Delete confirmation missing when I hit the delete key

configuration delete

6,983

Solution 1

Unless this has recently changed without my knowing, there is no way to get a delete confirmation on delete in Ubuntu. This is a feature that has been requested many times in Ubuntu, but is yet to be implemented thus far.

Solution 2

While there's no delete confirmation dialog, Nautilus can tell us which files we've just deleted.

Go to the trash and select "List" as view mode. This information is in the Trashed-On column.

It appears that Nautilus may be the only file browser that shows this information. I checked Thunar and PCManFM; none of them are able to show this column.

Solution 3

There is a setting for this in the Nautilus preferences (in the "Behavior" tab), but I just tested with a clean profile and asking for confirmation is on by default.

6,983

Jon Doe

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

Jon Doe over 1 year

I'm sick of accidentally deleting files and directories as DEL button is badly located on my keyboard. I would really like it if ubuntu asked me to confirm before deleting anything. Is there a way to do this?
- Admin over 13 years
  
  Which application? Nautilus pops up a confirmation dialog box for deleting any file by default. Are you talking about 'delete' on desktop entries?
- Admin over 13 years
  
  Are you talking about "Delete" or "Move to Trash"? For the first it always asks for confirmation, for the second it doesn't (but you can restore them of course).
- Admin over 13 years
  
  @Godel No I don't get any confirmation dialog box!
- Admin over 12 years
  
  I'm using 11.10. There is no any confirmation dialog! I usually accidently delete some important folders. I mean pressing Delete button on the keyboard. Ok, It is moved to Trash Bin. But the problem is I don't know that I already deleted it! The trash contains 1xxxxxxx files, how to find it to restore if there so many folder same name? That's a big problem. I still don't understand why Ubuntu doesn't give an option to turn on and off the delete confirmation dialog. VERY annoying!
- Admin almost 12 years
  
  @Emerald214 you need to manage your trash bin more closely.
- Admin almost 6 years
  
  You can use this technique from Ubuntu 13.10 onwards: howtogeek.com/183690/…
JanC over 13 years

Nautilus has always asked before deleting files...
Adam Thompson over 13 years

Really, because I never get a confirmation and I run Ubuntu 10.04 and I've been testing 10.10. Maybe there IS a setting somewhere that I don't know about?
Jon Doe over 13 years

Yes, @Adam and I are on the same page!
Code.Decode over 13 years

That setting is for permanently deleting files from the Deleted Items/Trash - it does not affect moving files to the Trash/Deleted Items as the original poster asked about.
red.clover over 13 years

I think that there is some confusion on what you mean by "delete." On my system, when a file will be deleted permanently Nautilus asks for conformation. If it moves it to the trash, then it does not. Just pressing the "delete" key doesn't permanently remove the file. It will just be in the trash.
JanC over 13 years

Well, that's not what he says in his question, and he didn't reword his question when I asked if that was what he meant. If you are right about what he is talking about, then he should edit the question and phrase it correctly.
Moog almost 12 years

delete key moves to trash, shift+delete requests confirmation this is what is meant by delete in the behavior tab