
Getting a fast and secure Trash empty is very easy. Part 1: How to empty Trash on Mac fast and securely Force empty Trash on Mac when data are in use or locked Part 2: How to permanently empty Trash on Mac.Protecting your privacy and freeing up space can be done here. In this page, you will learn about 6 ways of emptying your Trash on Mac, whether the items you want to empty is in use, or locked. That is the point of today, how to empty Trash on Mac. Thus, if you really want to delete some items permanently and thoroughly, you need to empty your Trash that won't delete. It still gives the opportunity to get back the deleted items within it. This post lists 6 solutions to empty your Mac Trash, even when the item is in use or locked. Emptying your Trash on Mac thoroughly is the key. To do it from any open Finder window, click on the Finder menu and select Secure Empty Trash.īonus Tip: Make Secure Empty Trash the default behaviorUse this tip if you'd like to make sure that your Mac securely deletes files every time you empty the Trash.Putting items into Trash is never the ending of permanent or secure deletion.Empty Trash will change to Secure Empty Trash. Hold down the command key and click on the Trash.Click and hold on the Trashcan icon in the Dock.Secure Empty Trash takes longer, but provides, as the name implies, a more secure form of file deletion.

Secure Empty Trash overwrites the deleted files with what Apple calls "meaningless data." Sometimes you may delete files that are particularly sensitive: Financial records, for example, intimate photos, or other data you absolutely don't want anyone to get their hands on, under any circumstances.Īpple has considered this and has provided a Secure Empty Trash option as well.


As a result, some deleted files can be recovered using disk recovery software. But emptying the trash doesn't really destroy the files: They remain on the hard drive, marked for being overwritten the next time your Mac needs the space. How to securely empty the trash on your MacEmptying the trash is usually sufficient to get rid of the files you don't want anymore.
