how to delete file in quicktime

Quicktime failed to stop recording when I pressed the Stop button (which seems to go off), but I did not realize it was still doing the screen recording - 13 GB! I cannot delete it or split it - both greyed out. I cannot Trim it - Quicktime hangs. I have to force-quit. But when I launch Quicktime again, that untitled giant file is still sitting there wheel spinning and hanging QT. For ages I could not even save it or export it, and it filled up my Mac so I had to go buy a spare external drive to free up more space in order to process this monster. I've managed to export a .mov of the giant file onto the new external drive so I can delete it off the iMac. Now all I want to do is kill that **** 13 GB file off my iMac because is long as it's there Quicktime is totally clogged up and useless.

Please can anyone tell me HOW?

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 10.12

Posted on Jul 17, 2020 4:57 PM

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1 reply

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Jul 21, 2020 2:47 PM in response to diannetrussell

Hello, diannetrussell.

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

From reading your post, it's understood that you're unable to delete a screen recording file. We'd be glad to help and suggest trying the steps found in this article if you're unable to delete files that may be in use still: If you can't empty the Trash on your Mac

"If your Mac says that the file is in use

Quit any app that you were using with the file, then empty the Trash.
If that doesn't work, the app might have one or more background processes that are using the file. Restart your Mac, then empty the Trash.
If that doesn't work, you might have a startup item or login item that is using the file. To temporarily prevent such items from opening automatically, start up in safe mode by holding down the Shift key while your Mac starts up. Then empty the Trash and restart your Mac normally.

If you can't delete the file for other reasons

Start up from macOS Recovery by holding down Command-R while your Mac starts up.
When the macOS Utilities window appears, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
In Disk Utility, select the disk that contains the file that you want to delete. Then use the First Aid feature of Disk Utility to repair that disk.
Quit Disk Utility, then restart your Mac and empty the Trash".

Keep us updated.

Cheers!

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how to delete file in quicktime