10 Things To Know About Using the Trash On Your Mac

The normal way to delete files on your Mac is to use the Trash or Bin folder. There are several shortcuts and advanced techniques that you should know about.

Comments: 17 Responses to “10 Things To Know About Using the Trash On Your Mac”

    Bent
    2 years ago

    I have often wondered how the Mac managed the trash for my iCloud files and my no-iCloud files. Thanks. Now I understand and have a good feeling.

    Paul D. Womer
    2 years ago

    Good advice re not using Trash as a "hold" file. Aside from that, when I entered System Settings/Genera/Storage, the window was different as your video. There was no option for recommendations as you displayed. Can you explain the difference? P

    2 years ago

    Paul: I think the recommendations vary depending on what your Mac thinks you'll need. You can check in Finder, Settings, Advanced for another place to check "Delete After 30 Days."

    Robert Dettman
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, my System Settings > General > Storage doesn't show the option for trash ???

    2 years ago

    Robert: That section is "Recommendations" so maybe you have it turned on already? Check in Finder, Settings, Advanced.

    David Wright
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, just to clarify if I delete files from Trash (say after 30 days) does this also delete the trashed files held on iCloud

    2 years ago

    David: Should. Why not try it with a sample file right now and see.

    nick
    2 years ago

    Gary, if I have a file stored in a folder for a long time (weeks, months), then move it to the trash and empty the trash, would that file still be in Time Machine backups? thx

    2 years ago

    nick: Yes, you would find it by going to that folder and looking back in time before you moved it to the Trash. Doing exactly that is one of the primary features of using Time Machine.

    Frank Scully
    2 years ago

    I noticed that the space becomes available only after 1) the bin is emptied 2) the APFS snapshots have been cleared out

    2 years ago

    Frank; Exactly.

    Jonathan
    2 years ago

    What about the trash in the Mail app with or without iCloud mail engaged? Is that a completely different beast?

    2 years ago

    Jonathan: Completely different. Email mailboxes (folders) are stored with your email provider (iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo, etc). This would include the Trash folder and how it is handled.

    Chethan Belludi
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, when I select a file and go to "File" in the menu bar, I see Move to Trash function; this can be turned into Delete Immediately by holding the Option key. However, when I right-click on a file (or a set of files), the context menu also has this Move to Trash function; but this cannot be modified by holding the Option key. Am I doing something wrong?

    2 years ago

    Chethan: No, that's just how it works.

    Antanas
    2 years ago

    Hi Gary, if I want to create a shortcut and delete using simply the delete/back key, without command, how can I do it?

    2 years ago

    Antanas: You really can't. And shouldn't. That would make it too easy to delete files and would eventually mean you may accidentally delete something.

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