If you’re unable to delete files from your Mac’s external hard drive, there are a few potential causes and solutions. Firstly, make sure that the external drive is connected properly, and that it has enough power to operate. Additionally, check the permissions on the file or folder you’re attempting to delete – if they aren’t set correctly, you won’t be able to do so. Finally, try repairing disk permissions via Disk Utility; this will reset any incorrect access rights which may be preventing deletion of files from your Mac’s external hard drive.
Why can’t I delete files from external hard drive Mac?
Why can’t I delete a file from my external hard drive?
Troubleshooting a situation where you can’t delete a file from an external hard drive can be tricky. This article will provide steps to identify and resolve the issue so that you can successfully delete the file.
First, it’s important to understand why your computer may be unable to delete the file from your external hard drive. Files on external drives are typically stored in different formats than those on internal drives, which means they require specific programs or software to access them. Depending on the type of format the file is stored in, it may not be compatible with the operating system on your computer or other devices, preventing you from deleting it. Additionally, if there are any existing permissions set for that particular file, such as read-only access for certain users, then you won’t be able to delete it either.
To begin troubleshooting this problem, check what type of format your external hard drive is using and make sure it’s compatible with your computer’s operating system and any other device you’re trying to use. If not, convert the files into a supported format and try again. You could also try disabling any existing permissions associated with that particular file using a third-party utility program; however keep in mind that doing so could potentially cause data loss or corruption if done incorrectly. Finally, make sure there aren’t any background processes running which are locking up the external drive – these can sometimes prevent deletion attempts from being successful as well.
If after following all of these steps you still cannot delete a file from your external hard drive then contact customer support for further assistance in resolving this issue.
How do I delete files from my external hard drive on my Mac?
Deleting files from an external hard drive on a Mac is a simple process. All you need to do is locate the file and drag it to the trash can. Here are the steps for deleting files from an external hard drive on your Mac:
1. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac using a USB cable or other connection type.
2. Once connected, open Finder and select ‘External Drives’ from the left-hand side menu bar.
3. Select the external drive containing the files you wish to delete and browse through its contents until you find the file(s) in question.
4. Select the file(s) you wish to delete by clicking once on it (or them). This will highlight them in blue so that they can be easily identified as selected items. You can also use Command + A or Shift + click to select multiple files at once if needed.
5. Drag these highlighted file(s) into your Trash Can located at bottom of Finder’s window or press Command + Delete simultaneously after selecting them (this shortcut works only when one item is selected).
And that’s it! You have now successfully deleted all unwanted files off of your external hard drive with ease!
How do I delete an Undeletable folder on my external hard drive?
Deleting an undeletable folder from an external hard drive can be a tricky task. However, with the right steps, it is possible to remove the folder and free up space on your drive. Here are some tips on how to delete an undeletable folder:
1. Right-click on the folder and select “Properties” from the menu.
2. In the Properties window, go to the Security tab and check if you have permission to delete or modify files in this folder. If not, click Advanced > Change Permissions > Edit > Add > Everyone and make sure they have full control permissions for this particular folder.
3. Once you have permission to modify files in this folder, try deleting it again by right-clicking on it and selecting “Delete” from the menu.
4. If that does not work, open Command Prompt as administrator by typing “cmd” into Search box in Windows 10 or Start Menu in Windows 7/8/8.1 and then pressing Ctrl+Shift+Enter key combination at once to launch Command Prompt as administrator (you will need Administrator privileges).
5. Type del /f /q “full path of your undeletable file” at command prompt where full path of your undeletable file is exact location of that undeletable file/folder like C:\Folder\undeletablefile or C:\Folder\undeleteablefolder etc.. Press Enter key after typing above command line; it should immediately delete that undeletable file/folder without any warning message or confirmation dialog box; no recycle bin involved here since we used /f switch with del command which forces deletion without going through Recycle Bin! 6) Close all windows when done using above mentioned method!
If all else fails, you may need a third-party software tool such as Unlocker (https://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/) to help you delete stubborn folders from your external hard drive safely and quickly
How do I force delete files on my external hard drive?
Deleting files on an external hard drive can be tricky, as the operating system may not always recognize the drive. Fortunately, there are a few methods you can use to ensure that files are deleted from an external hard drive:
1. Use a File Deleter Program: There are several third-party programs available that allow you to delete files from your external hard drive. These programs will search for and delete any file or folder that you specify, ensuring it is completely removed from your hard drive.
2. Format the Drive: If you want to permanently delete all of the data stored on your external hard drive, then formatting it is the best way to do so. This process will erase all of the data from your drive and make it ready for new files to be added. Be sure to back up any important data before formatting!
