Level 1

18 points

Can't empty Mojave Trash. Tried all known solutions.

That's it. Installed Mojave, ended with a large folder full of Sierra files. After a few months Mojave working OK, I moved the old Sierra files to Trash. Now they won't go away. "Operation not permitted" Mojave thinks these files are 'in use'.

Rebooted several times in different modes, from different drives. Tried the two Terminal sudo operations and some downloaded apps--no luck. I can offer more detail but this should be enough to work with.

Tell me you know something the other gurus have missed!

– thanks, tom

iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS 10.14

Posted on May 12, 2019 2:04 PM

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macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Posted on May 12, 2019 3:21 PM

No, I don't think it will do that. It shouldn't have done it in the first place, that's not the way an upgrade/update works. That usually is the result of an archive & install.

But thinking about it some more, I think it is System Integity that's preventing you from deleting it.

Reboot into Recovery (command-r)

Choose Terminal and enter :

csrutil disable

Press return.

Then reboot and try the Trash.

To reverse it again enter:

csrutil enable

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20 replies

tswell Author

Level 1

18 points

May 12, 2019 7:11 PM in response to tswell

One of my utilities tells me that .Trash contains 27MB and 344 items now. A big improvement but much yet to empty.

tswell Author

Level 1

18 points

May 13, 2019 10:10 AM in response to macjack

Thanks macjack, I just did a clean install of Mojave 3 days ago. Didn't help this problem. It was a time consuming process, like all the solutions I've tried.

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

May 12, 2019 2:49 PM in response to tswell

Have you tried the rebuilding the Trash folder?

Launch Terminal and at the prompt copy and paste this command:

sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/*

Press Return

You'll be prompted for admin your password.

Enter it (it will be invisible) then Press Return.

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

May 13, 2019 6:26 AM in response to tswell

If you still have files stuck in the Trash, the only other solution I can think of would be to do a clean install of Mojave. Boot into Recovery (command-r) and erase your Mac volume. Then choose to reinstall Mojave.

Before you do be sure to have a Time Machine backup or a clone. I'd suggest a clone because it will be easier to move you own files back. Since the clone is the same file structure as your OS, you can drag and drop files to the same locations. You can use a cloning software like SuperDuper! or CarbonCopy Cloner.

This will also reinstate SIP which should be turned on for your own protection.

dialabrain

Level 10

136,199 points

May 12, 2019 2:10 PM in response to tswell

It sounds like you tried to delete files manually from a Time Machine backup which you should never do. Your only recourse would be to connect the drive they were on and erase the drive.

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Can't empty Mojave Trash. Tried all known solutions.