How to fix it when Mac is slow to empty Trash

Is your Mac emptying Trash slow? Don't panic; it's a known issue. 

Emptying the Trash is usually quick and hassle-free, but many users have been reporting strange behavior.

If emptying your Trash, even for small files, feels like it's taking an eternity or your Mac is stuck on the deleting progress bar, we've got the tips you've been searching for.

Finish up searching the forums for answers and work your way through this article for help — let's go.

Why Mac emptying Trash takes forever

It's a strange glitch users have been encountering, and there are several reasons why your Mac is stuck trying to empty the Trash, from locked files to outdated software and conflicting programs. 

Regardless of the cause, we'll help you fix it. But first off, let us cover the basics: remind you how to delete files and how to properly empty Trash on Mac.

How to delete files and empty Trash on Mac

To delete files, you can choose one of the methods below:

• Drag an item to the Trash (either open the Trash or drag the files over the Trash icon in the Dock). 
• Use the Command + Delete shortcut.
• Right-click a file and choose Move to Trash. 

If you want to remove a file bypassing the Trash, use the Option + Command + Delete shortcut — it will delete the file permanently. 

Note: A permanently deleted file can only be restored from a Time Machine/external backup or with the help of a specialist tool. 

Now, to emptying Trash. There are also several ways to do it:

• Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and choose Empty Trash. 
• Open the Trash and click Empty top right. 
• Right-click a specific item in the Trash and choose Delete Immediately (to remove only specific items, not all files).

Also, you can set up macOS to empty Trash automatically. To do it, go to Finder Settings (press Command + , in an open Finder window) > Advanced and select the checkbox next to Remove items from the Trash after 30 days. When in Finder Settings, you can also deselect the checkbox next to Show warning before emptying the Trash — if you do, the files will be deleted right away when you empty the Trash. 

Similarly, files are automatically deleted from the Recently deleted album in the Photos app and the Recently Deleted folder in iCloud — this feature is enabled by macOS by default.

Tip: If you need to restore a file, right-click it in the Trash and choose Put Back.

Fixes: Mac emptying Trash slow

1. Check for locked files

A possible reason why you might be having issues with stuck or slow Trash removal could be that you're trying to delete a locked (protected) file.

Usually, you should get a notification that you are trying to delete a locked file — like in the image below (unless you disabled it in Finder Settings). Occasionally, a glitch can occur, which prevents this, so your Mac is slow to empty the Trash because it's essentially stuck.

It's worth a quick check to see if the file is locked. Here's how:

1. Select the file or item and right-click.

2. Select Get Info from the menu.

3. Under General, look to see if the Locked option has been selected.

If the file is locked, select the checkbox next to Locked to unlock it. You might need to be an admin to do it. If the file isn't locked, then head to the next tip in the list.

2. Boost your Mac's general performance

If your device is running a little low on available storage, your Mac might start to feel sluggish in other areas, too. 

Thankfully, there are lots of things you can do to give your Mac a general performance boost; let's take a look:

• Uninstall unused applications

• Close unnecessary and excessive browser windows

• Remove videos and images to cloud or external storage

• Tidy up your Desktop

Another great way to speed up your Mac is to use a purpose-built cleaner application like the Apple notarized CleanMyMac tool. 

It comes with a Smart Care feature, which quickly performs a thorough scan of your Mac, removes tons of clutter (like cache, system logs, language files, cookies, and more), checks for possible threats, vital app updates, and duplicate downloads, and boosts your Mac's speed by running maintenance tasks. 

It takes care of the hard-to-reach maintenance and performance boost tasks in a matter of clicks. Here's how to use it:

1. Install or open the application (get your free trial here).

2. Click Smart Care > Scan.

3. Finally, click Run.

This should help you boost the overall speed and performance of your device, but if you feel like the Trash removal is still on the slow side, head to the next tip.

3. Update your macOS

It's always a good idea to keep your MacBook updated with the latest software — it ensures your Mac has the latest features, improvements, and bug fixes like your Mac stuck emptying Trash.

If you haven't updated it for a while, here's a quick reminder of how to check:

1. Select the main Apple menu > System Settings.

2. From the list, go to General > Software Update.

3. Check for available software updates and follow the steps.

4. Quit background tasks

Another possible reason why you can't seem to empty your Trash is because a background application might be using the file that you're trying to remove.

Check what's running in the background with Activity Monitor, and quit all processes and applications you don't currently need; here's how:

1. First, Open Activity Monitor from Finder > Applications > Utilities.

2. Under the first tab (CPU), look through it to see what's currently running in real time on your Mac.

3. If you spot items that shouldn't be running, select them from the list and click the X button to quit them.

4. Now, try to remove your file once again.

Now you know exactly how to handle the Mac's slow to empty Trash issue.

Frequently asked questions

How does the Mac Trash work? 

On a Mac, Trash is a temporary holding area to which you send files before they are removed automatically after 30 days (if you have the option enabled) or until you empty the Trash.

What is the difference between moving to Trash and deleting permanently?

When you move a file to the Trash, you can restore it by clicking Put Back. Instead, when the file is deleted permanently, the only way to restore it is from a backup or a third-party data recovery tool.

Are deleted files gone forever after emptying Trash on Mac?

Yes. Such files are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered through macOS. So, make sure you no longer need the files before emptying the Trash or back up your MacBook first so that you can restore any of them later

Is it safe to delete all items in Mac Trash at once?

If you've reviewed files before emptying the Trash, yes. Otherwise, you risk deleting vital items permanently.