#Empty trash mac terminal how to#

The video below demonstrates how srm works coinciding with the Finder using drag and drop to print the complete file path into Terminal:

#Empty trash mac terminal how to#

Those interested in understanding a bit more about the secure removal srm command and how to force remove a file too can can learn more here in our detailed walkthrough. You can leave off the -v flag if youвЂ™d like, but verbose mode gives you a nice progress indicator. Srm -v /path/to/file/to/securely/delete/example.png If youвЂ™re adept with the command line, you can always skip drag and drop and use the following syntax to point at the proper path:

In other words, your file or folder that you secure removed is gone for good. The deleted files are overwritten 35 times, which exceeds the US Department of Defense standard for securely erasing data by five times. Once you hit the return key there is no going back, this is truly irreversible.

Repeat as necessary for other files or folders you wish to securely delete in OS X.

Confirm the path is to the file or folder you wish to permanently delete with a secure empty trash equivalent and hit the Return key.

Now drag and drop the file or folder you wish to remove into the Terminal command line, this will fill in the complete path to the file automatically.

Type the following syntax exactly, be sure to include a space after the flag:.

Hit Command+Space bar to open Spotlight, type вЂњTerminalвЂќ and hit the return key to launch the Terminal application.

Locate the file(s) you wish to securely delete in the OS X Finder.

This requires usage of the Mac command line and a very powerful secure remove command, this is irreversible. How to Perform Equivalent of вЂњSecure Empty TrashвЂќ in OS X El Capitan (10.11.+) Do not use this command if you do not understand file paths and the command line in general. If you delete a file or folder with this command, itвЂ™s gone for good, you will never get it back unless you had made a backup elsewhere. This is intended for advanced users with a thorough understanding of the command line, and those who understand risks associated with using srm command, which is entirely unforgiving and irreversible with permanent removal of files. For those with a knowledgable command line background, youвЂ™ll likely recognize this alternative approach of secured file removal as using the srm command, which performs a secure delete from the command line in OS X and linux.