# Remove Materials with a button like layers

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [October 31, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111 "2014-10-31T12:52:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![archybjh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@archybjh](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/archybjh)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111/1 "2014-10-31T12:52:17Z")

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When you get a lot of materials right-clicking to delete materials is both slow and tedious if it even works. W **hy not have a button for deleting materials just like you have for layers.** This is different from purge, rather its for materials that are being used. The option to replace with another material or default material would be nice as well.

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**Author:** ![tt\_su](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/tt_su/32/17_2.png) [@tt\_su](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/tt_su)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111/2 "2014-10-31T14:09:34Z")

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To quickly remove all materials in the model you can use this extension: [Extension | SketchUp Extension Warehouse](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/material-tools)

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**Author:** ![pep75](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/pep75/32/129225_2.png) [@pep75](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/pep75)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111/3 "2026-09-02T12:19:35Z")

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Yes! I wish we could select multiple materials to delete them. Should be standard.

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**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111/4 "2026-09-02T12:35:31Z")

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On Windows you can remove quickly all materials natively. this feature has existed for many years.

![Delete Mats](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/9/8/5/985c61035607d7ed7061497c4d6cdcf461f87581.gif)

It would be nice to be able to select specific materials to delete.

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**Author:** ![pep75](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/pep75/32/129225_2.png) [@pep75](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/pep75)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111/5 "2026-09-02T12:38:50Z")

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Well that’s great. But I want to “select multiple materials to delete them”, not all.

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**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111/6 "2026-09-02T12:39:50Z")

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I was agreeing with you when I wrote:

> [@DaveR](#):
>
> It would be nice to be able to select specific materials to delete.

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**Author:** ![fisilk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e36b37/32.png) [@fisilk](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/fisilk)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/remove-materials-with-a-button-like-layers/3111/7 "2026-11-06T19:31:20Z")

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Agree that this would be INCREDIBLY useful! I work with a lot of files from architects and third parties and don’t usually want their materials (usually stuff from Rhino and lots of weird colours)