I have an empty folder in my trash that I cannot delete from the trash.

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wdwjr Author

Level 1

5 points

I have an empty folder in my trash that I cannot delete from the trash.

Here are the terminal results of trying to delete it.

Williams-MacBook-Air:~ MUA$ sudo rm -r /Users/MUA/.Trash/Empty\ Folder

Password:

rm: /Users/MUA/.Trash/Empty Folder/Library/VoiceTrigger/SAT: Operation not permitted

rm: /Users/MUA/.Trash/Empty Folder/Library/VoiceTrigger: Permission denied

rm: /Users/MUA/.Trash/Empty Folder/Library: Permission denied

rm: /Users/MUA/.Trash/Empty Folder: Permission denied

Williams-MacBook-Air:~ MUA$

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.2

Posted on Feb 21, 2022 10:05 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Galt

Level 10

146,624 points

Feb 21, 2022 3:07 PM in response to wdwjr

Please restart your Mac in "Safe Mode": How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support. Determine if you can empty the Trash while using your Mac in that mode. I doubt it will be successful, but try it.

Then, restart your Mac normally again. Let us know what you determine.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

146,624 points

Feb 21, 2022 7:20 PM in response to wdwjr

You apparently have what I call a "zombie folder". You already did everything reasonable in an attempt to delete it.

I encountered that problem myself a long time ago, and also did everything I could think of at the time. I eventually erased the Mac and restored its contents from a Time Machine backup, which just happened to be the most expedient solution under the circumstances.

A couple years ago another user encountered the same thing. I came up with some additional ideas that should have worked, but didn't: Impossible to delete file - Catalina - Apple Community. Unfortunately even that technique is no longer an option since Apple deprecated single-user mode.

The very last reply to that Discussion from Kurt Lang is likely to succeed, but it's a horrendous workaround.

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Answer 3

wdwjr Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 21, 2022 2:29 PM in response to sberman

I was logged in as the administrator and I would not have gotten the response that I did unless I put in my password. The password does not show up in terminal when you enter it. The response from the terminal command indicates the action was denied for the three reasons shown. The folder I am trying to delete from the trash is reported as having zero bytes stored. I have tried other methods to delete the folder and none have worked. The folder is somehow attached to "voicetrigger" etd. and I am at a loss with regards to how to move forward.

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Answer 4

my ginger

Level 5

4,910 points

Feb 21, 2022 4:44 PM in response to wdwjr

You have to have root permission to empty that from trash. You will need to go to recovery utilities terminal and type in csrutil disable hit enter. Then reboot and empty trash. Or you could right click on it and use put back.

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Answer 5

wdwjr Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 21, 2022 6:50 PM in response to my ginger

Right click on this empty folder has been tried before. Unlike other folders, this folder does not have a "Put Back" item. It did have an "Delete Immediately" option which have already a tried. It also asked for my password and after entering I got the following message - "The operation can’t be completed because some items had to be skipped. For each item, choose File > Get Info, make sure “Locked” is deselected, and then check the Sharing & Permissions section. When you are sure the items are unlocked and not designated as Read Only or No Access, try again." A Get Info for this folder produces a "spinning wheel that never stops for the user, which then is of no help. I will try the terminal command you mention. I am somewhat leary of using terminal commands, but I think this one is a system integrity command which I can turn on and off. I will do a little reading about it.

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Answer 6

wdwjr Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 23, 2022 5:19 AM in response to John Galt

John,

Thank you for the reply, Hopefully I can find an easier way to get rid of the zombie folder in my trash. I looked into the procedure in the "last reply" link you provided, but it requires moving the zombie out of the trash and my zombie folder ishing "stuck" isn the trash, namely I can not do anything with it. I have not yet tried a system integrity terminal command mentioned in an earlier reply, but plan on doing so and I will report back.

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Answer 7

John Galt

Level 10

146,624 points

Feb 23, 2022 8:35 AM in response to wdwjr

... I looked into the procedure in the "last reply" link you provided, but it requires moving the zombie out of the trash and my zombie folder ishing "stuck" isn the trash, namely I can not do anything with it.

His idea is sound, but I would try a similar technique: create a Time Machine backup, erase the Mac entirely, and then reinstall macOS. When asked if you want to transfer information from a Time Machine backup, do that.

That technique should result in the same User Account you now have, minus the recalcitrant folder.

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