How to Delete Files on Mac

As a Mac user, one of the essential tasks that you will regularly perform is deleting files. Whether it is to free up space on your hard drive, get rid of unnecessary files, or to make way for new files, deleting files is an integral part of using your Mac.

In this blog post, we will cover various methods to delete files on a Mac. We will discuss how to delete Mac files without sending them to the Trash, how to find and delete the biggest files on a Mac, how to delete iOS files on a Mac, how to delete locked files on a Mac, and how to manually free up space on a Mac.

So, let’s get started.

How to delete Mac files without sending them to the Trash

Deleting files on a Mac usually involves sending them to the Trash first. However, there may be times when you want to delete a file permanently without it being sent to the Trash. Maybe you have sensitive information that you don’t want to leave behind or perhaps you want to free up space on your hard drive quickly without having to empty the Trash. Whatever the reason, there are ways to delete Mac files without sending them to the Trash.

One way to delete Mac files without sending them to the Trash is by using the keyboard shortcut Command + Delete. This shortcut works for any selected file or folder, and it will delete it permanently without sending it to the Trash. You can also use the Option key along with Command + Delete to bypass the confirmation dialog box that appears when you delete a file using this method.

Another way to delete files permanently on a Mac is to use the Terminal app. This method requires a bit more technical knowledge, so it’s best to proceed with caution. Open the Terminal app and type “sudo rm -rf [file name]” to permanently delete the file without sending it to the Trash. This command will bypass any warnings or prompts that normally appear when you try to delete a file on a Mac.

A third way to delete files permanently on a Mac is to use a third-party application. There are several applications available that allow you to permanently delete files without sending them to the Trash. One such application is Permanent Eraser. This app allows you to securely delete files, making them unrecoverable even with specialized recovery tools.

How to find and delete the biggest files on a Mac

As a Mac user, you know how quickly your hard drive can fill up with files, which can cause your computer to slow down. One way to free up space on your Mac is to find and delete the biggest files. Here are some steps you can take to find and delete large files on your Mac:

1. Use the built-in tool: One way to find and delete large files on your Mac is to use the built-in tool called “Finder.” Open the Finder window, select the “File” menu and choose “New Smart Folder.” In the search bar, type “size: > 100 MB” (or any other file size you prefer), and the Finder will list all files that meet that criteria. You can then sort the files by size, select the ones you want to delete, and drag them to the Trash.
2. Use third-party software: There are many third-party applications that can help you find and delete large files on your Mac. One popular option is Disk Inventory X. This free application scans your hard drive and displays a visual representation of the files, making it easy to identify large files. You can then select the files you want to delete and move them to the Trash.
3. Manually search for large files: If you don’t want to use a third-party application or the Finder, you can manually search for large files. Open the Finder window, select the “Go” menu, and choose “Go to Folder.” Type “/Users/username” (replace “username” with your own username) and press “Enter.” This will open your user folder. You can then search for large files by size or file type.

Once you’ve identified the large files you want to delete, drag them to the Trash or use a keyboard shortcut such as Command + Delete to delete them permanently. Remember to exercise caution when deleting files and make sure you’re not deleting anything important.

How to delete iOS files on a Mac

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you may have noticed that your device stores a lot of data. Over time, this data can accumulate and take up a lot of space on your device. One way to free up space on your iOS device is to delete files such as photos, videos, and music. However, deleting large amounts of data can be time-consuming on a mobile device. Luckily, you can delete iOS files on your Mac quickly and easily. Here’s how:

1. Connect your iOS device to your Mac using a USB cable. When you connect your device to your Mac, it should appear in the Finder sidebar.
2. Open the Finder window and select your iOS device from the sidebar. You should see a list of categories, such as Music, Photos, and Videos.
3. To delete files in a specific category, such as Photos, click on that category. You can then select the files you want to delete and drag them to the Trash or use the keyboard shortcut Command + Delete to delete them permanently.
4. To delete files across multiple categories, you can use the “Manage Storage” feature. Click on the “General” category, and then select “iPhone Storage” or “iPad Storage,” depending on your device. You should see a list of all the apps on your device and the amount of storage they’re using.
5. Click on an app to see how much space it’s using and to view the files associated with that app. You can then select the files you want to delete and click on “Delete App” or “Delete Documents & Data” to delete them.

Remember that deleting files on your iOS device can be permanent, so make sure you’re not deleting anything important. Additionally, some files, such as those stored in iCloud, may not be permanently deleted from your device but will still be accessible through iCloud.

How to delete locked files on a Mac

Have you ever tried to delete a file on your Mac, only to find that it’s locked and can’t be moved to the Trash? This can be frustrating, especially if the file is taking up valuable space on your hard drive. Fortunately, there are a few ways to delete locked files on your Mac. Here’s how:

1. Use the “Get Info” feature: The “Get Info” feature allows you to view and change the permissions of a file. To access this feature, select the file you want to delete, and then press “Command + I” or right-click and select “Get Info.” In the “Sharing & Permissions” section, make sure you have the necessary permissions to delete the file. If you don’t, click on the lock icon and enter your administrator password to unlock the file. You should then be able to move the file to the Trash.
2. Use Terminal: Terminal is a powerful command-line tool that allows you to perform a variety of tasks, including deleting locked files. Open Terminal, and then type “sudo rm -f” followed by a space. Drag the locked file you want to delete into the Terminal window. The file path should appear after the “sudo rm -f” command. Press “Enter,” and then enter your administrator password when prompted. The file should be deleted.
3. Use a third-party tool: There are many third-party tools available that can help you delete locked files on your Mac. One popular option is “Trash It!” This free application allows you to force-delete stubborn files that can’t be moved to the Trash. Simply drag the locked file into the “Trash It!” window, and the application will delete it.

Remember to exercise caution when deleting locked files. Make sure you’re not deleting anything important, and always back up your important files before making any changes to your system.

How to manually free up space on a Mac

If you’ve been using your Mac for a while, you may have noticed that your hard drive is getting full. This can slow down your computer and make it difficult to store new files. Fortunately, there are several ways to manually free up space on your Mac. Here’s how:

1. Delete old files: One of the easiest ways to free up space on your Mac is to delete old files that you no longer need. This can include old documents, music, videos, and pictures. You can use the Finder to locate and delete these files, or you can use a third-party application like CleanMyMac X to help identify and delete large, old files.
2. Remove unnecessary applications: Applications can take up a lot of space on your hard drive, especially if you have several installed that you don’t use. You can use the Finder to locate and remove these applications, or you can use a third-party application like AppCleaner to help identify and remove applications and their associated files.
3. Clear your cache: Your Mac stores temporary files, known as cache files, to help speed up certain processes. However, over time, these files can accumulate and take up a lot of space. You can use a third-party application like CleanMyMac X to help identify and clear these files, or you can clear them manually by going to the Library folder in your user folder and deleting the cache files associated with the applications you use.
4. Empty your Trash: When you delete files on your Mac, they are moved to the Trash. However, the files still take up space on your hard drive until you empty the Trash. You can empty the Trash by right-clicking on the Trash icon in the Dock and selecting “Empty Trash.”
5. Disable Time Machine backups: Time Machine is a built-in backup tool on your Mac that automatically backs up your files. However, these backups can take up a lot of space on your hard drive. You can disable Time Machine backups by going to System Preferences > Time Machine and turning off the “Back Up Automatically” option.

By following these tips, you can manually free up space on your Mac and improve its performance. Just remember to exercise caution when deleting files, and always back up your important data before making any changes to your system.