How is Cmd + Delete both the send-to and restore-from-Trash shortcut?

It seems to me that if a user deletes a file, by dragging it to the Trash or other action that results in its deletion, then that's what the user wanted to do, and anything any operating system may do to hinder or otherwise register disagreement with that user's intent would be poor UI.

If that user subsequently wanted to undo that formerly intended action with File > Put Back, or other action that results in it being put back (instantly and without warning) then it would also be poor UI to second-guess that intent. It begs the question, what else would the user want to do, if not Put It Back. Personally I would consider such a warning to be intrusive and unwelcome, especially in light of the fact ⌘ z is the near-universal instant remedy for "oops".

This has been the way since the inception of macOS, including its predecessors, a fundamental human interface characteristic that goes back way before the 1990s. It is an elegant implementation that also happens to make perfect sense to me, but if you don't like the way it works you can always express your displeasure by using some other operating system.

It may also interest you to know that you can configure the Trash to automatically delete items that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days: Change Storage settings on Mac - Apple Support. That way, you can put items in the Trash and forget about them. Should you change your mind you have 30 days to un-delete them. There is no shortcut for "Delete Immediately" because that is one of the few macOS actions not un-doable — with a confirmation dialog / "warning" to drive home the point. After that, the only remaining "undo" is Time Machine.

There are questions from desperate users every day regarding how to recover from the effect of prematurely emptying the Trash. It's disheartening to have to inform them TM is their only recourse, and to learn they didn't take the simple step of turning it on.

Not my experience - and just retested on the Catalina laptop I had handy to test on...

Yes, Cmd-Del both trashes and un-trashes files - but only if those files are currently selected. I'm not sure how you could be in the trash and hit Cmd-Del to put back anything (let alone everything) if the files weren't selected.

Also, duplicate named files will cause Finder to choke and only put back the last one trashed (which would have a format <file name><date time group> - but that's a minor thing.

I have to assume you were in the trash and hit Cmd-a, Cmd-Del, instead of the "Empty trash" button in the top-right? That is a bit Alanis Morrisette ironic - so sympathy.

Here are a few more keyboard shortcuts with which you may wish to familiarize yourself:

Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support

An underappreciated one is ⌘ z which will undo just about anything, including the very thing you're complaining about. Enjoy.

John Galt wrote:

... This has been the way since the inception of macOS, including its predecessors, a fundamental human interface characteristic that goes back way before the 1990s.

In case anyone was wondering I just had occasion to use a very old Mac and confirmed it worked exactly the same way back then. Elegance never goes out of style.

FWIW, If you select files that are in the Trash, Command+Delete is the shortcut for "Put Back". It's in the Finder File menu. Just to add, it makes perfect sense.

No-Kings wrote:

Five years into using Mac products, I’ve picked up the shortcuts, the command line quirks, and embraced the quirks along with the features. But today? Today I learned that hitting Cmd + Delete in the Trash (the very same keyboard shortcut that sends files to the Trash) ... instead restores them. Hundreds, or maybe thousands of them. Instantly and without warning. Deep in nested folders, across multiple drives!!

No prompt. No warning. Just “poof” – digital trash exploded! Banana peel? Back on the counter. Coffee filter complete with grinds? Neatly placed right back into the coffee maker.

Is this a bug? A feature? Performance art?

But seriously, if this is a prank, I'm not even mad, I'm impressed. Apple, you got me good.

Anyway, the question: Why the in the heck is the same keyboard shortcut default assigned to both “goodbye forever” and “welcome home”? Is there a way to change or disable this? Or is this shortcut seriously going to be canon forever?

Never heard this before....

To Put back from the trash typically you have to Control click on the item and use the "Put Back"

I see no keyboard short cut for that feature(?)

could possibly be some third party interference...your guess is as good as mine...

or Command A to select all in the trash and you hit the wrong option?

I did not have the nevre to try your scenario :

"hitting Cmd + Delete in the Trash (the very same keyboard shortcut that sends files to the Trash) ... instead restores them"

if this is repeatable(?)

—To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

I will add— Command Z typically un does the last command...to reverse the mess.

No-Kings wrote:

Just to add, it makes perfect sense.

It is literally the opposite of what other operating systems have been doing since the 90's. So no, it doesn't make "perfect" sense. lol

FWIW, the 90's were over 25 years ago and in any case, we're not talking about "other operating systems".

I’m still kind of sick about dragging a whole Disk to the Trash just to eject it! 🚑

Never mind the fact ejecting was something we did with floppy disks, which weren't very floppy anyway.