Drives cluttered with hundreds of empty folders left by old installs? Remove Empty Directories (RED) finds them and works recursively beneath a selected starting folder, so one scan can check nested folder trees.
Recursive scanning and review
Choose a starting folder and RED searches through its subfolders for directories it considers empty. The results appear before anything is removed, giving you a chance to inspect the scan and decide which findings should be deleted.
RED can also treat a directory containing empty files as empty. That behavior matters when folders contain zero-length files: those files do not necessarily prevent the folder from appearing in the results.
How do filters and deletion modes work?
Directory filters let you include selected locations or exclude locations from the scan. Use the allowlist and blocklist options to narrow where RED searches when a starting folder contains areas you want handled differently.
After reviewing the results, choose among the available deletion modes. One option sends removed folders to the Recycle Bin, so deletion does not have to bypass it.
- Allowlist and blocklist filters control which directories are scanned.
- The results list is shown before deletion.
- A deletion mode can move items to the Recycle Bin.
Scan progress and settings
A progress display shows activity while RED searches the folder tree, and a settings dialog holds the remaining options.
Pros
- Scans recursively below a selected starting folder
- Shows detected folders before deletion
- Offers deletion modes, including sending items to the Recycle Bin
- Supports directory allowlists and blocklists
System requirements: Windows 7 · .NET Framework 3.5 or later
Does RED delete folders as soon as it finds them?
No. It displays the folders it found so you can inspect the results before choosing a deletion mode.
Can RED search inside subfolders?
Yes. It scans recursively beneath the starting folder you select.
Can I exclude directories from a scan?
Yes. RED provides directory allowlist and blocklist filters.
