How to Delete Files on Mac

Emptying the Trash

Emptying the Trash is a simple and effective way to delete files on your Mac. When you move files to the Trash, they are not immediately deleted from your hard drive. Instead, they are stored in the Trash folder until you empty it. Here’s how to empty the Trash:

Locate the Trash icon on the Dock, usually at the far-right corner.
Click on the Trash icon to open the window.
Review the contents of the Trash to ensure you don’t accidentally delete any important files.
To empty the Trash, either right-click on the Trash icon and select “Empty Trash,” or press the “Control” key while clicking on the Trash icon and choose “Empty Trash” from the drop-down menu.
A confirmation dialog box will appear asking if you’re sure you want to permanently delete the items. Click “Empty Trash” to proceed.
The Trash will be emptied, and the files and folders will be permanently deleted from your Mac’s hard drive.

By default, all files and folders you move to the Trash will be deleted when you empty it. However, be cautious as this action is irreversible. It is always a good practice to double-check the contents of the Trash before emptying it, especially if you have any doubts about the importance of the files or folders.

Remember that emptying the Trash only deletes files from your local hard drive. If you have files stored on external drives or in cloud storage services, you will need to delete them separately from their respective locations.

Emptying the Trash is a fundamental step to keep your Mac organized and free up storage space. It ensures that unwanted files and folders are permanently removed from your system, allowing you to maintain a clutter-free environment.

Deleting Files and Folders

Deleting files and folders on a Mac is a straightforward process that can be done in various ways. Whether you want to remove a single file or a whole folder, here are a few methods you can use:

Using the Finder: Open the Finder window and navigate to the location where the file or folder is located. Select the desired item, either by clicking on it once or using the checkboxes if multiple items need to be deleted. Press the “Delete” or “Backspace” key on the keyboard to move the selected files to the Trash.
Right-clicking: Another quick way to delete files or folders is by right-clicking on the item and selecting “Move to Trash” from the contextual menu that appears. This method works both in the Finder and on the desktop.
Drag and drop: You can also delete files and folders by simply dragging them to the Trash icon on the Dock. Click and hold the desired item, and then drag it over the Trash icon until the icon highlights. Release the mouse button to drop the item into the Trash.
Keyboard shortcut: To streamline the process further, you can use the keyboard shortcut Command + Delete to send the selected files or folders directly to the Trash. This method is especially useful when working with a large number of files.

When deleting files and folders, keep in mind that they are not immediately deleted from your system. Instead, they are moved to the Trash, where they are stored until you decide to empty it. Until then, you have the opportunity to recover any mistakenly deleted items.

If you want to delete files permanently without sending them to the Trash, you can do so by using the Option + Command + Delete keyboard shortcut or by right-clicking on the file and selecting “Delete Immediately”. Be cautious when using this method, as it bypasses the Trash and permanently deletes the selected files with no opportunity for recovery.

Using the Keyboard Shortcut to Delete Files

Deleting files on a Mac can be done quickly and efficiently using a convenient keyboard shortcut. By using the Command + Delete combination, you can move selected files or folders directly to the Trash without the need to navigate through menus or use the mouse. Here’s how:

Navigate to the file or folder you want to delete in the Finder.
Select the desired item by clicking on it once or using the checkboxes for multiple selections.
Press the Command key and hold it down while pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.
The selected files or folders will be immediately moved to the Trash.

This keyboard shortcut provides a convenient way to delete files without the need for extra mouse clicks or menu selections. It is especially useful when you want to remove multiple items quickly or when you prefer to navigate through your files using the keyboard.

Remember that when you use this keyboard shortcut, the selected items are not permanently deleted from your Mac. Instead, they are transferred to the Trash, where they can be retrieved if needed. To permanently delete the files, you will need to empty the Trash.

Using the Command + Delete keyboard shortcut not only saves time but also promotes a more efficient workflow, allowing you to stay focused on your tasks without interruptions. It is a handy tool for managing your files and decluttering your Mac’s storage space.

