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File refuses to be deleted no matter what

oooopossum

oooopossum

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 21, 2021
43
55
Miami
Screen Shot 2021-07-25 at 2.17.38 AM.png

Hi there. I was hoping I could resolve this issue with a quick google search but that was lead me down a whole rabbit hole thats led to nothing but frustration. Recently, I emptied my trashcan and it said it could not delete one file because it was still in use. I then closed all applications on my Mac, and even confirmed so in the Activity Monitor that it or similar processes were running. It still refused to be deleted. Here is what I have tried:
  • Sudo rm and all its related commands in Terminal
    • It says that its a directory, and fails to remove it. rmdir fails as well, saying it's not empty. But it is... (see below)
  • Using Cleaning/ Deletion apps such as CleanMyMac and OnyX
    • Both are able to delete seemingly everything BUT this file. Both have Full Disk Access
  • "Delete Immediately"
    • Gives the error in the attached image
  • Confirming it is not locked in Get info, and I have correct/ necessary permissions to delete/ edit it.
  • All the mentioned above, but in Safe Boot/Mode
The file is an older version of Xcode, or at least it was. Get info says its Zero KB and empty, so I'm not sure what to do at this point. Nothing on google (that I've found) has worked for me, hence why I am here.
 
Check disk and permissione with disk utility , then open terminal and delete it
 
Right click the icon and “put it back”. Then change in the Terminal to the folder containing that XCode app.

Try

sudo rm -rf ./XCode.app

in the terminal. If there is a problem with the read/write permissions run

sudo chmod -R 777

before.

nota bene: if you choose “Secure Empty Trash” in the Finder it might simply delete it from the trash can (depends on MacOS version, YMMV)
 
Slartibart said:
Right click the icon and “put it back”. Then change in the Terminal to the folder containing that XCode app.

Try

sudo rm -rf ./XCode.app

in the terminal. If there is a problem with the read/write permissions run

sudo chmod -R 777

before.

nota bene: if you choose “Secure Empty Trash” in the Finder it might simply delete it from the trash can (depends on MacOS version, YMMV)
Click to expand...
Hi there. I appreciate your reply, truly. I have tried removing the file in various locations that aren't the trash can (Desktop, a folder, documents, etc) and they all provide the same error messages (no matter the method) as stated in my original post. As for the permissions, they're all correct. And for the "Secure Empty Trash", I am on Catalina, so that appears to no longer be an option. If there are any other methods I can try let me know.
 
In the terminal cd to the folder with the program corpse

Use

$ find . -flags uchg -exec chflags nouchg {} \;

to unlock any file within the folder
 
Have you tried deleting it in Recovery Mode?

(Mount the disk using Disk Utiliy, close Disk Utility, open terminal, cd to /Volumes/<your machine name>/Users/<username>/.Trash, delete away.)
 
Slartibart said:
In the terminal cd to the folder with the program corpse

Use

$ find . -flags uchg -exec chflags nouchg {} \;

to unlock any file within the folder
Click to expand...
I did this, as well as doing it in sudo, to no avail. Same error.

PS - Program corpse seems to describe the file perfectly lol
 
auxbuss said:
Have you tried deleting it in Recovery Mode?

(Mount the disk using Disk Utiliy, close Disk Utility, open terminal, cd to /Volumes/<your machine name>/Users/<username>/.Trash, delete away.)
Click to expand...
Yes, as well as in safe boot. No success. Same error messages
 
oooopossum said:
Yes, as well as in safe boot. No success. Same error messages
Click to expand...
I doubt Safe Mode is any use here.

Can you provide the output from ls -laR .Trash

Also, in Recovery Mode, post the actual error message from the command line. If it's "rmdir: .Trash/Xcode: Directory not empty", then try rm -r .Trash/Xcode – no f option, which will swallow error messages. Please provide any error message.
 
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auxbuss said:
I doubt Safe Mode is any use here.

Can you provide the output from ls -laR .Trash

Also, in Recovery Mode, post the actual error message from the command line. If it's "rmdir: .Trash/Xcode: Directory not empty", then try rm -r .Trash/Xcode – no f option, which will swallow error messages. Please provide any error message.
Click to expand...
Sure thing.

When I do rm or rmdir with (any of the flags):
rm.png
When I do ls:
ls.png

This is what's so confusing to me. Some things say its empty and basically nothing (rm, rmdir, get info). But others things like this point to it not being empty.
 
Did you ever find a resolution? I have a folder there that is doing the same. Empty trash says "The operation can’t be completed because the item “Application Support” is in use"

The folder is empty, permissions are R&W for everyone. Cannot drag it out "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items"

Help!!!
 
iGeneo said:
Did you ever find a resolution? I have a folder there that is doing the same. Empty trash says "The operation can’t be completed because the item “Application Support” is in use"

The folder is empty, permissions are R&W for everyone. Cannot drag it out "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items"

Help!!!
Click to expand...
Try to “secure delete” the trash can:

  • On the keyboard, hold down the ‘Control’ key.
  • Click on the ‘Trash’ icon.
  • Press “Command” on OS X Yosemite/higher. You can press “Control” or “Option” instead.
  • Click the “Secure Empty Trash”.
This will take some time.
 
Slartibart said:
Try to “secure delete” the trash can:

  • On the keyboard, hold down the ‘Control’ key.
  • Click on the ‘Trash’ icon.
  • Press “Command” on OS X Yosemite/higher. You can press “Control” or “Option” instead.
  • Click the “Secure Empty Trash”.
This will take some time.
Click to expand...
thanks... step 3 does nothing (Monterey)
 
Not seeing any option for secure delete. Opening the trash and right clicking I get these three errors (The DELETE ME folder shows no contents)
Screen Shot 2022-01-01 at 12.10.55.png
Screen Shot 2022-01-01 at 12.10.40.png
Screen Shot 2022-01-01 at 12.11.03.png
 
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oooopossum said:
Hi friend! I never found a "solution" per se. I completely reinstalled MacOS on a new SSD to fix the problem. Sorry if that doesn't help. I truly tried everything and nothing but the nuclear option worked
Click to expand...
I’m thinking the same. or maybe making a new admin user? Then nuke the current user? Any thoughts on that?
 
iGeneo said:
I’m thinking the same. or maybe making a new admin user? Then nuke the current user? Any thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
I did not try that so I cannot attest to it, however that could work if you don't mind the hassle of doing so. Backup your files
 
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