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Level 1

7 points

Can't remove items from sidebar

Since I updated to 10.6.7, when I try to take a folder or file off the sidebar that I've put on there (either before or after the update), it won't go. It used to disappear in a puff of smoke; now it just pops back to where it was on the sidebar. Is that a bug in 10.6.7?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Mar 23, 2011 7:57 PM

70 replies

Janeway

Level 1

0 points

Apr 5, 2011 9:30 PM in response to Barney-15E

Just happened to get the same problem, but Thank You, two fingers on the plate and remove from sidebar. Great.

Apr 8, 2011 11:55 AM in response to dgknc

I've been having this same problem with all the sidebar items that I put there. Not only could I not remove them, but nothing happened when I clicked on the sidebar folder alias. After reading these posts, I found that I was able to remove them by Command-dragging but not by right/control-clicking (that only worked for items installed on the sidebar by the system, such as Pictures or Music). However, after I reinstalled the folder aliases into the sidebar, they're working again. Given the variety of solutions reported in this forum, it would seem that the sidebar behavior is inconsistent. Hope they fix it soon!

Apr 8, 2011 9:55 PM in response to dgknc

Doing Command-click worked for me. Thanks for the tip. Otherwise, I might have tried every combination on the keyboard!

Apr 10, 2011 12:01 PM in response to dgknc

Control click also works by bringing up a contextual menu which offers remove from side bar as an option.

Improved feature IMHO.

cavenewt

Level 2

355 points

Apr 11, 2011 4:39 PM in response to npettijohn

npettijohn wrote:
I had a stuck link to a non-existant folder on the sidebar. In addition to the symptoms described here, I noticed the contextual menu options did not include "Remove from Sidebar" like the working links do. The only option is "Open Sidebar Preferences...", same as when you right-click in Sidebar empty space. I tried dragging to the desktop while holding the Command key and that was the only way that worked. I am unable to recreate this condition; so, I suspect it happened during update to 10.6.7.

Exactly the same experience here. Definitely new in 10.6.7.

Apr 12, 2011 2:30 PM in response to dgknc

Barney, you are the best! Been driving me nuts for about 3 days!

studiojo

Level 1

0 points

Apr 13, 2011 12:03 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thank you so much for this answer - it was driving me mad - I like a tidy computer and i hade added something by accident

DCRoesch

Level 1

0 points

Apr 14, 2011 3:04 PM in response to npettijohn

If you delete the document/folder, you cannot right click and remove from sidebar, that is when you get the 'open sidebar preferences' the only option then is to command drag it off.

jewatt

Level 1

0 points

Jun 1, 2011 2:50 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for the post, great answer. I was beyond frustrated.

Jul 5, 2011 7:19 PM in response to npettijohn

I am a new user of 10.6.8. Your "stuck link to a non-existent folder on the sidebar" describes my problem....HOWEVER, I am unable to even highlight the item. Any ideas what to do?

Message was edited by: gregfromdavis

Barney-15E

Level 10

112,752 points

Jul 5, 2011 8:31 PM in response to gregfromdavis

Greg, try removing the com.apple.sidebarlists.plist from your user/Library/Preferences folder. Log out and back in.

It should reset to defaults.

Jul 6, 2011 2:01 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks! Barney....that did it!

Jul 12, 2011 11:18 PM in response to Barney-15E

Bless you - worked first time! That was driving me nuts!!! Thanks 🙂

Jul 23, 2011 10:09 AM in response to dgknc

I have been having the same problem and couldn't even click on the offending folders. Thought an upgrade to Lion would fix it but it didn't.

What one needs to know is that the Library can be accessed in Lion by holding down the option key and clicking the Go menu in the finder. Then choose Library and remove com.apple.sidebarlists.plist from your user/Library/Preferences folder. Log out or restart and it's golden.

Jul 23, 2011 1:44 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thank you perfect.

I had just re-installed OS 10.6, with full migration of my user data.

There were two custom folders on the sidebar that I had created previously, and which pointed to another volume/partition.

After the re-install, they were essentially dead objects, and I couldn't even click on them.

But it DID work when I held down the command key! I was able to drag them off the sidebar.

very much happy

Can't remove items from sidebar