I have a strange issue, one I've never experienced before, atleast in Windows. I've put over 10GB of files in the trash, emptied the trash, yet the free space doesn't change. Why isn't my free space recovered? What am I missing?
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Trash is empty but free space won't change
- Thread starter Miltz
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Pndrgnsvc
macrumors 6502
If indeed the items in the trash are still there, and they might not be, then perhaps the items in the trash are "invisible" or otherwise protected. AFAIK, they can't be removed until they are made visible, or erasing with an app like Permanent Eraser (free) http://www.eenwaith.com/products/permanent eraser/ That is what I use and it works great.
Still, others that know more (easily done) than moi may well have other thoughts.
At any rate, please advise of your success (or not).
Still, others that know more (easily done) than moi may well have other thoughts.
At any rate, please advise of your success (or not).
Last edited:
They are just lots of jpeg files, definitely not protected files. I have to use special software to delete files from my computer? That sounds crazy. I just want to free space on my drive from files I don't need.
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202301
Do you have Time Machine turned on? If you do, what you are seeing is normal and part of Time Machine's local snapshots feature. You can read about it at the link.
Pndrgnsvc
macrumors 6502
Many thanks, Weaselboy. While pleased that I don't have the OP's problem, I nonetheless found your "solution" most informative.
I have time machine on, But I don't see any data in backups like the link you provided shows. So I'm not sure what's going on. It's quite odd, now I've deleted over 20GB of data and my free space still hasn't changed. 🙁
If you have TM on, that is almost certainly what is going on. When you delete files and empty the trash, they get moved to a hidden /.MobileBackups folder. If you run the command below in
Terminal you can see the size of the folder. Do not mess around in there and just exit after looking at the command output.
Code:
sudo du -d 1 -x -c -g /.MobileBackupsYou can just ignore this and the OS will purge the data as the disk get closer to full.
Or, you can briefly turn TM off then back on and it will empty that hidden folder.
You're the best. I appreciate the help. I'll check it out when I get home.