# Why I cann't delete my own file?

**URL:** <https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481>\
**Category:** UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers\
**Created:** [October 18, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481 "2011-10-18T22:24:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cqlouis](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/cqlouis/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@cqlouis](https://community.unix.com/u/cqlouis)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481/1 "2011-10-18T22:24:57Z")

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```nohighlight
rui@test:~$ ls -l xxx
-rwxr-xr-t 1 rui rui 0 2011-10-16 13:45 xxx
rui@test:~$ rm xxx
rm: cannot remove `xxx': Operation not permitted
rui@test:~$

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rdcwayx](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/rdcwayx/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@rdcwayx](https://community.unix.com/u/rdcwayx)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481/2 "2011-10-18T22:58:53Z")

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check the file's upfolder permission.

```nohighlight
ls -ld . 

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Corona688](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/corona688/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Corona688](https://community.unix.com/u/Corona688)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481/3 "2011-10-18T23:25:28Z")

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Deleting a file has nothing to do with a file's own permissions, but the directory's.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rajesh\_Apple](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/rajesh_apple/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Rajesh\_Apple](https://community.unix.com/u/Rajesh_Apple)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481/4 "2011-10-19T00:30:51Z")

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Hi ,  
I hope it have some set permissions like sticky-bit....u can delete and try ...and more over u r in $ promt..login as su and try it......it work...all the best

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**Author:** ![hombreopaco](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/hombreopaco/32/2416_2.png) [@hombreopaco](https://community.unix.com/u/hombreopaco)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 10:08am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481/5 "2011-10-19T10:08:14Z")

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Hi, try chmod 755 xxx; rm xxx

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**Author:** ![kvmreddy](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/kvmreddy/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@kvmreddy](https://community.unix.com/u/kvmreddy)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 7:26am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481/6 "2011-10-29T07:26:31Z")

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Are you sure you are the owner of the file. Sticky bit effect only on directories, not on files. May be you directory permissions contain sticky bit also.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![atanubanerji](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/atanubanerji/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@atanubanerji](https://community.unix.com/u/atanubanerji)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/why-i-cannt-delete-my-own-file/297481/7 "2011-10-31T03:41:44Z")

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What lsattr displays?