Mac OS X, version 10.3 and earlier: uninstallflashplayerosx10.2.dmg (1.3 MB) (updated 05/27/08) Choose Window Downloads to view the downloaded uninstaller. Save the uninstaller file in a convenient location. To learn more Terminal commands, see our articles on how to copy and move folders as well as delete files and folders using the command line and get help when you need it from man pages. Here's how you can use the command line to forcibly remove a specific file stuck in your Mac's Trash. Open a terminal window. Type in this command, then hit Enter: cd /.Trash 3. When you delete files on your Mac, OS X still leaves fragments of the file all over the free space on your hard disk drive, until these are written over by new files. If you want to securely delete all the remaining fragments on a hard disk drive (for example if you're going to sell your Mac), then execute the following command. You can also delete a folder with Mac Terminal, and there are a couple of different options depending on your needs. If you have an empty folder to remove, you can use the remove directory Terminal command, 'rmdir,' in the same way as the 'rm' command, although the safeguard doesn't work in this case.
One of the most basic computer functions — deleting files and folders — is also one of the most essential. If you never get rid of anything, soon enough all those extra gigabytes will take a toll on your Mac’s processing power, RAM, and hard drive, not to mention your digital life will resemble a dreadful episode of Hoarders.
So deleting files is good and healthy. But how do you do that? Most people right-click on what they need gone and choose Move to Trash from the menu or use the File option in the menu bar. Others employ the ⌘ + Delete shortcut, which works across the system (even within dialog windows). Experts, however, often find themselves defaulting to the command line delete directory feature. Let’s see how and why you should learn it too.
![Command Command](/uploads/1/1/8/4/118402981/253412622.png)
How to remove directory with Terminal
Since macOS is a Unix-based system, nearly all system tasks you do every day with the help of its graphic interface can also be performed via the command line tool called Terminal.
Why delete file command line feature is important
With regards to delete file or delete folder command line functionality, Terminal lets you:
- Effortlessly erase one or multiple files, folders, and apps, bypassing any error messages you can get when you go the traditional route.
- Remove files from Trash, including ones you can’t delete by simply emptying the trash.
- Get rid of files that are invisible to you within Finder (usually system or root files, for example, .htaccess).
- Delete files and folders in cases when Finder is unresponsive.
Note: The Mac command line delete file feature is final and irreversible. While it lets you avoid any error messages, it also removes the files completely, without any possibility of retrieving them later on.
Tip: Delete unneeded system files on Mac
Some files are hard to delete in a normal way because they sit deeply in system folders. These are such files as logs, broken downloads, caches, remains of old apps, etc. Still, deleting them could give your Mac an extra boost — that's because they are outdated and clutter your macOS.
To dig these files out, try a free version of CleanMyMac X. Among other things, this app has an impressive System Junk detector. When you download CleanMyMac X (this free version is notarized by Apple), you need to click on System Junk.
Just take a loot at the sheer amount of files it unearthed. To delete them, click on Clean.
Just take a loot at the sheer amount of files it unearthed. To delete them, click on Clean.
How to use delete file command line feature
Removing files from your Mac forever using Terminal is deceptively simple: just use the rm command followed by the name of the file. Here’s how it works in practice:
- Launch Terminal from your Utilities folder in Applications.
- Check which directory you’re in by typing ls -la
- Then navigate down a directory with cd [directoryname] or up a directory with cd ../
- When you’re in the same directory as the file you want to delete, type rm [filename.extension]
- If you want to delete multiple files at once, list them all, but make sure there’s a space between each one.
- Press Enter to execute the command.
Now all the files you specified after rm are gone for good. Navigate directories in your Mac and repeat the process as many times as you want.
Mac Command For Delete
Surprised there was no confirmation before your files were deleted? Luckily there’s a way to add one as a safeguard for not deleting the wrong file by accident. Just use -i after the rm but before the first filename, like this: rm -i [filename.extension]. Terminal will then ask you whether you’re sure you want to delete the file. Reply y or yes followed by Enter and the file will be gone. This also works for multiple files, but you’ll have to confirm the removal of each one separately.
How to make command line delete directory
Surprisingly, you can’t delete a folder using the rm command because it has its own: rmdir.
Otherwise, rmdir works exactly the same as rm:
- Navigate to the appropriate directory using Terminal.
- Type rmdir [directoryname]
- Hit Enter.
Sadly, you can’t use the -i hack when you’re deleting folders, so be extra careful!
Another thing to keep in mind is that rmdir only deletes the directory, but can’t delete any files or folders located within that directory.
To delete a folder with everything in it, you need to use rm -r followed by the folder’s name. Using -i to create a warning here is possible and done like this: rm -ir [foldername].
