Can't Empty Trash

[ProTruckDriver]

I have noticed that I have a GIF image that I put into the trash a few weeks ago that will not empty when I empty that trash. All other documents and images empty but this one GIF keeps coming back and appearing in the trash. I tried to empty in Safe Mode. It disappeared when I restarted the computer. Then I put a different document in the trash for testing and the GIF appeared again. Any suggestions?

 

[mic j]

I use an app called Trash It when I occasionally have had this problem. So far, it has removed every item that has ever gotten stuck in my Trash.

 

[NoBoMac]

Sounds like you have some program that is launching at startup that might be creating it, so, check your startup items and launch agents and daemons.

Can also try to do command line delete: might shake loose whatever is going on. From Terminal:

cd .Trash
rm -rf *

(Note: the second command can cause extreme havoc if not done in the Trash folder, so, extreme caution is required)

 

[ProTruckDriver]

Thank you @mic j and @NoBoMac . I'll give them both a try later today or tomorrow and see if the trash empty's.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

Thank you @mic j and @NoBoMac . I'll give them both a try later today or tomorrow and see if the trash empty's.

To give an update on my problem I never got around to downloading "Trash It" or using the Command Line. A few days ago I uploaded some pics to the iCloud. Some how that must have done something to the pic I had stuck in the trash. The stuck pic in the trash was not one of the pics I uploaded to the cloud. But after the upload the pic was gone from the trash and was not in iCloud either. Sort of weird if you ask me, but my trash is now empty.

 

[Gravydog316]

Thats usuallly because of a messed-up piece of the file;

(it could've been, the file was erased, but just still was appearing in the trash)
at school, we used an app called Permanent Eraser, from Edenwraith which worked great:
http://www.edenwaith.com


...the Trash is just a folder... an app could've been using the file or data; or iCloud or Spotlight could've been using the file;

there could've been different permissions on the file by the app or whomever created it too...

 

[maccompaq]

Thats usuallly because of a messed-up piece of the file;

(it could've been, the file was erased, but just still was appearing in the trash)
at school, we used an app called Permanent Eraser, from Edenwraith which worked great:
http://www.edenwaith.com


...the Trash is just a folder... an app could've been using the file or data; or iCloud or Spotlight could've been using the file;

there could've been different permissions on the file by the app or whomever created it too...

[doublepost=1535379914][/doublepost]I downloaded this app, but it did not empty the trash. Have tried several things without success.

 

[Gravydog316]

[doublepost=1535379914][/doublepost]I downloaded this app, but it did not empty the trash. Have tried several things without success.

hmmm. something with the file is messed up (i'm guessing?)
try search on google for different solutions...

there might be a Terminal command that will work.

Does the trash have the full or empty icon on the Dock?
[doublepost=1535690994][/doublepost]Turn off your wifi, iCloud, bluetooth, location services, automatic updates, etc. & then try...

Some people had this happen with the last macOS version, so I would say it's just a macOS bug.
Try filing a bug report with Apple, & see if they reply to you.

 

[Sackofnickels]

hmmm. something with the file is messed up (i'm guessing?)
try search on google for different solutions...

there might be a Terminal command that will work.

Does the trash have the full or empty icon on the Dock?
[doublepost=1535690994][/doublepost]Turn off your wifi, iCloud, bluetooth, location services, automatic updates, etc. & then try...

Some people had this happen with the last macOS version, so I would say it's just a macOS bug.
Try filing a bug report with Apple, & see if they reply to you.

These instructions work like a charm.

https://www.imore.com/how-force-empty-trash-your-mac-using-terminal

 

[maccompaq]

These instructions work like a charm.

https://www.imore.com/how-force-empty-trash-your-mac-using-terminal

As shown by the message from Terminal below, this did not work on El Capitan. What am I missing?
sudo: rm-R: command not found

 

[Sackofnickels]

As shown by the message from Terminal below, this did not work on El Capitan. What am I missing?
sudo: rm-R: command not found

I believe the link I posted addresses the issue. I'm no expert but I found the following:

"It used to be that you could force the trash to empty on your Mac using sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*, but it doesn't work in El Capitan or Sierra. If you are running OS X 10.10 or higher, follow these steps instead".

1. Enter the following command into terminal without hitting Enter afterward.
   
   sudo rm -R
   
   Please note that there is a space after R. Make sure you add a space after R or this command will not work.
   
   
2. Control-click on your Trash icon to open it.
   
   
3. Select all of the files in your trash folder.
4. Drag the files into the Terminal window.
   
   
   
   
5. Hit Enter.
6. Enter your administrator password. You will not see the password being typed into Terminal. It will look like nothing has changed.
7. Hit Enter again.

Spells it out step by step.

 

[maccompaq]

I tried your suggestion many times. Terminal gave me this dialog after listing all items in the Trash: Invalid argument. Directory not empty

 

[Silvrbill]

Try re-starting your computer, then emptying the trash.