How to remove .DS_Store files from external drive?

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Level 2

378 points

How to remove .DS_Store files from external drive?

I know that to remove .DS_Store files on my internal drive, I just need to issue the following terminal command:

sudo find / -name ".DS_Store" -depth -exec rm {} \;

What is the terminal command to remove .DS_Store files from an external drive?

Also, when removing the .DS_Store files from the internal drive, there are quite a number of folders that seem to be protected in which the .DS_Store files are not removed. Is there a way to make sure that all .DS_Store files on the internal drive are deleted?

Steve

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS Sierra (10.12.6)

Posted on Nov 9, 2018 4:23 AM

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Answer 1

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Nov 9, 2018 5:27 AM in response to Steve Dutton

.DS_Store files are "metadata." This means icons, thumbnails, window position, etc, for all the files of a folder. Do you not intend to use these drives with MacOS? Otherwise, why not just allow these files to be hidden? They will be recreated even if deleted.

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Answer 2

Steve Dutton Author

Level 2

378 points

Nov 9, 2018 8:12 AM in response to greg sahli

I understand the purpose of these files. Unfortunately, they can easily get corrupted and adversely affect the very things that they are meant to help. Also, as in my case, when I do a clean install of an OS (Mohave) and migrate my entire cloned external drive back to my laptop, the presence of these files from the cloned drive mess with the Finder remembering folder size, position, etc. of some of my folders. So I want to completely eradicate them from both my laptop and my external drive. When they are rebuilt, they behave properly.

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How to remove .DS_Store files from external drive?

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