When it’s too difficult to find a folder or file via Terminal, but you can detect them in Finder, simply drag and drop the file onto the Terminal window to generate its path.
Delete large and old folders using CleanMyMac X
As it happens with folders, they are easy to mess up and lose track of. That's why many apps provide an alternative interface for searching and deleting files which is more flexible than the Finder. For example, using CleanMyMac X (the app we've mentioned above) you can find massive folders that might have been evading you. You also can filter them by file type and other criteria.
The latest released version of this tool looks like this:
The latest released version of this tool looks like this:
This app by developer MacPaw is available for a free download here. Using this app, files are removed for good, and as far as we know, it's irreversible.
Other ways to delete files and folders on Mac
The shortcut combination
We are sure you know how to drag to your files to the Trash. But here is an alternative way which deletes files at once, bypassing the Trash. There’s one less step involved (you don’t have to empty the bin). And you cannot reverse this action.
Select a file, and press [Option + ⌘ + Delete]
Select a file, and press [Option + ⌘ + Delete]
Delete hidden folders on Mac
Some folders on your Mac are made invisible to protect them from accidental deletion. They are system and support files you would ignore most of the time. But what if a folder seems empty but still takes up space? You can apply another shortcut combination to highlight these unseen objects. Then, you can delete them at your own risk.
To highlight hidden folders: [Press Shift + ⌘ + . dot key]
This best works if you open some system folder, like Library
Some folders on your Mac are made invisible to protect them from accidental deletion. They are system and support files you would ignore most of the time. But what if a folder seems empty but still takes up space? You can apply another shortcut combination to highlight these unseen objects. Then, you can delete them at your own risk.
To highlight hidden folders: [Press Shift + ⌘ + . dot key]
This best works if you open some system folder, like Library
Again, delete these folders only if you are sure what they are.
That was how to remove files and folders on your Mac, shown in multiple ways. Want to know more? Explore our blog for a whole universe of Mac tips!
- How do I remove files in Mac OS X using command line commands?
- How do I remove files from a shell prompt on a Unix system?
- How do I remove files from the Windows command shell?
Context
This article talks about using command line commands to remove files under Mac OS X, Unix, and Windows. It also talks a little about the risks entailed therein.
Answer
A quick summary of the risks Most graphical desktops these days provide a safety net when deleting files or folders, such as the Trash or Recycle Bin. These safety nets are usually bypassed when removing files using the command line. In many cases the file is immediately and irretrievably deleted. In others the file can possibly be retrieved, but only with great difficulty and special tools.
|
On Mac OS X
- To bring up a command line / command prompt under Mac OS X launch the Terminal application located in the Utilities folder inside your Applications folder
- The table below lists command line commands to remove files and folders
Command | What happens | Comments |
---|---|---|
rm -i filename | Removes file filename after confirmation | The -i is optional but recommended as it asks you to confirm before removing the file} |
rmdir foldername | Remove the empty folder foldername | No confirmation needed, but only works if the folder is already empty |
rm -i -r foldername | Removes the folder foldername and all of its contents | Again the -i is optional, recommended, but in this case annoying, especially if there are a lot of items in the folder. You will be asked to confirm each item separately. |
- For more information look at the man (manual) pages for these commands
- To bring up the man pages for rm or rmdir use:
On Unix/Linux
- Steps to bring up a command prompt in a terminal window on a Unix or Linux system vary; look for and launch something called Terminal, XTerm, or similar
- The table below lists basic command line commands to remove files and folders
Command | What happens | Comments |
---|---|---|
rm -i filename | Removes file filename after confirmation | The -i is optional but recommended as it asks you to confirm before removing the file} |
rmdir directoryname | Remove the empty directory directoryname | No confirmation needed, but only works if the directory is already empty |
rm -i -r directoryname | Removes the directory directoryname and all of its contents | Again the -i is optional, recommended, but in this case annoying, especially if there are a lot of items in the directory. You will be asked to confirm each item separately. |
- For more information look at the man (manual) pages for these commands
- To bring up the man pages for rm or rmdir use:
On Windows
- To open the Windows command line shell select the Run item from the Start menu
- In the box that opens asking you what to run, enter 'cmd'
- A window with a command prompt will open
If there is no Run item in your Start menu but there is a search box you can type into when you open your Start menu (the default in Windows Vista) you can type 'cmd' directly into the search box and press Return to launch a window with a command prompt.
- The table below lists basic command line commands to remove files and folders
Command | What happens | Comments |
---|---|---|
del filename | Deletes the file filename | Does not prompt for confirmation |
del directoryname | Deletes all files inside directory directoryname | Asks for confirmation |
rmdir directoryname | Deletes the empty directory directoryname | Does not prompt for confirmation |