list-unused-files.md

The 'list-unused-files.ps1' Script

This PowerShell script scans a directory tree and lists unused files (no read/write access since a number of days).

Parameters

PS> ./list-unused-files.ps1 [[-path] <String>] [[-days] <Int32>] [<CommonParameters>]

-path <String>
    Specifies the path to the directory tree (current working dir by default)
    
    Required?                    false
    Position?                    1
    Default value                "$PWD"
    Accept pipeline input?       false
    Aliases                      
    Accept wildcard characters?  false

-days <Int32>
    Specifies the number of days (100 by default)
    
    Required?                    false
    Position?                    2
    Default value                100
    Accept pipeline input?       false
    Aliases                      
    Accept wildcard characters?  false

[<CommonParameters>]
    This script supports the common parameters: Verbose, Debug, ErrorAction, ErrorVariable, WarningAction, 
    WarningVariable, OutBuffer, PipelineVariable, and OutVariable.

Example

PS> ./list-unused-files.ps1 C:\Windows
...
✅ 43729 unused files at 📂C:\Windows (no access for 100 days, took 113s).

Notes

Author: Markus Fleschutz | License: CC0

Related Links

https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell

Script Content

<#
.SYNOPSIS
	List unused files in a directory tree
.DESCRIPTION
	This PowerShell script scans a directory tree and lists unused files (no read/write access since a number of days).
.PARAMETER path
	Specifies the path to the directory tree (current working dir by default)
.PARAMETER days
	Specifies the number of days (100 by default)
.EXAMPLE
	PS> ./list-unused-files.ps1 C:\Windows
	...
	✅ 43729 unused files at 📂C:\Windows (no access for 100 days, took 113s).
.LINK
	https://github.com/fleschutz/PowerShell
.NOTES
	Author: Markus Fleschutz | License: CC0
#>

param([string]$path = "$PWD", [int]$days = 100)

try {
	$stopWatch = [system.diagnostics.stopwatch]::startNew()

	$path = Resolve-Path "$path"
	Write-Progress "Scanning $path for unused files..."

	$cutOffDate = (Get-Date).AddDays(-$Days)
	[int]$count = 0
	Get-ChildItem -path $path -recurse | Where-Object {$_.LastAccessTime -le $cutOffDate} | Foreach-Object {
		"$($_.FullName)"
		$count++
	}
	Write-Progress -completed " "
	[int]$elapsed = $stopWatch.Elapsed.TotalSeconds
	"✅ $count unused files at 📂$path (no access for $days days, took $($elapsed)s)."
	exit 0 # success
} catch {
	"⚠️ ERROR: $($Error[0]) (script line $($_.InvocationInfo.ScriptLineNumber))"
	exit 1
}

(page generated by convert-ps2md.ps1 as of 04/19/2026 17:57:01)