TL;DR
To delete files on a Mac:
- Select the file and press Command ⌘ + Delete to quickly delete it.
- Drag the file to the Bin icon in your Dock.
- Right-click the file and select Move to Bin from the menu.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
Deleting files on a Mac is a straightforward task, but knowing the quickest methods can save you time and hassle. In this guide, you’ll learn simple ways to remove files efficiently, no matter the situation.
Quickest Ways to Delete Files on a Mac
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Here are the quickest ways to delete files on your Mac:
- The quickest way to delete a file on your Mac is to select it and use the Command ⌘ + Delete keyboard shortcut.
- You can also remove a file on a Mac by selecting it with your cursor and dragging it to the Bin icon in your Dock.
- Alternatively, right-click a file and choose Move to Bin from the context menu.
When you remove files on a Mac, they aren’t instantly erased. Instead, they’re shifted to the Bin, lingering there until you clear it. To thoroughly empty the Trash on your Mac:
- Right-click the Bin icon and choose Empty Bin.
- Alternatively, open the Bin and click the Empty button in the top-right corner.
To permanently remove particular files in the Bin, right-click them and choose Delete Immediately… followed by Delete.
✅ Even if you’re erasing files for good, it’s wise to maintain a Time Machine backup on external storage as a safety net.
How to Delete Files on a Mac
Here are the step-by-step methods to delete different types of files on Mac:
1. Delete Mac Files Without Sending Them to the Bin
To speed up the deletion process, you can bypass the Bin and directly delete a file on your Mac. However, be cautious, as you won’t be able to retrieve the file from the Bin later.
🚨 Once deleted in this manner, the action is irreversible.
After highlighting the file in Finder, follow these steps to skip the Bin and delete the file:
- Hold the Option ⌥ key, navigate to File in the menu bar, and click Delete Immediately.
- Use the Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Delete Mac keyboard shortcut.
Regardless of your chosen method, a confirmation popup will appear, ensuring you intend to permanently delete the selected file. Click the Delete button on the pop-up.
2. How to Delete Multiple Files on Mac
Here’s a step-by-step guide to deleting multiple files on a Mac:
- Go to the folder or location where the files you want to delete are stored.
- Select multiple files using one of the following methods:
- Using the Mouse: Hold down the Command ⌘ key and click each file you want to delete.
- Using the Keyboard: If the files are consecutive, click the first file, hold down the Shift ⇧ key, and click the last file. This will select all files in between.
- Select All Files: If you want to select all files in a folder, press Command ⌘ + A.
- Drag the selected files to the Bin icon in the Dock or press Command ⌘ + Delete.
- To permanently delete the files, right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin.
⚠️ Always double-check the files you’re about to delete to ensure you don’t accidentally remove important documents. Once the Bin is emptied, recovery becomes more challenging.
3. How to Delete Hidden Files on a Mac
To find and delete hidden files on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Open Finder and click the Macintosh HD folder in the left sidebar.
- Inside the folder, hold down Command ⌘ + Shift ⇧ + . (period) simultaneously.
- It will reveal the concealed files. You can select and delete the folders you want.
You can also perform this in the Applications, Documents, and Desktop folders. After spotting the hidden files, you can delete them like regular files on your Mac.
4. How to Delete Locked Files on a Mac
Deleting locked files on a Mac requires a few additional steps compared to regular files. Here’s how to unlock a file via Finder:
- Locate the locked file in Finder.
- Right-click the file and select Get Info or press Command ⌘ + I.
- In the Get Info window, look for the Locked checkbox under the General section.
- Uncheck the Locked box.
- Now, you can delete the file as you normally would.
5. How to Find and Delete Large Files on a Mac
Finding and deleting large files on a Mac can help free up storage space. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you locate and remove large files on your Mac:
- Open System Settings on your Mac.
- Click General and select Storage.
- Scroll down to Documents and click the small i next to it.
- To view the biggest redundant files on your Mac, use the Large Files tab. (I had no large files on my Mac, so it showed an empty pane).
- Alternatively, select File Browser to view the sizes of all files and folders on your device.
- To remove a file, select it and hit Delete. This action will erase the file without moving it to the Bin first.
6. How to Delete iOS Files on a Mac
Outdated backups from iOS and iPadOS can consume significant storage on your Mac. To locate and remove old iPhone and iPad backups, follow these steps:
- Open System Settings on your Mac.
- Click General and select Storage.
- Scroll down to iOS Files. (Only appears if you have an iOS backup on your Mac).
- Identify the iOS or iPadOS backup you wish to remove.
- Press Delete.
⚠️ Before deleting any files, especially if they are the only copies, ensure you won’t need them in the future or consider backing them up to an external drive or cloud storage.
7. How to Delete a File in Use
If you’ve tried to delete a file but received a message that it’s “in use,” here’s what you can do:
- If you know which application is using the file, close that application. For instance, if it’s a Word document, close Microsoft Word.
- Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select Force Quit.
- Choose the application that might be using the file.
- Click Force Quit again.
- Click the Force Quit button on the confirmation dialog box to confirm that you want to force quit the app.
- Sometimes, simply restarting your computer can free up the file.
- Now, try deleting the file again.
🚨 Force quitting applications can affect unsaved work, so proceed with caution. Always ensure you’ve saved any important data before taking these actions.
8. How to Delete Mac Files via Terminal
To delete files on your Mac via Terminal, follow these steps:
⚠️ Terminal is powerful, and a misstep can result in significant issues. Tread with caution.
- Open Terminal on your Mac by searching for it in Spotlight search.
- Type the following command, making sure there’s a space after the R, but don’t press Enter:
sudo rm -R 
- Instead of pressing Enter, click the Bin to open it.
- Drag the files from the Bin onto the Terminal window and press Enter.
- Enter your administrator password, and the file will be deleted from your Bin.
Delete Unnecessary Files on Your Mac
Deleting files on a Mac is simple with various methods like Finder, Terminal, or specialized tools. Pick the one that works best for you!
Here are a few more tips to maintain a clutter-free Mac:
- Find, merge, and delete duplicate photos on Mac to prevent similar images from cluttering your library.
- If you use the iMessage app, regularly delete messages on MacBook to prevent them from piling up.
- Backups take up a lot of space. You can delete old Time Machine backups on your Mac to free up storage.
