---
title: "How can you watch for file changes like creation or deletion in real-time?"  
description: "How can you watch for file changes like creation or deletion in real-time?"  
author: "ICSM Computer"  
published: 2025-05-08  
updated: 2025-05-08  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34100/how-can-you-watch-for-file-changes-like-creation-or-deletion-in-real-time  
category: "c#"  
tags: ["c#", "file handling"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# How can you watch for file changes like creation or deletion in real-time?

To **watch for file changes (like creation, deletion, or modification) in real-time** in C#, you can use the built-in `FileSystemWatcher` class in the `System.IO` namespace.

### Example: Monitor a directory for changes

```cs
using System;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string pathToWatch = @"C:\MyFolder";

        using (FileSystemWatcher watcher = new FileSystemWatcher(pathToWatch))
        {
            // Watch for changes in LastWrite times, and creation/deletion of files
            watcher.NotifyFilter = NotifyFilters.FileName | NotifyFilters.LastWrite | NotifyFilters.CreationTime;

            // Only watch text files
            watcher.Filter = "*.txt";

            // Event handlers
            watcher.Created += OnCreated;
            watcher.Deleted += OnDeleted;
            watcher.Changed += OnChanged;
            watcher.Renamed += OnRenamed;

            // Begin watching
            watcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;

            Console.WriteLine("Watching for changes. Press Enter to exit...");
            Console.ReadLine();  // Keep the program running
        }
    }

    private static void OnCreated(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File created: {e.FullPath}");

    private static void OnDeleted(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File deleted: {e.FullPath}");

    private static void OnChanged(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File changed: {e.FullPath}");

    private static void OnRenamed(object sender, RenamedEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File renamed: {e.OldFullPath} -> {e.FullPath}");
}
```

### Notes:

- `FileSystemWatcher` supports events: `Created`, `Deleted`, `Changed`, and `Renamed`.
- Use `IncludeSubdirectories = true` to monitor subfolders.
- It's best suited for local directories (not reliable over network shares).

## Answers

### Answer by ICSM Computer

To **watch for file changes (like creation, deletion, or modification) in real-time** in C#, you can use the built-in `FileSystemWatcher` class in the `System.IO` namespace.

### Example: Monitor a directory for changes

```cs
using System;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string pathToWatch = @"C:\MyFolder";

        using (FileSystemWatcher watcher = new FileSystemWatcher(pathToWatch))
        {
            // Watch for changes in LastWrite times, and creation/deletion of files
            watcher.NotifyFilter = NotifyFilters.FileName | NotifyFilters.LastWrite | NotifyFilters.CreationTime;

            // Only watch text files
            watcher.Filter = "*.txt";

            // Event handlers
            watcher.Created += OnCreated;
            watcher.Deleted += OnDeleted;
            watcher.Changed += OnChanged;
            watcher.Renamed += OnRenamed;

            // Begin watching
            watcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;

            Console.WriteLine("Watching for changes. Press Enter to exit...");
            Console.ReadLine();  // Keep the program running
        }
    }

    private static void OnCreated(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File created: {e.FullPath}");

    private static void OnDeleted(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File deleted: {e.FullPath}");

    private static void OnChanged(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File changed: {e.FullPath}");

    private static void OnRenamed(object sender, RenamedEventArgs e) =>
        Console.WriteLine($"File renamed: {e.OldFullPath} -> {e.FullPath}");
}
```

### Notes:

- `FileSystemWatcher` supports events: `Created`, `Deleted`, `Changed`, and `Renamed`.
- Use `IncludeSubdirectories = true` to monitor subfolders.
- It's best suited for local directories (not reliable over network shares).


---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34100/how-can-you-watch-for-file-changes-like-creation-or-deletion-in-real-time

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