I know that macOS (Sonoma, in my case) can be set to automatically remove files that have been in it for 30 days, but is there a way of setting that cut off at 14 days instead of 30?
Alternatively, is there a way of automating a process that can remove files at 14 days of being in the Trash rather than 30?
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.0
There are various discussions of scripts created specifically for customized deletion intervals.
Here is one from a while back:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3172966?answerId=15611444022#15611444022
That script uses srm, I’d likely swap thst usage for rm given endemic use of SSDs.
Here’s another example:
I’ve used periodic for these and other tasks, here running a job daily and deleting older than a week.
https://www.alansiu.net/2020/08/26/running-daily-weekly-and-monthly-scripts-in-macos-using-periodic/
Hazel, mentioned above, is another option.
If nobody has a method that can be used from within macOS, there's this utility called Hazel that can do that how ever often you choose. It also does many other file related tasks that you can schedule to run automatically. It has a free trial as well. Noodlesoft.com
I set mine to zero days by emptying the trash when I drop something into it.
Automatically delete files from Trash that have been in Trash for 14 days or more
