Delete a File Permanently in Mac OS X El Capitan

Edited by Djinu, VisiHow, Eng

You're watching VisiHow. In the previous tutorial, we enabled widgets (dashboards). In this tutorial, we're going to demonstrate how to skip the trash can in OS X El Capitan.

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Steps

  1. 1
    Normally, when you delete a file, you can click the file and drag it into the trashcan
    .
    Delete File Immediatlely On Mac OS El Capitan.mp4-canvas8 701823.jpg
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  2. 2
    Alternatively, you can click the file and press "command" + "delete"
    .
    This will also send the file to the trashcan.
    Delete File Immediatlely On Mac OS El Capitan.mp4-canvas14 210063.jpg
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  3. 3
    At this point, right-click the trashcan and click "Empty Trash"
    .
    OS X will show you "Empty Trash".
    Delete File Immediatlely On Mac OS El Capitan.mp4-canvas22 343366.jpg
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  4. 4
    Click "Empty Trash"
    .
    Delete File Immediatlely On Mac OS El Capitan.mp4-canvas22 472207.jpg
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  5. 5
    If you want to delete the file quickly, you can click the file
    .
    Delete File Immediatlely On Mac OS El Capitan.mp4-canvas29 427327.jpg
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  6. 6
    Then, press "option" + "command" + "delete"
    .
    This will show you the message that the item will be deleted immediately and that you can't undo this action"
    Delete File Immediatlely On Mac OS El Capitan.mp4-canvas38 81167.jpg
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  7. 7
    Press "delete" again
    .
    You'll notice that the file will be deleted without going into the trash can. The trash can will be empty now. You don't have to take an additional step of emptying the trash can.
    Delete File Immediatlely On Mac OS El Capitan.mp4-canvas44 78463.jpg
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This has been a video tutorial on how to immediately delete a file in OS X El Capitan. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the space below. Thank you for watching VisiHow!

See more tutorials on Mac OS X El Capitan:

Video: Delete a File Permanently in Mac OS X El Capitan

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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Article Info

Categories : Macintosh

Recent edits by: VisiHow, Djinu

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