edition)

Release date: Feb 2011 / Size: 395 KB

Portable (ZIP file, no installer)

Full featured version for portable devices such as USB drives.

Release date: Feb 2011 / Size: 78 KB

You can also have a look at the source code which is hosted at GitHub.

Found a bug? I created a new feedback page which holds more information on how to submit a bug or a idea.

Download older versions

You can still download old versions of RED, but it is not recommended.

Okay, I understand. Show me the older versions.

Version 2.1 - Windows installer

Release date: Apr 08, 2007 / Size: 667.8 KB / MD5: eb926e9ba5a8f8c182644f15272c2d22

Version 2.1 - Sourcecode (C# Visual Studio Project)

Release date: Apr 08, 2007 / Size: 274 KB

Version 2.0 - Windows Installer

Release date: Mar 26, 2007 / Size: 651 KB / MD5: c1a241ea672b709dd0ecd60ec3bfa060

Version 1.4 - Windows Installer with Sources

Experimental version / proof of concept written in PHP by using the Winbinder framework.

Release date: Dec 03, 2005 / Size: 647.46 KB / MD5: 6cae1721c1714b39ac17e9f7517a10a8

Version 1.4 - PHP sourcecode

Experimental version / proof of concept written in PHP by using the Winbinder framework.

Release date: Dec 03, 2005 / Size: 58.73 KB / MD5: 73cae224ed19da12ce9158b8f1d34814

System requirements

  • Windows XP, Vista or 7 and RED might also work with Windows 8 and Linux (by using Mono)
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 or later (the installer should check that)

License

RED is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Feel free to have a look into the sourcecode behind RED to fix it, fork it, extend it, learn from it, improve it, …

Feedback

Feedback is always appreciated. Please look at the RED feedback page where you will find the latest information on how to submit your feedback.

Support my work

You can support my work by making a small donation through Paypal or by using this link to download and try the new Brave Browser*. Brave is open source and built by a team of privacy focused, performance oriented pioneers of the web. It also includes a new way of supporting your favorite content creators or app developers ;) I use it myself and recommend it.
(* This is an affiliate link and I get $5 if you use Brave for at least one Month)

Related software

If RED is not what you wanted, you could try these freeware tools that basically do the same job.

Disclaimer: I’m not responsible for the software listed below.

Miscellaneous

There is also a PAD file for all software archive sites (what is that?).

Last update of this page: February 2, 2021

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