Being unable to delete files is a common frustration many Mac users face. You may try deleting a file or folder and get an error saying “Item can’t be moved to the Trash because it can’t be deleted” or something similar. This issue prevents you from freeing up disk space and can make your Mac feel sluggish. While frustrating, the good news is this problem can often be fixed with a few troubleshooting steps.
Potential Causes
There are a few common reasons why you may encounter issues deleting files and folders on your Mac:
Permissions Errors
Incorrect permissions settings can prevent you from deleting items. The file or folder may be marked as “read only” or you may not have permission to modify it [1]. To fix this, you can try changing permissions in Finder or using the Terminal to reset permissions.
Corrupted Files
If a file is corrupted, your Mac may have trouble deleting it. You can try repairing the file or drive first before attempting to delete it again. Using disk repair software can help identify and fix corrupted files [2].
Drive Errors
Issues with the hard drive or storage device can also lead to problems deleting files. Drive errors like bad sectors must be repaired before you can delete files. Trying a different drive or external storage device may allow you to delete the problematic file.
Permissions Errors
Mac’s permissions settings control who can access, edit, and delete files and folders. Even admin users can be blocked from deleting files if the permissions are restrictive. For example, if you enable the “Ignore ownership on this volume” option on an external drive, you may not be able to delete files you don’t own, even as an admin (Apple Support).
Likewise, if you change a file or folder’s permissions to be read-only for certain users, those users can’t delete that item. Permissions are set in the Get Info window – locking it down prevents deletion (Apple Discussions). To troubleshoot, check the Sharing & Permissions settings on files giving you issues. You may need to unlock or adjust permissions to allow deletion again.
Corrupted Files
Corrupted files can often not be deleted on a Mac. This is because the file’s data structure has become damaged, so the operating system may not be able to fully recognize or interact with the file anymore. When a file gets corrupted, opening it in an application typically results in an error or the file failing to open properly.
There are a few ways to identify corrupted files on your Mac:
- Previewing the file results in an error or blank preview
- Double clicking the file fails to open it or opens it incorrectly
- The file shows a generic icon instead of its normal icon
- Trying to copy or move the file fails or takes much longer than normal
To resolve corrupted files that won’t delete:
- First, scan for and remove any malware or viruses, which can cause file corruption.
- Try repairing the file using Disk Utility’s First Aid feature. This may fix the corruption.
- Use a dedicated file repair tool like Disk Drill to try recovering the corrupted file.
- If the file cannot be repaired, deleting it in Terminal using
sudo rmmay force removal. - As a last resort, formatting the drive will wipe all data including corrupted files.
Restoring from a backup is the best way to recover an important corrupted file. Preventing corruption involves avoiding unexpected shutdowns and ejecting drives properly before disconnecting them.
Drive Errors
One potential cause of being unable to delete files or folders on an external hard drive on Mac is drive errors. External hard drives can develop bad sectors or file system corruption that prevents deleting or modifying files. This often happens if the drive was disconnected improperly or suffered a physical shock.
When a drive has bad sectors, the Mac may have trouble reading or writing to those parts of the disk. If the directory information is stored in a bad sector, the Mac won’t be able to make changes like deleting files. File system corruption can also confuse the Mac and block deletions.
To troubleshoot, first try repairing the external drive using Disk Utility. Select the drive, click First Aid, and run the repair process. This can detect and fix directory errors. If the repair fails, the drive may need to be reformatted after recovering any important data. Avoid disconnecting the drive without ejecting it first, and handle it gently to prevent further physical damage leading to bad sectors.
If drive errors persist, it’s best to replace the external hard drive, as physical damage is usually the underlying cause. [1] Using a fresh, undamaged drive will likely resolve any inability to delete files.
Using Terminal
The Terminal app on Mac provides a command line interface to access many powerful underlying functions of the operating system. It can be used to force delete files and folders that fail to delete through the Finder or desktop interface.
Here are the steps to use the Terminal to delete stubborn files or folders:
- Open the Terminal app, usually located in the Utilities folder on your Mac.
- Type the following command and press enter:
sudo rm -rf /path/to/file - Replace
/path/to/filewith the actual path to the file or folder you want to delete. You can drag and drop the file/folder into the Terminal window to auto-populate the path. - Enter your admin password when prompted. This gives Terminal temporary admin rights to delete system files.
- The file or folder should now be force deleted, bypassing the usual permissions or access errors.
This terminal command essentially overrides the typical file access restrictions and deletes the specified item unconditionally. It should be used with caution to avoid accidentally deleting important files.
Resetting Permissions
One potential solution to resolve permission issues is to reset permissions to their default state using Disk Utility. Disk Utility is an app included with macOS that allows you to repair disks and fix permission problems (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7963534).
To reset permissions in Disk Utility:
- Open Disk Utility (located in Applications > Utilities)
- Select your startup disk in the sidebar
- Click the “First Aid” tab
- Click the “Repair Disk Permissions” button
Resetting permissions will restore the default read, write, and access privileges to system files and folders. This can resolve issues where your Mac won’t allow you to delete files due to permissions errors. Disk Utility will scan the drive and fix any incorrect permissions that could be causing problems.
However, resetting permissions may not fix all deletion issues. If you continue to get errors when trying to delete files after resetting permissions, the problem may be caused by file system corruption or other underlying issues.
Third-Party Tools
Mention trusted third-party utilities that help delete stubborn files.
There are several highly-rated third party utilities available that specialize in thoroughly deleting stubborn files that you just can’t seem to get rid of through normal means. Two of the most popular and effective options are:
Stellar Wipe Mac – This secure delete tool can permanently wipe unwanted sensitive data from any Mac hard drive. It allows you to selectively erase files, folders, or entire partitions.
CleanMyMac X – CleanMyMac X is an all-in-one Mac utility that offers an “uninstaller” feature to thoroughly delete unwanted apps and their associated files. It removes all traces of an app so it appears like it was never installed.
These professional utilities use secure delete algorithms to fully erase files, making them unrecoverable. When normal Mac delete functions fail, turning to a trusted third-party tool often solves the problem.
When to Seek Professional Help
In some cases, you may need to seek professional technical help to resolve file deletion issues on your Mac. There are a few signs it may be time to enlist an expert:
If you’ve tried resetting permissions, using Terminal commands, and third-party file deletion tools without success, a professional may be required. Persistent issues deleting files could point to corrupt system files, drive errors, or other underlying problems beyond basic troubleshooting.
If you receive warnings about drive failures or your computer frequently crashes or becomes unresponsive, there could be hardware issues preventing file deletion. A professional can run diagnostics and determine if drive components need to be repaired or replaced.
If files reappear after being deleted or you don’t have permission to view or delete certain files, there may be deeper file system or permissions issues. An expert can fully investigate and correct these kinds of problems.
Seeking timely professional help for chronic file deletion issues can restore your Mac’s performance, prevent data loss, and avoid more serious problems down the line. Tech support or a repair shop can efficiently diagnose and address the underlying cause.
Conclusion
To conclude, if you find yourself unable to delete files on your Mac, don’t panic. There are several potential causes and solutions to explore. Issues with file permissions, corrupted files, and drive errors could be preventing you from deleting. You may be able to resolve the problem by resetting permissions in Terminal or using third-party utilities. While frustrating, this issue is solvable in most cases with some troubleshooting. The key is to methodically work through the potential issues until you find the culprit. With patience and persistence, you should be able to regain the ability to delete files on your Mac once again.