On the drop-down menu, select Force Quit.In such a scenario, you can do the following: Solution 1. An error 'file can't be deleted' may pop-up to alert you of this. Also, from the Trash icon at your dock, you can right-click and select Empty Trash.īut that doesn't always work. To empty Trash, you can access Finder by either double-clicking the Trash icon on your dock or go to the top left section on your Mac and select 'Finder.'įrom the Finder menu, you can click on Empty Trash. In case you'd want the data back, command + Z would automatically undo your action. Usually, the most natural solution to cannot delete files is by dragging them to the Trash. Presence of a Finder bug: A bug, in this case, is a glitch of some sort that prevents the system or an app from carrying out its normal operations.Usually, they are 'ghost files.' You can't delete such files because they are not there in the first place. These could be music, documents, or a folder.

The file is not available: Sometimes files are visible but cannot be accessed for one reason or the other.

It is thus a security measure for the program with regards to copyright restrictions.

An app has locked the file: When an application is developed such that its files cannot be tampered with, e.g., to prevent them from being edited or copied, they might be locked.

You might have wanted to delete the data accidentally. It prevents the disruption of your ongoing work.

The file or folder is in use and can't be deleted: Mostly happens when a file, e.g., a word document is opened and is in use.

When deleted, their absence can cause your Mac OS to 'break.' It might not even be able to boot up.

Your Mac system locks the file: Mac locks sensitive system files that are a must for its operations.

Can i lock a folder on mac