MacOS – Mac cannot delete file

macmacos

The item image212_tmp1987326278 can’t be moved to the Trash because it can’t be deleted.

I don't know how that file appeared on my desktop but as I try to delete it I get the above error. Does not let me rename, move it or use "Get info" either.

Best Answer

I recently had the same problem, and fixed it by opening Terminal.app and entering killall Finder. This effectively resets the desktop icons.

Related Solutions

macOS Trash Error – How to Delete Files Marked as Backup Item

According to this thread at Apple, this is a bug. This means it will hopefully be fixed in a coming update to OS X.

In the meantime, you have to relaunch the Finder, which you can do either through force quit (⎇⌘⎋, or through the  menu), or by less violent means by quitting it normally, which you must first activate through the following command issued in the Terminal:

defaults write com.apple.Finder QuitMenuItem 1

MacOS – Can’t delete .plist files from Trash

When you have problems to empty the trash, rm -rf ~/.Trash/* in the terminal does the job for you.

Edit :

You have to keep in mind that there might be multiple .Trash directories.
For example on a USB stick or a external Drive, OSX will create another .Trash at the root of the drive. So you might need to use rm -rf /Volumes/DriveName/.Trash.*

Best Answer

Related Solutions

macOS Trash Error – How to Delete Files Marked as Backup Item

MacOS – Can’t delete .plist files from Trash

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