
#SECURE EMPTY TRASH MAC OS X EL CAPITAN MAC#
This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Vince. Select Delete Immediately and confirm the deletion. Select one or more files in the Trash and Control-click. However, it’s changed further: you can no longer trigger it anywhere in the Finder except in the Trash folder. You need to secure empty trash on mac before selling it. You think deleting files will ensure their safety, then you are definitely mistaken.

Within the Trash folder, you can delete items without any further ado. However, when you are replacing mac you’d certainly delete your files and folders. Apple added this option in El Capitan after it ditched Secure Empty Trash I documented it in late 2015.

There’s a last-resort method you can use: Delete Immediately. This issue was addressed by removing the 'Secure Empty Trash' option. However, sometimes a file just doesn’t want to go, and you’ve done everything else. The following may shed some light on the reason: About the security content of OS X El Capitan v10.11 - Apple Support 'Description: An issue existed in guaranteeing secure deletion of Trash files on some systems, such as those with flash storage. Another way to access this option is through the 'Finder' menu found on top of your Mac beside the Apple logo. Simply hold the 'Command' key while you right-click to make the option visible. Enter the following command into terminal without hitting Enter afterward. The easiest way to delete your files securely using the 'Secure Empty Trash' option is by right-clicking the trash bin icon at the bottom right of your Mac. Apple removed the Secure Empty Trash option in OS X El Capitan.
#SECURE EMPTY TRASH MAC OS X EL CAPITAN HOW TO#
Use Spotlight to find and launch Terminal on your Mac. How to Securely Empty Trash in OS X El Capitan - The Mac Security Blog. (You can read more about lsof in this previous Mac 911 column.) How to force the trash to empty on a Mac using Terminal. In Terminal, type lsof | grep -i followed by a space and part of the file name, and see if it shows what app or system component still has its hooks in. You can also use the Terminal command lsof, which tracks all files in use by even the lowest of low-level parts of the system.


Impact: The "Secure Empty Trash" feature may not securely delete files placed in the Trashĭescription: An issue existed in guaranteeing secure deletion of Trash files on some systems, such as those with flash storage. Per the Apple support document About the security content of OS X El Capitan v10.11, it was removed for security reasons.Īvailable for: Mac OS X v10.6.8 and later This issue was addressed by removing the 'Secure Empty. This feature was removed in macOS 10.11 El Capitan. Finder Available for: Mac OS X v10.6.8 and laterImpact: The 'Secure Empty Trash' feature may not securely delete files placed in the TrashDescription: An issue existed in guaranteeing secure deletion of Trash files on some systems, such as those with flash storage.
