Error code -36 when trying to move files from MacBook to external hard drive

The problem lies on your internal hard drive, not the external drive. The files can't be read for copying. Boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down  - Intel Macs) or  (How to Boot an M1 Mac into Recovery Mode), select Disk Utility and repair all available volumes on the internal boot drive. If you get an error message repeat the First Aid until there is no error message.

Then reboot normally and test to see if the problem has been fixed.

bamjones wrote:

Thank you for educating me. Here is the format of the drive:

Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

Old issue, new issue, what changed?

ioErr = -36, /*I/O error */

see—

Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

if no resolve you can try reformatting the drive, erasing everything and try again, or try a different drive and compare your results.

bamjones wrote:

I keep getting this error every time I try to move file from my MacBook Pro to an external hard drive.:

The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “” can’t be read or written.

(Error code -36)

I have tried to switch the access to read and write and I still get the error message. I'm stumped. Any solutions would be appreciated.

Thanks

How is that external drive formatted...? you do not say.

If NTFS then update your third party supporting software, some examples:

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

http://www.tuxera.com/products/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac/

https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/wiki/NTFS-3G

https://iboysoft.com/mac-drive-manager/ntfs-for-mac/free-software-read-write-ntfs-mac.html

bamjones wrote:

It is formatted for my Mac, that is all I know. I really don't know any other info. If there is a way to find out, would let me know how?

I will say this - I am a photographer and if the files are in a folder, I will get the error message. But if I move the individual photo to the external drive, I don't get the error.

if you select your drive—Command i opens the information pane

here you can see the file format...

or from DiskUtility.app