How to Permanently Delete Files on Mac/ MacBook Air/ Pro?

In this age of digital outbursts, the security of your confidential data is crucial. Thus, whether you’re selling a Macbook, decluttering your storage, or require to safeguard personal info, knowing how to permanently detele files on Mac is need of the hour. Just by simply moving the files to Trash is not enough as they remain in your Hard Drive. And also, using advanced forensic tools, you can recover the data. As a result, in this write-up, we will discuss the proven methods to completely vanish data files on Mac/ MacBook Air or Pro. Window users, can check out this – Permanently erase files on PC.

Why Permanently Deleting Files Matters?

When you delete a file on a Mac, it goes to the Trash, where it stays until you empty it. Even on emptying the Trash, the file data remains on the disk until it is overwritten. This poses security concerns since recovery software can restore those files. For your safety, you must use secure methods to completely delete data files on a Mac.

Methods to Permanently Delete Files on Mac

1. Emptying the Trash to Remove Files on Mac

By emptying the Trash, you can permanently delete files in the simplest possible way on a Mac. This is simply great for the deletion of files one works with every day.

Steps:

1. For moving files to Trash: Drag and drop into the Trash or select files and press Command + Delete.
2. Next, right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock. Then, select Empty Trash.
3. Confirm the request when prompted.

Note: With this method, data are not overwritten and are, therefore, recoverable through specialized software.

Read Also: How to Completely Wipe Macbook before Selling?

2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Quickly Erase Files

macOS provides shortcuts for bypassing the Trash and for deleting files immediately. This process is fast and efficient for deleting files permanently.

Steps:

1. Choose the file(s) you want to delete.
2. Press Option + Command + Delete.
3. A pop-up window will confirm whether you want to proceed with the deletion.

This method makes sure that the files are directly deleted without going to the Trash.

3. Delete Files through Terminal Commands

Terminal is usually for advanced users to permanently delete files on a Mac device. The rm command deletes files, bypassing the Trash. 

Here is how:

1. Launch Terminal (Applications → Utilities).
2. Use the cd command to traverse to the directory where the file exists.
3. The rm command is used to delete it along with the name of the file. For example:

rm filename

Warning: The rm -rf option could wipe out entire folders without a trace. Be careful before using it!

If you want to securely delete the file, you can use the srm command, which overwrites the deleted file:

srm filename

Note: Not every version of macOS has the srm command.

For tech-savvy users

Terminal’s secureErase command securely wipes free space on your drive, ensuring deleted files cannot be recovered.

Steps:

1. Open Terminal and type diskutil list to identify your drive.
2. Type diskutil secureErase 2 disk# (replace # with your drive number).
3. Confirm the action to securely wipe the drive.

4. Permanently Delete Files on Mac via Disk Utility

Disk Utility is in fact the appropriate application for wiping out entire drives or partitions so that no data is left for recovery.

Steps to do so:

1. At first, go to Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility to open it.
2. After that, select the drive or volume you want to erase.
3. Then, pick a format when you click on Erase (examples include APFS or Mac OS Extended).
4. Next, check Security Options and select the secure erase level.
5. You will need to confirm this action to remove data permanently.

How to Permanently Delete Files on Mac? Secure Method

If you are looking for an alternative way to permanently delete files from Mac, SysTools Data Erasure Software will be worth considering. This program kind of assures both casual and professional users that the data can be wiped off permanently.