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SquirrelDisk provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for deleting files and folders. This guide explains how to safely remove unwanted items and reclaim disk space.

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The Deletion Interface

At the bottom of the file list sidebar, you’ll find the deletion area:
  • Empty state: “Drag file and folders here to delete”
  • With items: Shows count and offers options to clear or delete
  • Dashed border: Visual indicator for the drop zone
Deletions performed by SquirrelDisk are permanent. Items are removed from your filesystem immediately without going to the Trash/Recycle Bin. There is no undo functionality.

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Adding Items to the Deletion List

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Using Drag and Drop

1

Select an item

In the file list, click and hold on any file or folder you want to delete.
2

Drag to deletion area

While holding, drag the item down to the dashed box at the bottom of the sidebar.
3

Drop to add

Release the mouse button over the deletion area to add the item.

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Visual Feedback

When items are added to the deletion list:
  • The item displays a red border in the file list
  • The deletion area updates to show the count: 2 files selected
  • The item remains visible in the file list (not removed yet)
You can add multiple items to the deletion list before executing the deletion. Navigate through different folders and continue adding items.

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Reviewing Items Before Deletion

Before executing the deletion, you should review your selection:

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Deletion Counter

The deletion area shows: 
5 files selected - Clear Selection
This tells you:
  • How many items are queued for deletion
  • Link to clear if you change your mind

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Visual Indicators in File List

Items selected for deletion are marked with:
  • Red border (border border-red-800)
  • Darker red border on hover (hover:border-red-900)
Navigate through your folder structure freely while building your deletion list. Selected items retain their red border no matter where you navigate in the chart.

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Clearing the Selection

If you want to start over or change your mind:
1

Click Clear Selection

Click the “Clear Selection” link in the deletion area.
2

Confirm reset

All items are immediately removed from the deletion list, and red borders disappear.
This action:
  • Empties the deletion list
  • Removes all visual indicators
  • Returns the deletion area to its empty state
  • Does not delete any files

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Executing the Deletion

When you’re ready to permanently delete the selected items:
1

Review your selection

Double-check the count and ensure you want to delete these items.
2

Click the Delete button

Click the red “Delete” button at the bottom of the deletion area.
3

Wait for completion

The button shows progress: “Deleting 3 of 10”
4

Automatic cleanup

The deletion list clears automatically when complete.
There is no confirmation dialog. Clicking the Delete button immediately begins permanent deletion. Make sure you’ve reviewed your selection carefully.

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Deletion Progress

While deletion is in progress:
  • The Delete button becomes disabled
  • The button text changes to show progress: 
    Deleting 3 of 10
  • The counter updates in real-time as each item is deleted
  • You cannot add more items or cancel during deletion

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How Deletion Works

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File System Operations

SquirrelDisk uses platform-native APIs to delete items:
  1. Folders: Recursively deleted with all contents using removeDir({ recursive: true })
  2. Files: Deleted directly using removeFile()
  3. Hybrid handling: If a folder appears to be a file (due to tree trimming), both methods are attempted

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Error Handling

If an item fails to delete:
  • The error is logged to the console
  • Deletion continues with remaining items
  • Failed items are not marked as successfully deleted
  • The chart updates only for successfully deleted items
You may encounter errors if files are:
  • In use by another program
  • Protected by system permissions
  • On a read-only filesystem
  • Already deleted by another process

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Real-Time Chart Updates

SquirrelDisk’s visualization updates immediately after deletion:

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Automatic Recalculation

  1. Size updates: All ancestor folders have their sizes reduced
  2. Structure updates: Deleted items are removed from the tree
  3. Re-partitioning: The sunburst chart recalculates arc sizes
  4. Smooth animation: The chart animates to reflect the new state

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Visual Changes

After deletion, you’ll see:
  • Deleted arcs fade out and disappear
  • Remaining arcs expand to fill the space
  • Parent folder sizes decrease
  • File list updates to remove deleted items
The real-time update means you can immediately see how much space you’ve freed without rescanning the entire disk.

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Deletion Safety Tips

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Before Deleting

1

Verify paths

Right-click items to open their location and verify they’re what you expect.
2

Check sizes

Ensure the size matches what you expect for that file or folder.
3

Review the full list

Go through your deletion count and make sure the number seems right.

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Items to Be Cautious With

Exercise extreme caution when deleting:
  • System folders: May break your operating system
  • Application folders: May break installed programs
  • Document folders: Ensure you have backups
  • Hidden files: Often contain important configurations

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What You Cannot Recover

Unlike moving to Trash/Recycle Bin:
  • Items are immediately removed from the filesystem
  • No “undo” or “restore” functionality exists
  • File recovery software may or may not work
  • Solid-state drives make recovery nearly impossible

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Best Practices

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Start Small

  1. Begin by deleting a single, unimportant file
  2. Verify it deletes successfully
  3. Gradually increase to larger deletions

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Use Right-Click to Verify

Before adding items to the deletion list:
  1. Right-click the item in the file list
  2. Verify the opened location matches what you expect
  3. Confirm you want to delete that specific item

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Delete in Batches

Rather than selecting many items at once:
  1. Delete 5-10 items at a time
  2. Verify the chart updates correctly
  3. Ensure nothing unexpected was deleted
  4. Continue with the next batch
If you’re unsure about deleting something, don’t add it to the list. It’s better to keep a file you might need than to delete something important.

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Platform-Specific Behaviors

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Windows

  • Paths are converted from forward slashes to backslashes
  • File Explorer opens on right-click with the item selected

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macOS

  • Finder opens on right-click with the item revealed
  • Uses native open -R command for file revelation

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Linux

  • Default file manager opens the parent directory
  • Uses xdg-open for cross-desktop compatibility
  • May not select the specific file, but opens the folder

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Troubleshooting

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Items Won’t Delete

If deletion fails:
  1. Check if the file is open in another program
  2. Verify you have write permissions to that location
  3. Ensure the filesystem isn’t read-only
  4. Try closing all programs and attempting again

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Chart Doesn’t Update

If the chart doesn’t update after deletion:
  1. Check the browser console for error messages
  2. Verify the deletion actually occurred using your file manager
  3. Try navigating to a parent directory and back
  4. If needed, rescan the disk to get accurate data

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