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 
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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…
Using
I think the screens look nice but that is where to design improvement end. Chicklet keys… that was so Atari 20 years ago. I can not stand them. And the mouse. Crap. And the cost … crap.
Using
hi,well apple in your post,I love thatwellapple,I need to find one for me,jane
Using
Ok. Everything I have read is missing one vital point. What if you’ve already used ordinary empty trash in complete ignorance to try and clear GB’s of photographs to free up space for a vital software update???? Do i now have to try and rescue the files to properly delete them!!? Command+option+shift+delete doesn’t work if there’s nothing in the trash does it? It only seems to work on files YET to be deleted.
Losing patience…
Using
OK. ok. So I’ve calmed down.
This time i deleted 1 file (instead of a folder) with Command+option+shift+delete and it’s now deleting 5000 files…
A little more clear explanation above would have helped.
Using
Oh, and one last thing. I had to Command+option+shift+delete twice. 2nd time it deleted another 980 files. Don’t forget to restart afterwards to see the free space!
Using
Hey everyone, thanks for the tips. I just found something out if you go to disk utility you can ‘Erase free disk space’ this adds zeros to files that you have not secure trash emptied in the past and stops them being able to be recovered! Well done Mac. Sorry if someone has mentioned this just wanted to let you all know and didn’t read all the post.
Using
Shift + Del is a good why to permanently delete a file. It is no longer recoverable from out-of-the-box Windows.
At night, occasionally, you can run SDelete, a free utility from Microsoft, to scrub the harddrive disk of any residue these deleted files might leave behind.
SDelete does both random writes and zero fills - your choice. Zero fills are good for cleaning a harddrive and putting it back to near factory condition. It is also good for prepping free space on a drive before creating an “image” for back-up or for before creating a virtual machine.
Using
but how do you permanently delete just one file
I dont wanna empty my trash, i might change my mind about the files. Cant i permanently delete one file but not the others? I dont care if its written over 7 or 30 times, i just want IT gone and not the other files
Using
The way Mac is working with deleting files is actually very good for SSD (Solid State Disks). The less times SSD is overwritten with trash the better. You can trim SSD’s under Windows but not under Mac. Some SSD’s have trim garbage collection so this shouldn’t be big issue, still majority if consumer budget SSD’s don’t have garbage collection. So by performing secure delete every time you delete a file you actually slowing down your SSD (over long time) more than using simple delete function as implemented under Mac. Since there are more and more SSDs around, you guys learn to appreciate the way Mac deletes files
Using
If you have already emptied your trash, and can’t do the secure delete, you can go into Disk Utility and erase free space.
Here’s how:
Open Applications
Open Utilities folder
Start “Disk Utility”
Over on the right, you will see your disk volumes. At the very top will be something like “320 GB Fujitu…” or whatever, depending on your hardware. Underneath it will be disk volumes, the first one usually is called “Macintosh HD”. Single click on it to select it.
At the top of the Disk Utility window you will see the “Erase” button, along with Raid, Restore, etc. Click on Erase (DON’T WORRY! IT WON’T ERASE ANYTHING!)
Once you have highlighted Erase, look for the button that says “Erase Free Space”. Click on this.
Now, depending on your level of paranoia, you can do 1-pass overwrite, 7-pass overwrite, or 35-pass overwrite.
What will happen is the Mac will make create a new file, consisting of zeros, that will be the size of all the remaining space on the hard disk. This file could be hundreds of gigs in size.
7-pass overwrite takes about 8 hours for a large disk. 35-pass, on a 500 GB disk, could take a LONG time.
But any files that have ever been deleted, ain’t coming back…ever.
Actually in Linux systems there are similar utilities that allow 7 and 35-pass overwrites, but instead of zeros, each bit is randomly generated, to give the appearance that the disk was never securely deleted. Now how is that for secure?
Good luck.
Mike
Using
Here is a comment I found on another blog:
“A single pass with zeros doesn’t completely erase magnetic artifacts from a disk. It’s still possible to recover the data from the drive. A 7-pass erasure using random data will do a pretty complete job to prevent reconstruction of the data on the drive.”
Using
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Using
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Using
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Using
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Using
Is there a way to delete single items from your trash on a macbook without emptying the entire trash? I have a non-ipod mp3 player and when I delete songs from it, it doesn’t free up space until I remove that item from the trash also. Or am I missing something in the way macs organize themselves?
Using
I have been meaning to write something like this on one of my blogs and you have given me an idea. Thank you.
Using
I tried hitting the command+option+shift+delete single and twice but i cannot delete the single file that i have selected. So help me out, thanks for your suggestion.
Using
Command Option Shift Delete empties the trash, it does not delete the file. To delete it, just press command backspace.
Using
Wiping of the data is very much possible. You can delete your data permanently by taking help of stellar wipe too. Last year when I have to sell my Mac, i had also used this tool for the permanent deletion of data.
Using
How can I remove this automator? I now want to be able to send files to the trash, but the only one option I have is to delete the file immediatly, because of the script. Help!
Using
MACPHOBIA, your original post demonstrates a deep mis-understanding of how Mac OS works. Delete a file in Windows, whether through keyboard shortcut, or via trash (incidentally) copied by Microsoft from Mac OS. All the Win comp does is “forget” it has the file - its still stored on the computer - much to the cost of many criminals. Mac OS treats the user as boss - delete anything, into trash it goes. Yes it stays there until you empty trash, which means that all the “accidental” deletions that happen with WIN shortcuts are avoided !! To delete in Mac, you have the opportunity to review before deletion - THIS IS A MAJOR BENEFIT - THINK ABOUT IT. Also, if you want unrecoverable erasure of files on a Mac, “secure empty trash trash” delivers this. If all criminals had Macs, there would be a lot less convictions. Would anyone sacrifice complete erasure of unwanted files, with a chance to review before erasure, for a keyboard shortcut which leaves the files effectively still on the computer ? Only if you work for microsoft. Please Macphobia, either declare yourself as a microsoft plant, or open your narrow mind to what Mac OS really does. Comparing OS to windows is like road testing a Ford Transit against a Porsche Cayenne.
Using
Amazing music webpage you have going here!
Using
Why do you say you are being fooled by the files not being “permanently deleted”? It’s the same for every OS - when you delete a file, pretty much only the linking to it is deleted from the file system. The actual data is still there on the hard drive (unless it’s overwritten by something else). It is overwritten seven times so that there is no magnetical trace left, because advanced data recovery methodologies can supposedly rebuild data from the tiny magnetic field that is still left there.
And to empty your trash all you do is right-click on the bin and select empty, or open it and press empty.
Using
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Using
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Using
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Using
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