How to Delete Files on a Mac: 4 Methods Explained

Finding out how to delete files on a Mac isn't hard. However, there's more than one way to delete files on a Mac. You'll learn four different methods for deleting files on your Mac. We'll show you how to use the standard method, Trash, Terminal, and the Mac Storage Manager to delete files. Read on to find out more.

How to Delete Files on Mac Normally

We'll start with the simplest and quickest way, something even Mac newbies can learn to do. Here are three ways you can delete files on a Mac.

Tip 1: Select the files you want to get rid of, right-click on them, and you'll see a few options; one of them will be “Move to Trash.”

Click “Move to Trash”.

Method 2: Select the items you no longer need with your mouse, then drag them directly to the Trash. Both of the first two methods move the files to the Trash, where they will be stored temporarily.

If you don't know where is trash on Mac, you can refer to the picture below, and you'll find it.

TIP 3. You might already know how to remove files with these two methods. But did you know the keyboard shortcuts to move files to trash on Mac? There are three groups of Mac shortcuts you can use:

• Press Command + Delete to immediately move a file to the Trash.
• Hold Command + Shift + Delete or Command + Shift + Option + Delete to empty the Trash on your Mac.

Permanently Delete Files from Mac by Emptying the Trash

“I have too many files and folders in my Trash, and I want to get rid of them for good.” Leaving unwanted files and folders in your Trash takes up space on your computer and can slow down your Mac.

We recommend that you empty the Trash regularly to free up storage on your Mac. To empty the Trash and permanently delete files, follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the Trash icon on your Mac.

Step 2: Right-click the Trash icon.

Click “Empty Recycle Bin,” and your files will be gone for good.

Click Empty Trash to permanently remove the files:

We have a video that can help you understand how to delete files on a Mac a little better, but here are five key takeaways:

• 01:17 Delete Multiple Files
• 03:25 Enable Right Click
• 03:48 Open System Preferences
• 03:56 Using Secondary Click on a Mac
• 04:26 How to Use the MacBook Trackpad

Delete Files on a Mac Using Terminal

Did you know you can delete files on a Mac using Terminal? On a Mac, you can perform command-line operations through Terminal, allowing you to quickly delete multiple files at once. Here's a guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Open Terminal on your Mac by using Spotlight search.

Step 2: In Terminal, type rm, then drag the unwanted file into Terminal and press Return.

Step 3: Press Enter, and the file will be deleted permanently.

Note: The Terminal is a very useful tool that you can also use to recover files deleted from Mac with command line.

How to Use Storage Management to Delete Files on Your Mac

The last thing we're going to teach you how to do is use the Storage Manager to delete files, and the Storage Manager makes it really easy to delete files, folders, apps, and backups. So let's get started using the Storage Manager to delete files.

Step 1: Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and choose “About This Mac.”

Step 2: Tap on “Storage” and then “Manage.”

Select the storage device and click on “Manage”.

Step 3: Then, select the file you want to delete and click "Delete." If a confirmation dialog appears, click "Delete" again.

How to recover deleted files using data recovery software

After reading this article, you will learn 4 ways to delete files on Mac either temporarily or permanently. It's easy to recover deleted files from the Trash as long as you download this professional and reliable software - the Mac Data Recovery Wizard, which makes it possible to recover permanently deleted files from Mac.

This recovery utility makes emptying Mac Trash an easy and secure affair. You can recover files after emptying the Trash on Mac or retrieve deleted files that you accidentally lost. Let's see how to use Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to restore deleted files.

Note: You can create a backup by clicking "Disk Backup" on the left first. The software will recover deleted files from the backup image. It can prevent further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1: Scan the Deleted File

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD from where your important data and files were deleted, and then click “Search Lost Files.”

Select the location and scan for deleted files on your Mac

Step 2: Search for Lost Files

The software will scan the selected volume quickly and thoroughly, trying to find as many deleted files as possible. Filter the required files by means of the “Type” and “Path” options.

Step 3: Recover the deleted files

Double-click to preview the deleted files, and then hit the “Recover” button to get them back.

Additional tip: Having trouble deleting a file on a Mac? Here's how to fix it.

Most of the time, you can successfully delete files on your Mac without any issues. However, there may be instances when your file is locked and in use, or there are some corruption issues with macOS. You might find that you're unable to delete a file on your Mac, and for this, we have provided some solutions to help you address the problem and forcefully delete files on Mac:

Trick #1: Force Quit and Delete. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, and select “Force Quit.”

Tip: Change the permissions from read-only to core read-write.

Tip 3: If you find that the files are locked, you can unlock and delete them.

TIP #4: You can also delete a stubborn file from the Terminal on a Mac.

Bottom line

We've got a detailed guide on how to delete files on Mac the regular way or through the Trash, Terminal, and Storage Manager. If you accidentally deleted some important files, you'll need a data recovery tool, and we highly recommend Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. It also has an option that makes Mac USB recovery possible. If you lost important data on a USB device, this tool will help you get it back.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Delete Files on a Mac

If you have any other questions, you might find the answer in our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Why can't I delete a file on my Mac?

This issue might occur if your file is locked or in use, or due to a corrupted macOS system. Sometimes, you might not be able to delete a file simply because you lack the permissions to modify it.

How do I delete all files on a Mac?

You can delete all the files on your Mac through a few steps:

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar, then select "System Preferences."
2. In System Preferences, click "Erase All Content and Settings" from the menu.
3. Enter your administrator password when prompted by the "Erase Assistant," then click "OK."

What is the delete key on a Mac?

• Command + Delete: This shortcut moves a file to the Trash.
• Command + Delete + Shift: This empties the Trash, with a confirmation prompt.
• Command + Delete + Shift + Option: This empties the Trash without confirmation.

How do I force delete a file on a Mac?

You can forcibly delete a file on a Mac using the following methods:

1. Force quit and delete. 2. Change the permissions from read-only to read and write. 3. Unlock and delete files if you find them locked. 4. Delete stubborn files from the Terminal on your Mac.