

Close the app which is using the file and you will be able to trash it like any other item. The most common apps that are left open with the file in them are Preview, Mail, QuickTime, and either of the Office suite apps.

It has become a rather uncommon issue on recent versions of macOS, however Mavericks and El Capitan are still prone to it. Basically it won’t let you move the file to Trash because it is used or open in one of the apps. When moving items to Trash you will occasionally see a warning message ‘The operation can’t be completed because the item is in use.’. Go to Trash, locate the file that’s causing the trouble (or select multiple), control-click and choose Delete Immediately. To force empty trash on your Mac, press and hold the Option key > control-click Trash icon and choose Empty Trash > let go of the Option keyĪnother way of dealing with interfering files that have settled in your Trash is through Delete Immediately function. The quickest way to remove all trash from the bin in one batch is by using the Option key. Such files prevent you from emptying the trash all at once and take a few additional actions to successfully erase the junk from your computer.
Mac super empty trash mac#
When removing junk files from your Mac you will occasionally come across either a locked file or an item that is in use by one of the apps. For those of you who want to take Trash management into their own hands, here is a list of top tips and tricks to help you along the way Force Delete Trash: Mac Tips You Should Know It will make sure your Mac runs well and your Trash is taken out regularly.
Mac super empty trash install#
If you don’t ever want to come back to Trash management, simply install a reliable cleaning assistant. However, sometimes things don’t go as expected and getting rid of your trash can take a bit of extra effort. The great news for those of you just starting out with Mac is that, in most of the cases, that is all you will ever have to do. Drag a file to the Trash bin on your Dock (or hit command + delete after selecting the file(s)), then control-click Trash icon and hit Empty Trash – You are done! Just like that. Removing trash on a Mac is as easy as 1-2-3.
