Suddenly can't delete any file

Question

Suddenly can't delete any file

So, back in the day rebuilding the desktop file was the cure. According to the support system running Disk Utility should resolve this issue, it doesn't! So, does anyone have any suggestions about how to "fix" this problem? Machine is a 2007 21" iMac 8G RAM 1TB disk, currently running Big Sur 11.1

Symptoms: Can not move any file(s) to trash, requests Password which fails and displays the message, "The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items."

iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 11.1

Posted on Jan 28, 2021 6:51 PM

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Answer 1

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Paul-In-Fort-Lupton Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 28, 2021 9:45 PM in response to Barney-15E

Well it appears that this is only affecting files that are on the desktop. Files that are deeper in the file/folder structure can be moved to the trash but, they cannot be moved, or saved, to the desktop. The files that are on the desktop cannot be moved to deeper locations, however, when attempting to move a file from the desktop to a deeper folder a copy is created in that location.

Well, found what was "wrong" somehow the desktop folder became "locked" which is really strange since I hardly ever access "get info" for any file, let alone for the desktop directory.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

113,172 points

Jan 28, 2021 8:03 PM in response to Paul-In-Fort-Lupton

Where are the files located?

If outside your Home directory, that may be the issue.

If inside, you have permission issues on your home folder.

I'm still trying to hunt down the method Apple dropped from their knowledge base.

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Suddenly can't delete any file

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