3. Use Command Prompt: If formatting isn’t an option or if there is just one specific file/folder that needs to be deleted, then command prompt can help with this task as well. You must open Command Prompt with administrator privileges in order to execute commands that affect drives and folders outside of your computer’s main system disk (C:\). Once opened, type “del /a ” followed by the path of the file/folder you wish to delete (e.g., del /a C:\Users\JohnDoe\Desktop\MyFile).
Why is my external hard drive read-only on Mac?
Having trouble accessing your external hard drive on Mac? It is possible that it has been set as read-only, meaning that you can only view the files stored on it but cannot make changes to them. To fix this issue and restore full access, you can try the following steps:
1. Open the Finder window and locate your external hard drive in the sidebar. Right-click on it and select “Get Info” from the dropdown menu.
2. A new window will open up with a number of options related to the drive’s settings and information. Look for an option labeled “Locked” and make sure it is unchecked; if not, click to uncheck it before closing out of this window.
3. Now check if your external hard drive has returned to its normal state; if not, restart your Mac computer for changes to take effect.
4. If restarting doesn’t work, then open Terminal (a command line interface) by searching in Spotlight or going through Applications > Utilities > Terminal; type in “sudo chflags nouchg /Volumes/
How do I delete files on my Mac that won’t delete?
Deleting files on your Mac that won’t delete can be a frustrating experience. The good news is, there are a few reliable methods you can use to get rid of stubborn files on your Mac. Here are three steps you can take:
1. Force Quit Applications – If the file that won’t delete is associated with an application, try force quitting it before attempting to delete the file again. To do this, open Activity Monitor and select the application from the list. Then click the “X” button in the top-left corner of the window and select “Force Quit” from the pop-up menu that appears. Once you’ve done this, close all applications and try deleting the file again.
2. Use Terminal Commands – Using Terminal commands is another way to delete stubborn files from your Mac’s hard drive or external storage devices connected to it (e.g., USB drives). To do this, open Terminal by typing “Terminal” into Spotlight Search and press Enter/Return key on your keyboard – then type in one of these two commands:
a) sudo rm -rf [file path] (this command will remove any kind of file)
b) sudo rm -i [file path] (this command will prompt you for confirmation before removing a file).
3. Use Third-Party Tools – If none of these methods work for you, there are some third-party tools available which allow users to forcibly delete stubborn files without using complicated Terminal commands or running any risk of damaging their operating system files in anyway. Some popular tools include Disk Drill and iMyMac PowerMyMac which both offer easy-to-use interfaces for deleting unwanted files quickly and safely from your Mac’s hard drive or external storage devices connected to it (e..g USB drives).
How do I force Delete files on my external hard drive?
Deleting files on an external hard drive can be a somewhat tricky process, as the operating system may not recognize the drive or the files that are stored on it. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to force delete these files and ensure that your information is completely erased.
Method 1: Using Windows File Explorer
1. Plug in your external hard drive to your computer and open File Explorer from either the Start menu or taskbar.
2. Locate and select the file that you want to delete from the list of items on your external hard drive window. Right-click on it and select “Delete.”
3. If prompted with a warning about deleting this file permanently, click “Yes” to confirm deletion. The file should now be removed from your external hard drive without any further warnings or actions needed from you.
Method 2: Using Command Prompt
1. Connect your external hard drive to your computer and launch Command Prompt by searching for it in the Windows Start menu or typing “cmd” into Run (Windows + R).
2. Enter “diskpart” at the command prompt, then press enter key twice until DiskPart prompt appears (DISKPART>).
3. Type “list disk” at this prompt and press enter key again; this will show a list of all available disks connected to your system including their respective disk numbers/IDs (e.g., Disk 0: C:, Disk 1: E:, etc.). Note down which number corresponds to your external hard drive so you can identify it correctly later on when necessary during this process – usually, newly attached drives have higher numbers than internal ones have already been assigned before they were connected externally).
4. Enter “select disk [number]” replacing [number] with actual numerical value corresponding to target device/external HDD; e..g., if its ID is 3, type ‘select disk 3′ here instead) followed by pressing enter key again once more time for confirmation of selection command execution status successfully completed; this should make a new message appear at bottom indicating that device has been successfully selected for operations now… 5 Finally type “del /f [file path]” replacing [file path] with file location such as C:/MyFolder/MyFileName” followed by pressing enter key one last time for confirmation; this should finally start forced deletion operation immediately after which message about successful completion will appear confirming successful completion of entire operation now!