Since OS X El Capitan 10.11, Apple has dispensed with the option in the operating system for Mac and MacBook Empty the trash safely. So if you use El Capitan or macOS Sierra, you can tend to restore deleted files (or have them restored). But why did Apple remove the ability to safely empty the trash? And what alternatives are there; what do Trash It and CleanMyMac bring? In this little guide you will get all the information on the topic!
Chapter in this post:
Emptying the recycle bin safely: Function is missing in the Finder
The Finder under OS X El Capitan 10.11 and macOS Sierra 10.12 offers the function Empty the trash safely no longer on. This means that the files that are to be deleted are only "simply" deleted and not subsequently overwritten several times. Ergo, they could be restored. But why did Apple abandon the option? Well, that's because of the growing focus on SSD hard drives. Since HDD memories, i.e. magnetic hard disks, were / are more suitable for having the deleted data restored, the Finder function is no longer necessary. Because currently and in the future, mainly SSD flash memories are installed, which are more difficult to restore per se.
Overwriting files multiple times when deleting is still possible
It is of course still possible without the Finder function Empty the trash safely Delete files extensively and with recovery protection. There are various solutions for this, as well as for a few other concerns and problems that can arise with the Mac Trash. For example, the free app came here in the blog Trash It! to carry. This freeApp helps with stubborn files and folders that cannot be deleted from the Mac Trash using conventional methods. You can also find one Test of CleanMyMac 3. This paid program offers a lot of functions and can also remove files from the hard drive that you cannot put straight into the recycle bin (system leftovers, data leftovers, cache junk, etc.).
CleanMyMac Shredder: An alternative to emptying the trash safely
In the CleanMyMac app (Link to the trial version) you will find the function Annihilator. This is a good substitute for the Finder function Empty the trash safely. The shredder deletes files and overwrites them multiple times, making recovery impossible. System files can also be deleted with the shredder - yes, even those that the finder of the operating system complains about when you want to delete them. But be careful, because the Finder doesn’t complain for nothing ... so don’t delete files that you don’t know whether they are essential for the system on the Mac;)
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After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.