Unable to erase files on external USB Drive - Stuck in trash can

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Level 1

11 points

Unable to erase files on external USB Drive - Stuck in trash can

I am trying to erase files on an external USB drive. I can create and write files, but when I delete a file, it goes into the trash can on the desktop. When I delete the files from the trash can, I get an error that I do not have permissions to erase the file.

I have even tried the command line method in terminal with the same results.

If I remove the drive the files disappear in the trash can, but when I plut the drive back in, they re-appear.

I have tried to restart the computer in safe mode, but then the drive does not show connected in that mode.

I am the only user of this computer, so I am the administrator of my own computer.

The mac is running the latest OS.

Please help.

Posted on Apr 18, 2025 11:06 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Mike Adkins Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 20, 2025 4:13 PM in response to Mike Adkins

The issue is resolved. The problem was that the external drive was named SG 1, with a space between the SG and 1. When I tried the command lines in terminal, nothing would work as the OS would not recognize the space. Once I renamed the drive to SG1 with no spaces, the command lines in terminal all worked. And the .trashey folder emptied out. Now when I delete a file, the file goes to the desktop trashcan, and when I securely empty the trash, it is gone.

I want to thank the community for all their help. And some great suggestions. Your help directed me down the correct path to the solution. Happy Easter everyone.

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Answer 2

g_wolfman

Level 4

3,472 points

Apr 19, 2025 6:29 PM in response to Mike Adkins

Try

sudo rm -rf /Volumes/SG1/.Trashes/*

Your command would attempt to recursively delete the contents of the trash and then the trashcan itself.

I would still be interested in you running the following first, though:

cd /Volumes/SG1
ls -lAFh@

And seeing what the permissions of the .Trash folder look like.

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Answer 3

g_wolfman

Level 4

3,472 points

Apr 25, 2025 10:27 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Then you either need to use the escape character to allow a space in the Terminal line, as others have mentioned; or, enclose the path name in double quotes.

sudo rm -rf /Volumes/SG\ 1/.Trashes

or

sudo rm -rf "/Volumes/SG 1/.Trashes"

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Answer 4

tbirdvet

Level 6

17,078 points

Apr 18, 2025 11:32 AM in response to Mike Adkins

Was this drive used as a time machine drive? If so then you need to reconnect and remove the drive from the tm app. Then you can delete or erase files or the drive.

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Answer 5

g_wolfman

Level 4

3,472 points

Apr 18, 2025 12:51 PM in response to Mike Adkins

How is the external drive formatted (APFS? HFS+, NTFS? etc).
What command line method - what precisely was the command?
In terminal, after you navigate using "cd" into the USB drives' Volume, what is teh output of running this command:

ls -lAFh@

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Answer 6

Apr 20, 2025 5:43 PM in response to Mike Adkins

FYI and for future reference, the problem was actually not that the drive was named SG 1 (with the space), but rather the Terminal commands you used didn't account for and properly include the space.

The proper Terminal path for volume "SG 1" (space included) would be /Volumes/SG\ 1

That's [slash]Volumes[slash]SG[backslash][space]1[space]

In case you or others were wondering, macOS does just fine with spaces in volume names. "Macintosh HD" is a perfect example.

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Answer 7

Apr 18, 2025 11:59 AM in response to Mike Adkins

Mike Adkins wrote:

[...]

If I remove the drive the files disappear in the trash can, but when I put the drive back in, they re-appear.

[...]

This is normal for macOS.

The Trash folder in the Dock displays the files in the trashes of all connected drives. If you eject or disconnect a drive before you empty the trash, then the files remain in the trash on that particular drive. They don't get emptied - they can't if the drive isn't mounted.

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