Can't empty trash in El Capitan

Thank you. I have been having this same problem. Your instructions were the solution I needed. (=trash now empty). ... Again....Thank you!

I had the same problem. This is what worked for me today (after reading all the other responses):

Booted up in Snow Leopard (which I have on another partition).

Open TinkerTool (still a free download, old versions available) for Snow Leopard (10.6.8)

Click option to "Show hidden files"

Navigate to the now unhidden trash in the El Capitan User/(account name)/.trash folder

Change permissions on the .trash by right clicking and setting it for you to read/write

Select the items and drag it to the Snow Leopard trash

Empty Trash

Gone!

I was so happy this worked. Old Toad on another part of the Apple Support forum said to try this:

Select the items that won't delete and use the key combination of Option+Command+Delete. You'll get this window to complete the deletion:

I found this after I tried it my way. Don't know if it works but it sounds a lot simpler!

[SOLVED]

Hi there,

I had the same problem with an second HDD on a Mac Pro. The trash couldn't be empty with those files I have deleted form this HDD. Crazy thing but when I change the SATA port of that very HDD the problem solves and I empty the trash normally. Simple as that. Searching on google and the same with external hard drives, change the USB port and that's it. Try to remove your HD and turn the MacBook on. Error, of course. Turn it off and re-attach the HD. Turn it on. Hope to solve.

I think it is an error with the OS or SMBIOS (or communication between them). Hope the experts can understand better the problem with this information.

Thanks,

I've been working on this same (similar) problem with Apple for weeks now. They've collected all the pertinent from my iMac 5k - TWICE, which was evaluated by Apple Engineering, and they haven't a clue! I've dealt with 3 Sr. Advisors on this, and they throw everything at the wall to see if anything sticks - but, of course, nothing does. I've found on a number of occasions that APP is inept - and their software updates and upgrades are actually downgrades! I continually read about the problems that people are having with "The computer for the rest of us", and beside these problems is their inability to understand (Sr. Jonny - are you listening?) the very basic tenets of good design which is FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION. It's obvious that they are far more concerned with form rather than function. Sheer lunacy.

Sadly - your solution doesn't work for me, and apparently for the rest of those on the forum. I inadvertently clicked "Helpful" for your reply, but any clues may be helpful - just don't depend on Apple for an answer to this issue.

Delete Immediately for all the non-problematic files - so you don't have to continually click "continue" or "skip" to remove them. Just select all the non-prob files and select Delete Immediately. At least this will save you some time though it doesn't address the core problem.

I've had good success with TrashIt!

http://nonamescriptware.com/

You may have to allow it to download and open by changing your security prefs in System Prefs since I don't believe it is from an Apple certified vendor.