# How to delete Windows fils from NAS **URL:** \ **Category:** Help & Support\ **Created:** [December 26, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.freenas-community.org/t/how-to-delete-windows-fils-from-nas/311 "2025-12-26T21:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalemitchell0907](https://forum.freenas-community.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@dalemitchell0907](https://forum.freenas-community.org/u/dalemitchell0907)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.freenas-community.org/t/how-to-delete-windows-fils-from-nas/311/1 "2025-12-26T21:57:07Z")
I am using a Windows 11 machine. I connect to the TrueNas using my home network. I have no trouble saving files to the Nas and I can work on the files from the NAS. I have yet to figure out how to delete files from the NAS. My storage if at 70% and I need to delete unused files to make room for future storage. Everything I have tried using Windows to delete does not work, the files disappear but the storage stays the same. I wonder if I must use Linux commands to delete from the Nas and if so where can I find the command index for the system on this Nas? ---
**Author:** ![danb35](https://forum.freenas-community.org/user_avatar/forum.freenas-community.org/danb35/32/14_2.png) [@danb35](https://forum.freenas-community.org/u/danb35)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.freenas-community.org/t/how-to-delete-windows-fils-from-nas/311/2 "2025-12-28T12:13:59Z")
TrueNAS is built on Debian Linux, so normal Linux file management commands (e.g., `cp`, `mv`, `rm`, etc.) will work the same there as with any other Linux installation. The easiest thing to do is probably to use the Midnight Commander (`mc`); see below for documentation: > **[Midnight Commander](https://midnight-commander.org/)** > > Midnight Commander Development Center But with that said, you shouldn’t need to be messing around at the shell of your NAS; deleting from the client using the file-sharing protocols should work just fine. If you aren’t seeing the space free immediately, it could be at least a couple of things: - Sometimes it takes a few moments for the space to free up, or - You have snapshots enabled. In the latter case, the space won’t be freed until the snapshot is destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![dalemitchell0907](https://forum.freenas-community.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@dalemitchell0907](https://forum.freenas-community.org/u/dalemitchell0907)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.freenas-community.org/t/how-to-delete-windows-fils-from-nas/311/3 "2025-12-28T16:03:45Z")
Can I delete the dataset without losing or effecting my files? ---
**Author:** ![dalemitchell0907](https://forum.freenas-community.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@dalemitchell0907](https://forum.freenas-community.org/u/dalemitchell0907)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://forum.freenas-community.org/t/how-to-delete-windows-fils-from-nas/311/4 "2025-12-28T17:42:31Z")
I Meant can I delete the Snapshot and not lose all the other files? ---
**Author:** ![danb35](https://forum.freenas-community.org/user_avatar/forum.freenas-community.org/danb35/32/14_2.png) [@danb35](https://forum.freenas-community.org/u/danb35)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://forum.freenas-community.org/t/how-to-delete-windows-fils-from-nas/311/5 "2025-12-28T18:46:09Z")
Yes. Deleting the dataset will lose all the data in that dataset, including any snapshots of that dataset. Deleting a snapshot will only delete what’s unique to that snapshot. For more about snapshots, see: > **[Snapshots for Dummies](https://wiki.familybrown.org/en/fester/configure-storage/snapshots)** > > Perhaps the simplest possible explanation of snapshots