Lock selection is greyed out on Folder info and I cannot delete them from trash

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Level 1

26 points

Lock selection is greyed out on Folder info and I cannot delete them from trash

I have 2 folders I cannot unlock so I can delete them. Here's the situation.

Bitdefender was previously loaded on my Mac. I was advised to uninstall it which I did using the app developer's uninstall app that came zipped with the original download.

I also manually removed PowerPanel app which came with my UPS since I'd recently upgraded the app and didn't need the old version any longer.

If I view info on the folders, both folders are locked and the lock icon is greyed out so I can't change it. When I change permissions for all the users since I'm logged in as admin, those changes save without any issue after I enter my password, but the greyed out icon still won't let me do anything with it. The lock checkbox is unchecked which tells me it isn't locked, but since it's greyed out, it's telling me something might still be using those folders.

I can move both folders anywhere including into an iCloud folder. I've put them somewhere outside the Trash so my Trash is empty now, but I still want to get rid of them. Even so, I'm thinking the system may somehow still want to have access to them even though I've uninstalled Bitdefender and I have a perfectly operational version of PowerPanel running for my UPS.

Ideas are welcomed on what's going on. I think I should probably just leave those folders alone but I'd like to understand why the lock icon is greyed out and what this means.

Mac is updated to Sonoma 14.3. Thank you.

iMac 27″, macOS 14.3

Posted on Feb 5, 2024 7:05 AM

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Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

200,322 points

Feb 5, 2024 8:19 AM in response to Nyobie

Nyobie wrote:

I have 2 folders I cannot unlock so I can delete them. Here's the situation.

Bitdefender was previously loaded on my Mac. I was advised to uninstall it which I did using the app developer's uninstall app that came zipped with the original download.

I also manually removed PowerPanel app which came with my UPS since I'd recently upgraded the app and didn't need the old version any longer.

If I view info on the folders, both folders are locked and the lock icon is greyed out so I can't change it. When I change permissions for all the users since I'm logged in as admin, those changes save without any issue after I enter my password, but the greyed out icon still won't let me do anything with it. The lock checkbox is unchecked which tells me it isn't locked, but since it's greyed out, it's telling me something might still be using those folders.

I can move both folders anywhere including into an iCloud folder. I've put them somewhere outside the Trash so my Trash is empty now, but I still want to get rid of them. Even so, I'm thinking the system may somehow still want to have access to them even though I've uninstalled Bitdefender and I have a perfectly operational version of PowerPanel running for my UPS.

Ideas are welcomed on what's going on. I think I should probably just leave those folders alone but I'd like to understand why the lock icon is greyed out and what this means.

Mac is updated to Sonoma 14.3. Thank you.

two folders from where...source(?)

—Try throwing those folder into a new folder and trash/delete the whole thing..

—Try from a safeboot and compare your results Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

—if no resolve you may have to temporarily disable SIP to delete/remove, then re-enable SIP

Disabling and Enabling System Integrity Protection

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Answer 2

Nyobie Author

Level 1

26 points

Feb 8, 2024 5:58 PM in response to leroydouglas

Hi @leroydouglas,

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been able to move the folders into Trash and put them inside other folders and tried emptying Trash but have been unsuccessful. Went to safeboot and tried without luck. Disabled SIP, tried, no luck. Weird. So I went to Bitdefender and asked their tech support for help. They've sent me to a link where I had to download another app to capture data so they can see what's happening. Whatever ends up being the case, I will come back and update this thread. That's just in case someone else has the same issue later.

Thanks again!

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