The operation can't be completed because the item is in use …

[EspenA]

Hi,

Please see the attached screenshots – I'm trying to get rid of this item from my Desktop. Moving it into the trash, I'm stuck with the shown error message.

Any suggestions? I see some suggestions using the 'empty trash securely' option, but that option is no longer available on my MB PRO + Mojave.

 

[Lunder89]

This should help you clear your trash. It usually works for me.

1. Open the application "Terminal" (You can find it with Spotlight)
2. Paste this command: sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash
3. It will ask you your password, type it in, and hit return (Or enter if you will)
   As you type your password, no letters, stars or dots will be shown on screen, but it does receive your input.

 

[EspenA]

This should help you clear your trash. It usually works for me.

Didn't work, unfortunately.

 

[chabig]

1. Log out
2. Log in
3. Empty the trash

If that doesn't work:
4. Reboot the machine
5. Log in
6. Empty the trash

 

[EspenA]

1. Log out
2. Log in
3. Empty the trash

If that doesn't work:
4. Reboot the machine
5. Log in
6. Empty the trash

Tried both, several times. No change.

 

[oatman13]

You're going to need to boot to Recovery, mount your drive if it is encrypted, and then open terminal and:
rm -rf /Volumes/Users/YOURUSER/.Trash/*

However before you do this can you type, and provide us the output:
ls -la@O ~/.Trash/Install\ macOS\ Mojave\ Beta.app

 

[EspenA]

However before you do this can you type, and provide us the output: ls -la@O ~/.Trash/Install\ macOS\ Mojave\ Beta.app

The output:

total 0

drwxr-xr-x@ 3 root wheel - 96 Jun 30 18:45 .

SeedProgram 13

drwx------ 3 espenbandersson staff - 96 Sep 10 01:04 ..

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel - 96 Jul 1 20:56 Contents

Espens-MacBook-Pro-2:~ espenbandersson$

 

[lemonkid]

I hope oatman13 can help you. But I had this kind of thing some time and some previous versions of macos ago. I could not get rid of it and in the end I could switch it to another account on my computer, that I never used. I took it out of the trash and put it in a shared folder.
It got stuck in the trash can of that account for quite some time and even after updates it could not be removed. Until at some point I deleted my HD and installed a fresh version of macos. Carefully, not restoring the original user accounts from TimeMachine. Just putting back all documents by hand.

Did you also try these apps: Trash it! or AppCleaner?

 

[EspenA]

Did you also try these apps: Trash it! or AppCleaner?

Yep, I've tried a couple of these apps, no help there either.

 

[BLUEDOG314]

This may be dumb, but is the InstallESD image still mounted? It wouldn't show on your desktop, try looking in a finder window, or by using disk utility or terminal. In some cases I've even seen the image attached but not mounted. You can use hdiutil to detach.

 

[UmairAhmadUBM]

Hi,

Please see the attached screenshots – I'm trying to get rid of this item from my Desktop. Moving it into the trash, I'm stuck with the shown error message.

Any suggestions? I see some suggestions using the 'empty trash securely' option, but that option is no longer available on my MB PRO + Mojave.

Hi. I am having the same issue can u please let me know if you have resolved this ?
my e-mail id is: noumanlatif@outlook.com

 

[webbga]

Hi. I am having the same issue can u please let me know if you have resolved this ?
my e-mail id is: noumanlatif@outlook.com

About a year ago I experienced a similar issue and could not get it resolved. I am sorry I don't remember more details, but the solution was to delete my Time Machine backups, then empty the TRASH, and then make a fresh Time Machine backup. Something I had in my backups was conflicting with my TRASH. Whatever it was worked.

 

[xgman]

Yep, I've tried a couple of these apps, no help there either.

The only app I have found that I use ONLY for this purpose and nothing else, and do not let it launch on startup, is cleanmymac X app. I have this issue with some files on my network drive and this is the only thing that works easily. I just make sure not to let the app auto run it's launch agent and all is well.

 

[tanphu194]

Install macOS onto a flash drive, boot from there by holding Option at boot up. Browse to the user on the computer, hit Cmd-Shift-. to reveal the hidden Trash folder. It will be restricted. Right click, Get Info, unlock it with the credentials of the boot flash drive. Click on the gear to add a user to access it. Choose the flash drive’s user. Set the permission to Read & Write. Now you can access that Trash folder and empty it. Then restart the computer back into the default user. Trash icon will still looks full but just empty it again.