MySQL cannot remove a temporary or data file from the OS, usually due to missing permissions, active locks, or disk issues.
MySQL Error 1011: ER_CANT_DELETE_FILE occurs when the server fails to delete a file that it created. Check directory and file permissions, verify no other process is locking the file, free disk space, then rerun the statement to resolve the issue.
Error on delete of '%s' (errno: %d - %s)
MySQL throws “Error on delete of '%s' (errno: %d - %s)” with SQLSTATE HY000 when it cannot remove a file from the operating system. The error code is 1011 and the symbolic name is ER_CANT_DELETE_FILE.
The problem usually appears during DROP DATABASE, ALTER TABLE, TRUNCATE TABLE, or FLUSH LOGS because these commands delete physical files.
Insufficient file-system permissions prevent mysqld from deleting the target file or directory. SELinux or AppArmor policies can also block deletion.
An external process may hold a lock on the file, making it undeletable until that handle is released.
Typical offenders are backup tools, antivirus scanners, or open editors.
Disk or inode exhaustion results in unpredictable I/O failures, including inability to remove files, especially on network or cloud volumes.
Corrupted file paths, case-sensitivity mismatches, or dangling symbolic links confuse the underlying unlink() call and trigger the error.
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Identify the exact file path in the error message and verify mysqld has write and execute rights on its parent directory. Correct permissions with chmod and chown if needed.
Use lsof or fuser to locate processes keeping the file open. Stop or restart those processes, then rerun the MySQL statement.
Ensure the filesystem is writable and healthy: check quotas, free space, and run fsck where safe.
DROP DATABASE fails on Linux due to root-owned files inside the schema directory. Recursively chown them back to the mysql user.
TRUNCATE TABLE on Windows fails because an antivirus program scans the .ibd file. Exclude the MySQL data directory from real-time scans.
ALTER TABLE fails on Amazon EBS volume experiencing I/O throttling. Temporarily increase IOPS or migrate to a healthier disk.
Run mysqld under a dedicated OS user and keep exclusive ownership of the data directory.
Configure SELinux/AppArmor rules to grant mysqld full control of its paths.
Schedule backups or antivirus scans during maintenance windows to minimize file locking.
Error 1030 ER_GET_ERRNO - appears when mysqld cannot perform a general file operation, not just delete.
Error 1010 ER_CANT_CREATE_FILE - arises when MySQL cannot create a file, often due to similar permission or disk issues.
Error 1025 ER_CANT_RENAME_TABLE - surfaces during ALTER TABLE RENAME failures caused by filesystem constraints.
No direct data corruption occurs, but failed operations may leave orphaned files that waste space.
Ignoring it risks disk bloat and unfinished DDL changes. Always investigate and clear the cause.
Often not. Fix the underlying lock or permission issue, then reissue the command. Restart only if handles persist.
Galaxy highlights MySQL server errors inline, provides AI-generated fixes, and lets teams share the corrected queries, reducing repeat incidents.
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