How do I delete files safely with SizeTrend?

Prefer the Recycle Bin when practical

Select the files or folders, open Scan | Delete / Recycle, and choose Move selected to Recycle Bin. Pressing Del invokes the same command. Windows performs the shell operation, so ordinary Recycle Bin rules and limitations apply.

Read the confirmation paths before continuing. SizeTrend shows the selected locations and compacts very long paths without hiding which drive or folder is affected.

Shift+Del is permanent

Permanently delete selected, or Shift+Del, does not create a recoverable Recycle Bin copy. SizeTrend builds the deletion plan from the scanned tree, asks for confirmation, and reports a result after the worker finishes.

Use it only when the selected data is understood and backed up if necessary. A large allocated size is not evidence that a file is safe to remove.

Empty a folder without deleting the folder itself

1. Select one ordinary folder in the scanned tree.
2. Right-click it and choose Empty folder... from the folder context menu. The command is not in the ribbon and is not offered for a drive root.
3. Read the confirmation and verify the path. This is permanent deletion, not a Recycle Bin move. The live folder is checked after confirmation, so its contents can include files created since the scan.
4. Wait for the folder and disk totals to refresh, then review the completion result. Locked or protected items can remain.

The selected folder is preserved. Use this for a folder whose contents you understand; use an application's management tools for installations, virtual disks, and protected Windows storage.

Delete from a review list

In review lists that permit deletion, use Delete to move selected items to the Recycle Bin or Shift+Delete to delete permanently. Multi-selection provides the corresponding deletion menu. Successfully deleted items are removed from the list without closing the review window.

Files can change after the scan

A folder may gain files after SizeTrend scanned it. Permanent deletion accounts for descendants that are present when the operation runs instead of assuming the old tree is still complete.

If Windows reports that some files remain, SizeTrend may identify applications that still have them open. Close the application and rescan before deciding whether another attempt is appropriate.

Windows keeps separate Recycle Bins for different users

The Overview can show Recycle Bin usage by Windows user. Windows can empty the current user's Recycle Bin through its normal API. Data belonging to another user or an unrecognized account needs extra caution and administrator access.

SizeTrend verifies that the selected folder is still the same safe Recycle Bin location before offering permanent cleanup. Do not browse into $Recycle.Bin and delete SID-named folders by hand.

Use the owning application's action when one exists

Uninstall applications through Windows or their launcher. Remove virtual machines through VMware, torrent data through the torrent client, SQL Server files through database administration, and cloud files through the provider's storage controls.

Git repositories have a separate Recycle Bin action with a local preflight for modified files, untracked work, stashes, and linked worktrees. Passing that check reduces risk but does not turn a repository into disposable cache.

Refresh after the operation

SizeTrend updates the scanned model after its own deletion and cleanup operations, then refreshes the affected analysis. A full rescan is still the clearest verification when another application may have recreated files or changed the folder at the same time.

Moving data to the Recycle Bin does not increase free space until the bin is emptied. That is why Recycle Bin moves do not count toward SizeTrend's confirmed lifetime-savings total.