Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Projectionist

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 20, 2020
3
1
I've encountered a strange error on a brand new M1 Mac Mini. When I drag files out of trash, I get an error code 36:

"The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "id=6571..." can't be read or written."

The id number changes each time. The file then is removed from trash but does not appear where I dragged it to. It just vanishes. Any suggestions?

Here's my exact steps:
Take a screenshot of desktop (just need a disposable file and this is quick to make).
Drag screenshot to Trash
Drag screenshot from trash back to desktop
Error 36, can't complete operation
Screenshot is no longer in trash or on desktop.

It doesn't matter what kind of file is in trash, or where I drag it to when removing from trash. Same thing happens when I right click and choose "Put Back"
 
Try dragging the folder to the desktop, highlight it, in the Finder window drop file menu click get info and se if locked is checked, if so unlock it.
Also I would do a complete back up in case you do have a drive on the way out.
There could be something corrupt as well.
Try a permissions repair: Go>utilities>disk utilities, highlight your user drive (usually Mac HD or what you may have named it), click Repair Permissions, this can take a while
 
I'm also seeing this when trying to restore files out of the Trash.
Mine went away after a full shutdown and reboot. Which isn't exactly reassuring since I still don't know what caused the error or why it resolved, but it hasn't shown up again since.
 
I solved this problem, it didn't solve it when I checked the Volume for errors in Recovery mode.
When I drag a file / folder out of the Trash it says:
Code:
The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “id=6571367.39712395” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)

When you copy the file and paste in to the Terminal to find out the path, the real path folder where this file should be is empty. Thus, it seems that Trash can symlink or folder location non-existent path related issue.

Code:
/Users/vm/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.Photos.PhotosFileProvider/File Provider Storage/photospicker/.Trash

The way to solve this problem is by removing this folder.

Sometimes Finder.app moves file back to ~/.Trash folder since then (not to a Group Container related .Trash folder).

video tutorial
 
Last edited:
I solved this problem, it didn't solve it when I checked the Volume for errors in Recovery mode.
When I drag a file / folder out of the Trash it says:
Code:
The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “id=6571367.39712395” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)

When you copy the file and paste in to the Terminal to find out the path, the real path folder where this file should be is empty. Thus, it seems that Trash can symlink or folder location non-existent path related issue.

Code:
/Users/vm/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.Photos.PhotosFileProvider/File Provider Storage/photospicker/.Trash

The way to solve this problem is by removing this folder.

Sometimes Finder.app moves file back to ~/.Trash folder since then (not to a Group Container related .Trash folder).

video tutorial
Hi lamoore,

I deleted the directory group.com.apple.Photos.PhotosFileProvider by right-clicking it and sending it to trash and then I emptied the trash. The problem has been fixed for the time being. My only concern is that after rebooting, that directory has again appeared in Library. For the time being deleting an item sends it to the main Trash and I can retrieve it from the Trash, but I am worried whether the problem will appear again.
Does deleting that directory in Terminal (as you have done) remove it permanently?
 
I experienced this problem again. After I contacted Apple Support they used remote share screen feature built in Mac and showed some tricks: e.g. because it was com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache file/folder that was unremovable I was advised to type in "photo" in System Monitor and quit the process. It didn't help. Nor other recommendations helped. Apple Support employee explained that this problem is caused by removing Photo.app Library. Anyway, the last resort that we didn't try was to re-create my account, which I didn't do. After session was finished, I created a new account with administrative rights and tried to remove that unremovable folder from this account. It didn't work. The only way that worked was to reboot into recovery mode, which I did and removed that file. And now it is empty and my Trash can works.
 
I experienced this problem again. After I contacted Apple Support they used remote share screen feature built in Mac and showed some tricks: e.g. because it was com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache file/folder that was unremovable I was advised to type in "photo" in System Monitor and quit the process. It didn't help. Nor other recommendations helped. Apple Support employee explained that this problem is caused by removing Photo.app Library. Anyway, the last resort that we didn't try was to re-create my account, which I didn't do. After session was finished, I created a new account with administrative rights and tried to remove that unremovable folder from this account. It didn't work. The only way that worked was to reboot into recovery mode, which I did and removed that file. And now it is empty and my Trash can works.
Hi Lamoore,
I have also experienced the problem a couple of times and I deleted group.com.apple.Photos.PhotosFileProvider and the problem was fixed. But after rebooting my MacBook this directory is recreated and the problem may appear again.
Regarding com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache file/folder that you have mentioned, I have no such file or folder on my MacBook and all of damaged files which cannot be recovered from Trash go to .Trash folder in group.com.apple.Photos.PhotosFileProvider . So, what is this com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache doing? Where can I find and delete it?
 
Same problem on a MacMini M1 with 11.6.2.

It could be that the problem comes from deleting or moving the library of the Apple Photo app.

After several unsuccessful attempts at the moment I use this solution, I created a workflow with Automator that deletes the invisible and wrong .trash folder.

Automator -> Utility -> Run shell script

echo "yourpassword" | sudo -S rm -rf / Users / admin / Library / Group \ Containers / group.com.apple.Photos.PhotosFileProvider / File \ Provider \ Storage / photospicker / .Trash

Save it as an application. You can also try to put it in starting with, but the system after a few hours diabolically recreates the folder ...

yourpassword = your password
admin = your user name

You can also use cron for automatic delete the wrong trash every 2 hours:
0 */2 * * * Trash.sh

The pw is saved as clear text in the script, so use this solution only on safe Mac.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.