Permanently Deleting Files with Secure Empty Trash

When you delete files on your Mac, they are typically moved to the Trash, where they can be recovered if needed. However, if you want to ensure that sensitive or confidential files are permanently deleted from your system without any chance of recovery, you can use the “Secure Empty Trash” feature. Here’s how to do it:

Open the Trash by clicking on its icon in the Dock.
Go to the “Finder” menu in the top menu bar and select “Secure Empty Trash”.
A confirmation dialog will appear, informing you that erasing files using this method will take longer. Click “OK” to proceed.
Your Mac will now start the process of securely erasing the contents of the Trash. Depending on the size and number of files in the Trash, this may take some time.
Once the process is complete, the files in the Trash will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

By using the “Secure Empty Trash” feature, you can be confident that your deleted files are unreadable and irretrievable. This is achieved by overwriting the deleted file data with random data multiple times, making it extremely difficult for any data recovery methods to retrieve the original files.

It’s important to note that the “Secure Empty Trash” feature is different from the regular “Empty Trash” option. While the regular option simply moves the files to the Trash, “Secure Empty Trash” ensures that the files are securely erased.

Keep in mind that the “Secure Empty Trash” process takes longer to complete due to the additional step of overwriting the files. Therefore, it is recommended to use this feature only when you need to permanently delete sensitive or confidential data. For regular file deletions, the normal “Empty Trash” option should suffice.

By using “Secure Empty Trash”, you can have peace of mind knowing that your private and confidential files have been permanently and securely removed from your Mac, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or data recovery.

Deleting Files from External Hard Drives

External hard drives are a convenient way to expand your storage capacity and keep your files organized. If you have files stored on an external hard drive that you want to delete, here’s how to do it:

Connect the external hard drive to your Mac using the appropriate cable or connection method.
Open a Finder window and navigate to the external hard drive. It should appear under the “Devices” section in the sidebar.
Locate the file(s) or folder(s) you want to delete on the external hard drive.
Select the desired item(s) by clicking on them once or using the checkboxes for multiple selections.
Press the Delete key on your keyboard or right-click on the selected item(s) and choose Move to Trash from the contextual menu.
The selected file(s) or folder(s) will be moved to the Trash on your Mac’s internal hard drive.
To permanently delete the files, open the Trash on your Mac and follow the steps mentioned earlier to empty it.

It’s important to note that deleting files from an external hard drive will not free up space on the drive itself. The deleted files are moved to the Trash on your Mac’s internal hard drive, so you will need to empty the Trash to reclaim the storage space.

If you wish to delete files directly from the external hard drive without having them sent to the Trash, you can use the keyboard shortcut Option + Command + Delete or right-click on the file(s) and select Delete Immediately. This will permanently delete the selected files from the external hard drive without the chance of recovery.

By following these steps, you can easily manage and delete files from your external hard drive, keeping your storage space organized and freeing up valuable disk space. Just be mindful of the files you choose to delete to avoid accidentally deleting important data.

Deleting Files from iCloud Drive

iCloud Drive is a cloud-based storage service provided by Apple that allows you to store and access your files across multiple devices. If you have files stored in iCloud Drive that you want to delete, you can easily do so using your Mac. Here’s how:

Open a Finder window and click on “iCloud Drive” in the sidebar. If it’s not visible, you can go to the “Go” menu and select “iCloud Drive” from the dropdown list.
Navigate to the file(s) or folder(s) you want to delete in iCloud Drive.
Select the desired item(s) by clicking on them once or using the checkboxes for multiple selections.
Press the Delete key on your keyboard or right-click on the selected item(s) and choose Move to Trash from the contextual menu.
The selected file(s) or folder(s) will be moved to the Trash on your Mac’s internal hard drive.
To permanently delete the files, open the Trash on your Mac and follow the steps mentioned earlier to empty it.

