Whether you saved your work archives as PDF files, or you're collecting some high-priced and valuable PDF eBooks on your Mac, at the time you want to sell it, I bet you didn't want somebody to open the files, right? And I guess you already knew that deleting files using a common method isn't effective to make all of those PDF files disappeared from your Mac.

How To Delete Files From Download In Macbook Pro

Permanently delete any file such as a word file, excel file, pictures, photos, videos, folders on your Mac. How to delete downloaded files on Mac Step 1. Access the very folder that stores your downloaded files! The folder that stores the downloaded files by default can be accessed in two ways, you can use any you find more fitting and convenient. 1) Access the download folder via the Dock. 'Uninstaller' enables you to delete download apps from your Mac. Delete downloads on Mac. When the scanning done, you can click 'Review' button to review the scan results. Checkmark the items that you want to delete, and click 'Clean' button to start to delete downloads from your Mac.

Yep, as you probably knew that there are many ways to recover deleted PDF files on Mac, and you can find the guides on the internet – for free. Moreover, there are also many data recovery software available for free. For that reason, you should use more reliable method or tool to destroy all of your PDF files stored on your Mac permanently.

PDF File Shredder for Mac

File Shredder for Mac – AweEraser for Mac is one of the best tools to help you permanently PDF files and other files from Mac hard drive, USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc. This file shredder can permanently delete the PDF files and overwrite the disk space of the deleted PDF files to avoid data recovery. It means once the PDF files are deleted by AweEraser for Mac, they will be lost forever, can't be recovered by any data recovery software or manual data recovery method.

Because you're gonna destroy all of your PDF files, and it will be gone forever, then you should back up all of them into an external hard drive, a flash disk, or a cloud storage service. Make sure you back up all of them or risk losing your valuable PDF files forever.

Simple operation to permanently delete PDF files on Mac

Step 1 - please download and install AweEraser for Mac. This is an amazing software that allows you to permanently delete PDF files within a few simple clicks. PLUS it comes in a tiny size which means you only need a few seconds to download and install this software. Once you downloaded and installed AweEraser for Mac on your Mac, it should run automatically. Then you can see there are three Data Erasure options on your screen.

Option 1: permanently delete PDF files on Mac.

This option can help you permanently shred/delete PDF files from Mac hard drive and storage media device. Just select the PDF files you want to shred, then click on 'Erase' button to permanently delete all the selected PDF files from your Mac or external device.

Option 2: erase hard drive to delete all PDF files from Mac.

Erase a hard drive on Mac to permanently wipe all data including the PDF files on the hard drive. Once the process gets started, all the data on the selected hard drive will be permanently erased.

Option 3: permanently shred already deleted PDF files on Mac.

How to prevent the deleted PDF files from being recovered on Mac? This option can help you erase the free disk space of the Mac hard drive to permanently erase the already deleted data including the deleted PDF files.

Now the targeted PDF files on your Mac are permanently deleted. You can test the result – run Mac data recovery software to scan the Mac hard drive to check if the PDF files are permanently deleted. You will find the erased PDF files are lost forever, no trace left.

Aug 28, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

'Agh! Why I can’t delete a file?' is a common frustration with most Mac users. Usually, you find yourself having no clue on what to do next. Well, this article will guide you to your next and final step.

There are various reasons to delete a file. However, whatever reason you might have, your Mac might not agree with you.

Since the creation of on-screen technologies, terms such as 'delete', 'erase', and 'format' has been the go-to options in situations where somebody wanted to get rid of a file or application. Also, to safeguard a system in terms of freeing up space or easy removal of malware, the delete key has been beneficial.

However, in recent versions of operating systems, we have been unable in some cases to delete files from our computers. You have probably faced warnings such as ‘folder in use, cannot delete.’

So, how to delete files that won’t delete in Mac?

Well, we shall explain why you can’t delete a file and also the solutions in the sections below:

Part 1. Why I Can’t Delete File on Mac?

You have often wondered why you can’t delete an app on Mac. The presence of a Trash bin on Mac has always made it easy to sort out what you don’t need. However, this is not true.

There are underlying obstacles that can hinder you from clearing your system of specific files. At times these hindrances save us from deleting sensitive data, probably those required by the system to run.

However, the obstacles can, at times, go overboard. It is when you are unable to get rid of the average local files that you know are not useful to you and the system.

So why would the system or anything else keep you from doing so?

Well, some of the reasons include:

Your Mac system locks the file: Mac locks sensitive system files that are a must for its operations. When deleted, their absence can cause your Mac OS to ‘break.’ It might not even be able to boot up.
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. It prevents the disruption of your ongoing work. You might have wanted to delete the data accidentally.
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. It is thus a security measure for the program with regards to copyright restrictions.
The file is not available: Sometimes files are visible but cannot be accessed for one reason or the other. These could be music, documents, or a folder. Usually, they are ‘ghost files.’ You can’t delete such files because they are not there in the first place. It could be a thumbnail left behind.
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.

Part 2. Can't Delete Files? Go to the Finder

Usually, the most natural solution to cannot delete files is by dragging them to the Trash. In case you'd want the data back, command + Z would automatically undo your action. 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.'

From the Finder menu, you can click on Empty Trash. Also, from the Trash icon at your dock, you can right-click and select Empty Trash.

But that doesn’t always work. An error “file can’t be deleted” may pop-up to alert you of this. In such a scenario, you can do the following:

Solution 1. Relaunch Finder

Simultaneously press Command + Shift + Escape.
On the menu that pops up select Relaunch

Make sure that the Finder loading is complete before you can start deleting.

Solution 2. Force quit Finder

There are several ways to force quit Finder. From the Apple logo at the top right.

Click the Apple logo.
From the menu, click on 'Force Quit Finder'.

It is the general way of doing it.

Solution 3. Secure Empty Trash

If you are familiar with the Terminal, you can use the ‘killall’ command to force quit Finder. After the successful deletion of a file, you may not be able to empty Trash as the file can’t be deleted from the Trash.

Go to Finder on the top left.
If Empty Trash didn’t work for you, select secure Empty Trash under it.

You can also press command and right-click the Trash icon to secure empty Trash.

How To Delete Files From Download In Mac