I can't remove a folder from the Trash Bin

[stanleystf]

I had a music folder on an external hard drive. I moved it to the trash bin. When I go to the trash and want to empty it by deleting that folder, I get this error:

I've checked and no application is using that folder! In fact, it's an empty folder!

I've had this problem with a few other folders I'd deleted from my external hard drive. After trying a few times, the error went away but this particular folder is very persistent and refuses to be deleted!

 

[fisherking]

make sure that drive is connected, reboot, then try to empty the trash...

 

[stanleystf]

I did that twice. It still won't let me delete it!!

 

[joevt]

I had a music folder on an external hard drive. I moved it to the trash bin. When I go to the trash and want to empty it by deleting that folder, I get this error:

I've checked and no application is using that folder! In fact, it's an empty folder!

I've had this problem with a few other folders I'd deleted from my external hard drive. After trying a few times, the error went away but this particular folder is very persistent and refuses to be deleted!

How did you check? This will list any app that has a Music file/folder open. One of the result might be pointing at the Music folder in the trash.
sudo lsof | grep Music

 

[fisherking]

check system settings>login items, and make sure 'Music' is not set to open when you boot up your mac.

& is your external drive formatted for mac?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Disconnect & reconnect the drive. If that doesn’t cure it, boot to Safe Mode & then empty the trash.

 

[stanleystf]

Is your external drive formatted for mac?

It's formatted Exfat, which works both for Windows and Mac.

I closed all the applications. Ejected the hard drive. Rebooted the system. When I connect it to the mac and go to Trash, the folder is still there and I can't delete it!

 

[fisherking]

It's formatted Exfat, which works both for Windows and Mac.

I closed all the applications. Ejected the hard drive. Rebooted the system. When I connect it to the mac and go to Trash, the folder is still there and I can't delete it!

you're sure the folder is on the external drive? ie, if that's ejected, the folder vanishes?

do you have a PC? you could try deleting it from that drive there. if you're only using the drives on a mac, mac os extended or APFS are better choices for format.