When you delete files from iCloud Drive, they are moved to the Trash on your Mac’s local storage, just like any other file. This allows you to easily recover them if needed.

It’s important to note that deleting files from iCloud Drive will remove them from iCloud storage and free up space. However, if you have enabled the “Optimize Mac Storage” feature, the files may still be available as placeholders on your Mac, with the actual file data stored in iCloud. This allows you to access and download files on-demand as needed.

If you want to permanently delete files from iCloud Drive without sending them to the Trash, you can use the keyboard shortcut Option + Command + Delete or right-click on the file(s) and select Delete Immediately. This will permanently delete the selected files from both iCloud Drive and your Mac’s local storage.

By following these simple steps, you can effectively manage and delete files from iCloud Drive, ensuring your storage space is optimized and freeing up room for new files and documents.

Deleting Duplicate Files

Over time, it’s easy to accumulate duplicate files on your Mac, taking up valuable storage space. These duplicates can result from file backups, downloads, or accidental file duplications. To keep your Mac organized and free up storage space, it’s important to identify and delete these duplicate files. Here’s how:

Use a dedicated duplicate file finder: There are various third-party applications available that can help you quickly identify and delete duplicate files on your Mac. These tools scan your folders and drives to find files with identical content or file names.
Manually search for duplicates: If you want to take a manual approach, you can use the built-in search functionality of macOS to find and delete duplicate files. Simply open a Finder window, navigate to the folder or drive you want to search in, and use the search bar to find files with the same names or extensions.
Sort files by name or size: Another method to identify duplicates is to sort your files by name or size in Finder. This allows you to visually identify files with the same names or similar sizes, indicating potential duplicates.
Compare file properties: To ensure accuracy in identifying duplicate files, you can compare their properties such as creation date, modification date, or file size. This can help you distinguish between truly identical files and files with similar names but different content.
Review and delete duplicates: Once you have identified duplicate files, carefully review them before deleting. Ensure that you’re deleting the correct duplicates and not any important files. It’s recommended to keep a backup of important files before deleting any duplicates.

By regularly removing duplicate files, you can declutter your Mac and reclaim valuable storage space, improving system performance and organization. However, exercise caution when deleting files and always double-check to avoid accidentally deleting important or unique files.

Remember that deleting duplicates doesn’t affect the original files or the apps associated with them. It simply removes redundant copies that are taking up unnecessary space on your Mac.

Deleting Files and Folders with Terminal

If you prefer a command-line approach, you can use the Terminal application on your Mac to delete files and folders. Using Terminal provides you with more control and flexibility in managing your files. Here’s how you can delete files and folders using Terminal:

Open Terminal. You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder, or by using Spotlight search.
Navigate to the directory where the file or folder is located. You can use the cd command followed by the directory path to move to the desired location. For example, cd Documents will direct you to the “Documents” folder in your user directory.
To delete a file, use the rm command followed by the file name. For example, rm myfile.txt will delete a file named “myfile.txt” in the current directory.
To delete an empty folder, use the rmdir command followed by the folder name. For example, rmdir myfolder will delete an empty folder named “myfolder” in the current directory.
To delete a folder and its contents, use the rm command with the -r flag, followed by the folder name. For example, rm -r myfolder will recursively delete a folder named “myfolder” and all its contents in the current directory.
Terminal will prompt you to confirm the deletion if the file or folder is non-empty or contains important data. Type “y” for yes and press Enter to proceed with the deletion.

When using Terminal to delete files and folders, exercise caution to avoid accidentally deleting important files or directories. Double-check your commands and ensure that you are deleting the intended files or folders.

Using Terminal allows you to perform file deletions efficiently, especially when dealing with large numbers of files or complex directory structures. However, if you are not familiar or comfortable with the command line, it is advisable to use the graphical user interface methods, such as the Finder, to delete files and folders.

By utilizing Terminal, you have a powerful tool at your disposal to delete files and folders on your Mac efficiently. It offers a flexible and efficient way to manage your files and maintain a clean and organized system.