Step 2: Type "sudo rm –R", leave a space after R, and do not hit Enter. Step 1: Go to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities to open Terminal. Otherwise, you just follow the second method in part 2 to take the third-party app to help you fix the problem. Terminal allows you to modify your Mac in ways you can't reverse, so you just think twice before doing it. When you receive the failure message of emptying Trash, and cannot fix it with the above methods, you should try Terminal app. Force empty your Trash on Mac with Terminal app (code error) Step 2: Release Shift until you see the log-in screen in the progress bar.įor exiting Safe Mode, you just need to restart your Mac normally. Step 1: Open or restart Mac, and press "Shift" and you will see Apple logo in the screen. Restart your Mac, because the files may be used in a background process. Quit any app that may be using the file, then empty Trash. If your Mac says that the file is in use, and you cannot empty Trash, you can take the following measures: Force empty Trash in Safe Mode (data are in use) Check this post if you want to delete downloads on iPhone.
Then the locked files will be overridden.
Step 2: Press and hold the "Option" key or the "Shift" option keyboard combination, and select "Force Empty Trash". Step 1: Press and hold the Trash icon in the Dock. Option is magic when you want to empty Trash which contains locked data. Force empty Trash on Mac with Option key (Data locked)
"The operation can't be completed because an unexpected error occurred (error code -8003)". "This operation can't be completed because the item XX is in use." However, when you get the following message pop-ups when you intend to empty Trash, you need to turn to the following 4 solutions for help. The above two ways enable you to empty Trash normally. Part 3: Force empty Trash on Mac when data are in use or locked
Checkmark them and click "Clean" to clear the data permanently.Īfter the empty process is complete, you can download Mac data recovery programs to check if they can recover. When the scanning process ends, you can see the selected items displayed in such categories as like "Videos", "Music", "Images", "Documents" and "Other". In the main interface, select the data that you want to empty in Trash from the left pane, and "Scan" to scan the data selected. It will detect your Mac system status automatically, where you can view all data type and basic information about Mac.
Get the steps to use it to empty your Trash permanently.įree download, install and run this software on your Mac.
In another word, the empty data in Trash can be recovered with some data recovery software.įor getting an empty that won't recover, Apple launches Secure Empty Trash. They still occupy the space in the system until they are overwritten by something else. However, in this way, the items just disappear in your eyes, but they files inside are not actually erased. Here, you have finished a fast empty of Trash. Step 2: Select "Empty Trash" in the popup. Step 1: Click and hold the "Trash" icon in the Dock. Getting a fast and secure Trash empty is very easy.
Part 1: How to empty Trash on Mac fast and securely Force empty Trash on Mac when data are in use or locked