Can't delete directory from Amazon S3

Question

I\'m using the web interface of Amazon\'s S3, and when I right-click a folder X and choose Delete, X seems to be deleted. Then when I refresh the interface, X may either disappe

Answer 1

I had the same problem in the AWS web interface after AWS Command Line (CLI)-deleting a "recursive" folder in a bucket. Some objects randomly reappeared (not files, but in fact "folders") in the web interface. Even though i tried to delete these folders in the web interface, they were still there (The interface said the operation was successful...)

Solution that worked for me in the AWS web interface: Right clicked the folder -> CUT, and PASTE into another folder. Worked great, and then deleted the new folder. Gone!

Answer 2

Try delete with another account, like administrator account. For me it works only with this method.

Answer 3

had an "elastic-bean-stalk" bucket and had to delete "bucket policy" before it would delete.

pitney

Answer 4

I think I'm seeing similar behavior. My bucket has versioning turned on; even with an empty folder/directory within the bucket, attempting to "delete" the folder/directory within the bucket via the AWS web UI console does not result in it actually being removed. I presume the "deleted" versions of the files within that path still exist (but are not visible in the web console), therefore the bucket isn't truly empty, and isn't truly getting deleted. You may need to check via the CLI tools if existing deleted versions of files in that folder/directory exist (but are not visible in the web console) and delete the files permanently, then attempt to remove the folder/directory in your bucket.

Answer 5

As of March 2017 the AWS Console UI has changed and you can no longer enter a 'versioning mode' described in my old post.

It seems now folder with versioned files can be deleted freely without restriction.

If this is not the case please drop a comment so I can correct this post.

---

Previous Version of AWS Console

If you are using the AWS Management Console and you have versioning turned ON, you must be in 'versioning mode' to delete the folder. You enter 'versioning mode' by going to the top of the page and next to where it says 'Versions:' select the Show button. Then you can proceed to right-click and delete your folder. Hope this helps someone.

Answer 6

Tried the same as Kristoffer's answer, but CUT/PASTE to another folder made the new folder to not be deletable.

Further hacking: create a new temporary bucket. CUT/PASTE the folder to this bucket and delete the bucket.