Delete a document by opening File and selecting Delete

To delete a Word document, open the file in Word, then click File in the top left corner. A menu appears on the left side of your screen. Look for Info near the top of that menu and click it. On the right side, you will see a button that says Delete — click it, and Word will ask you to confirm. Click Delete again, and the file is removed from your computer.

This method works whether you are using Word on Windows or Mac. The file goes to your computer's trash or recycle bin, so you can recover it within a few days if you change your mind — just open your trash folder and drag the file back to your desktop or documents folder.

If you cannot find the Delete button in the Info panel, your document may not be saved yet. Save it first by pressing Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac), then return to File and Info to find the Delete option.

Key Takeaways

  • Click File, then Info, then Delete to remove a Word document from your computer.
  • Deleted files go to your trash or recycle bin and can be recovered for several days.
  • You can also delete documents from File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) without opening Word.
  • Permanently erasing a file requires emptying your trash, which removes it beyond recovery.
  • Cloud-stored documents in OneDrive or SharePoint follow the same delete steps but may have a separate recovery folder.

Delete a document from File Explorer or Finder instead

You do not have to open Word to delete a document. On Windows, open File Explorer, navigate to the folder where your Word file is stored, right-click the document, and select Delete. The file moves to your Recycle Bin. On Mac, open Finder, find your document, right-click it, and select Move to Trash.

This method is faster if you want to delete multiple documents at once. Click the first document, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac), and click each additional document you want to remove. Then right-click and delete them all together.

Recover a deleted document from trash or recycle bin

If you delete a document by mistake, you have time to get it back. On Windows, open your Recycle Bin (usually on your desktop or in File Explorer), find the document, right-click it, and select Restore. The file returns to its original location. On Mac, click the Trash icon in your dock, find the document, right-click it, and select Put Back.

Most computers keep deleted files in trash for 30 days before automatically removing them. After that window closes, recovery becomes much harder and may require paid software or professional help. If you delete something important, recover it within a few days rather than waiting.

Permanently delete a document so it cannot be recovered

straightforward moving a file to trash does not erase it from your hard drive — it just hides it. To permanently delete a document, empty your trash or recycle bin. On Windows, right-click your Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin. On Mac, click the Trash icon in your dock, then click Empty Trash in the menu bar.

Once you empty trash, the document is gone and cannot be recovered through normal means. This is useful if you stored sensitive information in the file and want to make sure it stays deleted. Be certain you no longer need anything in trash before you empty it, because this action cannot be undone.

Delete documents stored in OneDrive or SharePoint

If your Word document is saved to OneDrive or SharePoint instead of your computer's hard drive, the delete process is similar but the file goes to a separate recovery location. Open the file in Word, click File, then Info, then Delete. The document moves to your OneDrive or SharePoint recycle bin rather than your computer's trash.

Cloud-stored files stay in the recycle bin for 93 days before being permanently removed. You can recover them during that time by opening OneDrive or SharePoint in your web browser, clicking the recycle bin, finding the document, and selecting Restore. After 93 days, the file is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

What happens when you delete a shared document

If you delete a Word document that you shared with other people, those people lose access to it. The document does not stay visible to them — it disappears from their shared files list. If they have a copy saved on their own computer, they can still open that copy, but they cannot access the original file through the shared link.

Before you delete a shared document, consider whether other people still need it. If you want to remove it from sharing but keep it for yourself, you can unshare it instead of deleting it. In Word, click File, then Share, then look for an option to stop sharing or remove access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a delete if I already emptied my trash?

No. Once you empty your trash or recycle bin, the file is gone through normal recovery methods. If the document was important and stored sensitive data, you may need to contact a data recovery service, though recovery is not may provide and can be expensive.

What if I delete a document but Word still shows it in recent files?

Word keeps a list of recently opened files even after you delete them. This is normal and does not mean the file still exists. If you click on it, Word will tell you the file cannot be found. The recent files list clears automatically over time as you open other documents.

Does deleting a Word document delete the backup copies too?

Word's AutoRecover feature saves backup copies while you work, but deleting the original document does not automatically delete those backups. You may be able to recover an older version through File > Info > Version History, depending on whether AutoRecover was turned on and how long ago the file was saved.

Can I delete a document if someone else is editing it?

Yes, you can delete a document even if someone else has it open. However, they will lose access to it, and any changes they made after you deleted it may not be saved. If the document is shared, tell the other person before you delete it so they can save their work.

What is the difference between delete and remove from this PC?

On Windows, "Delete" moves the file to Recycle Bin, while "Remove from this PC" (for cloud files) removes it from your computer but keeps it in the cloud. The file still exists in OneDrive or SharePoint until you delete it there as well.