I generally tend to delete any item which i actually want to delete ( not to move to Trash ) by pressing key combinations Shift+Delete key in windows . But in Mac i dont find such shortcut key to permanently delete any item . Although the shortcut key for delete in Mac is Command+Backspace , this moves the item to Trash and doesn’t permanently delete it. Its actually ironic that you press key combinations still you are not able to Delete items permanently like in windows . In Windows deleting an item ( moving to trash ) is a single key press thing ( Press Delete key ) to do the same job in Mac you have to press two key combinations 
.
To empty trash in Mac the shortcut key is Command+Shift+Backspace ( with a confirmation message shown then press OK ) . Shortcut key to delete without confirmation window is Command+Shift+Option+Backspace . A lot of key combination , hard to remember . Well Emptying trash in mac still doesn’t completely delete it . The deleted files can still be recovered from Data recovery softwares ( apple says it ) . So basically you are being fooled here . You haven’t still permanently deleted files from your computer ( may be for some its a good feature but for me NO ). So to permanently delete files from Trash you need to “Securely Empty Trash” from Finder menu .
To permanently delete files in Mac there are some Applescripts and Autmator actions available .
- An Applescript ( I haven’t tested this one )
- Automator Action :- Download this Automator Action . ( thanks Justin Middleton ) Install it and use it . To learn about how to get going with Automator Go to www.automator.us
To much of time wasting just to have a delete permanently option in Mac , isn’t it ?
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Using
Shift-Delete doesn’t do the same as Secure Empty Trash though. Shift-Delete just stops it going to the recycling bin. Secure Empty Trash rewrites the file 7 times so it is impossible for anyone to ever see that file again.
Using
About “Secure Empty Trash” Apple says - Files deleted in this way are completely overwritten by meaningless data..
I didn’t know trash rewrites the file 7 times. “Sure
Delete,” can do a similar function in windows.
Using
I don’t understand why Secure Empty Trash can’t just write zeros to the empty space once and be done with it.
Using
So how exactly do you secure empty trash?
Using
How do you secure Empty trash?
Using
Like i showed . from the FInder menu Alexis
Using
i want a command for mac OS X - TAB, and Backspace Keys
Using
@Above . Command meaning..
Using
hey! I’ve been playing around with my brand new mac for a few days and I hit this very problem today
what I’ve found is, the Trash is nothing but a hidden folder in your $HOME, so cd to $HOME/.Trash/ and you’ll be able to rm -f(r) any files (folders) that you want to
hope this helps…
cheers!
Using
Thanks Fra for you views.
Using
how can I remove items permanently from trash?
I’m using Macbook
regards,
Vahidi
Using
@ vahidi
“how can I remove items permanently from trash?
I’m using Macbook”
Buy a PC. Jk, Jk. Um…if secure empty trash doesn’t work, I’ve got no clue. If that doesn’t work…Buy a PC. :-p
Using
Great assist! I was getting pissed trying to empty my trash folder. Command+option+shift+delete cleared everything out.
Using
It’s not hard to empty the trash, folks — and the only reason you’d want to “secure” empty trash is to hide files from ever being recovered… it’s totally the same on any OS. Windows also doesn’t over-write the files you move to the recycle folder when you empty it — or when you delete them right away. Deleted files can always be recovered if they haven’t been overwritten, in any OS.
I’m no Mac/Apple “fanboy” but honestly — the things you have trouble with on OS X, “MacPhobia”, make me wonder how you ever got Windows installed.
Using
When you’ve deleted files from Mac OS X using ”Empty Trash”, how and where do you find them to permanently delete them using ”Secure Empty Trash”?
Using
I am so happy to find you on the web. My MacBook is the most expensive mistake I’ve ever made. Not so ironically, I came across your website as I’m one full hour into trying to delete some locked music files (12 GB worth!) from my laptop. I never locked them, I must have downloaded them that way, but at any rate, I cannot delete them - I’ve tried the Terminal approach, the Option approach, and the Secure Files approach. What a crappy product Mac’s made. I miss my PC
Using
Holy Sh*t!! Thank you, Bil. I just read your post and it WORKED. I wish I’d read your post 2 hours ago… The Mac salesman was so right, Macs are soooo intuitive. Of course deleting files should take FOUR keys depressed simultaneously… ah ha ha
Using
how do i delete the deleted files permanently ?
thx
Using
Leon, press [Command+option+shift+delete] simultaneously — this will delete the files permanently.
Using
Folks, like W00t, if you have already emtpied your trash you can’t securely empty it afterwards. If you use Finder - Secure Empty Trash and the trash is empty… well there’s nothing to securely empty.
I use both Macs and PCs throughout my day and have been for over 15 years now.
In Windows when we delete files we do it with the Delete key or we drag them to the Recycle Bin. On the Mac when we delete files we do it with FN+Delete or we drag them to the Trash.
In Windows when we empty the Recycle Bin the files are still on the disk and can be recuperated by special programs. On the Mac when we empty the trash the files are still on the disk and can be recuperated by special programs.
In Windows when we want to permanently delete files, by multiple overwrites, we find and install third-party software (such as Eraser) and we send them to that program and then run it to securely delete them. On the Mac when we want to permanently delete files, by multiple overwrites, we send them to the built-in trash and we use the built-in Finder - Secure Empty Trash to permanently them.
Honestly folks we’re talking apples and oranges here. Neither system is easier than the other. Neither system is more intuitive than the other. Both systems require learning complicated keyboard shortcuts if you insist on doing everything with a keboard. Both systems have menus to do the same things.
There are 2 current major advantages the Mac has over the PC:
1) A thousand times less viruses. This is commonly expressed as being because it is more secure. In reality it is most likely due to the simple fact that it is a much smaller market. When you write a virus for Windows you can hit over 80% of the computers out there. When you write a virus for Mac OS you can hit a maximum of 10% of the computers out there. It’s the same amount of programming time and effort so the virus authors go where they can make the larger amount of damage with the same amount of effort.
2) They are prettier and better designed. If there’s one thing Steve Jobs knows it’s industrial design. They are beautiful on the outside. But, for a bit of geek pleasure, open a Mac and then open a PC. The insides are incomparable…