Empty "User Home Folder" got stuck in trash - can't be deleted or moved.

Hi, I wanted to rename my user home folder in Settings - Users & Groups, but that quickly created a new folder and restarted my mac, logging me into the new user folder directory.


I switched back to my original user home folder, again by changing the name to its original folder.


After that I deleted separately the contents in the new user home folder one by one, because the folder didn't want to delete itself from the trash with everything in it. Then when I tried to delete the empty folder, it didn't want to go again, and got stuck in the trash, with no option to put back or delete.


I tried running Terminal with sudo rm but that didn't work. I'm not sure how to use the sudo rm -r , I read somewhere it might work. I also tried safe boot, restarts, etc.. Still can't delete the folder.


I am currently given two options for the folder:

  • Delete Immediately
  • Empty Trash


Both don't work and I get the following messages:

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.

👆 I checked permissions and Lock, still not working.


The operation can't be completed because the item "Application Support" is in use.


The operation can't be completed because the item "Library" is in use.


The operation can't be completed because the item "(User Home Folder Name)" is in use.


No option to put back, or move the folder elsewhere, when I try to drag it to the desktop it creates a copy that is not the folder itself.


Is there a way to delete the folder, without reinstalling the OS and deleting the whole data on my Mac?


MacBook Pro 13-inch, M2, 2022 , macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 (23B81)





When dragging the folder out of the Trash to desktop (I am the only user & admin):


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Nov 30, 2023 7:18 AM

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2 replies

Nov 30, 2023 5:38 PM in response to Skysalting

*** Un UPDATE: After running the SUDO RM -R on the folder in the trash, the following message appeared:


/Users/Home Folder Name/.Trash/Stuck-Folder-Name/Library/Application Support/com.apple.LaunchServicesTemplateApp.dv: Operation not permitted


That made me create a folder named Library on the desktop, and when I drag the folder into the Stuck folder, this message appears:


The item "Library" can't be replaced because it's invisible.



Apparently, there's an invisible folder inside. I will try to disable SIP and see how that works and update again.

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Empty "User Home Folder" got stuck in trash - can't be deleted or moved.

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