How to empty the Trash on a Mac, and when it won’t

How do I empty the Trash on a Mac?

The Trash sits at the end of the Dock. Files you delete wait there until you empty it.

1. Click the Trash icon in the Dock. A Finder window opens with what’s in it.
2. Look through the items. To keep one, drag it out of the window, or select it and choose File > Put Back.
3. Click Empty in the upper-right corner of the window.
4. In the warning that appears, click Empty Trash.

Other ways to do the same thing:

• From the menu bar: in Finder, choose Finder > Empty Trash.
• With the keyboard: press Shift-Command-Delete in Finder. Option-Shift-Command-Delete empties the Trash without the warning.

How do I delete just one item from the Trash?

Control-click the item in the Trash, then choose Delete Immediately. In the warning that appears, click Delete. Everything else stays in the Trash.

Does emptying the Trash free up space?

Yes. A file you move to the Trash still takes up space until you empty it. To see how much you’ll get back:

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click General in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
2. Click Storage, and wait while macOS adds up each category.
3. Find Trash in the list of categories. Its size is the space emptying gives back.

On this Mac, emptying the Trash takes available space from 89.52 GB to 96.4 GB. Items you delete from iCloud Drive aren’t counted in the Trash’s size there.

How do I empty the Trash automatically?

Finder can empty old items for you.

1. In Finder, choose Finder > Settings, then click Advanced.
2. Select “Remove items from the Trash after 30 days.”

Storage in System Settings offers the same setting: its recommendation Empty Trash automatically erases items that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days. Turn it on in either place.

Two things to know:

• Items removed this way are deleted for good. If you might want something later, keep a Time Machine backup or a copy on another drive.
• Items you move to the Trash from iCloud Drive are removed after 30 days whatever Finder’s setting says.

Why won’t my Trash empty?

Check the items in it, one at a time.

For a locked item, Apple’s steps are: select it, choose File > Get Info (or press Command-I), then deselect the Locked checkbox. If you’re not logged in as an administrator, you may need to click the lock and enter an administrator’s name and password first.

For an item in use, make sure no app has it open. Apple gives the same advice for an app that can’t be deleted because it’s in use: if it still won’t go, restart your Mac, then try again.

Recovered Files folders can appear after a restart. Apple explains they hold temporary files from an app that quit before it could delete them. Check with the app’s developer if you’re not sure what they are.

How do I stop the warning before emptying the Trash?

• Once: hold the Option key when you click Empty or choose Empty Trash.
• Always: choose Finder > Settings, click Advanced, then deselect “Show warning before emptying the Trash.”

The warning is worth keeping. Emptied items can’t be brought back from the Trash.

Questions people also ask

Where is the Trash on a Mac?

At the end of the Dock. Click it to open a Finder window with everything you’ve deleted but not yet emptied.

Can I get files back after emptying the Trash?

Not from the Trash. Apple says items emptied from the Trash are permanently deleted. If you back up with Time Machine, look for them in a backup.

What’s the keyboard shortcut to empty the Trash?

In Finder, press Shift-Command-Delete, then confirm. Option-Shift-Command-Delete empties it without the warning, so use it only when you’ve already looked.

Is it safe to empty the Trash?

Yes, once you’ve checked that nothing in it is something you need. Open the Trash and look first.

Why is my Mac still full after emptying the Trash?

The Trash is often small next to your own files. Storage in System Settings shows which category is biggest, and How to free up space on a Mac ranks every way to get space back.