How to Turn Off Secure Empty Trash on Mac
If you’re a Mac user and have been wondering how to turn off the secure empty trash feature, you’re not alone. The secure empty trash option is designed to protect your deleted files by overwriting them multiple times before they are permanently removed from your Mac. However, this feature can sometimes cause unnecessary delays and consume more disk space than needed. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to turn off secure empty trash on your Mac.
Step 1: Open the Terminal
To begin, you need to open the Terminal application on your Mac. You can find it in the Applications folder under Utilities. If you’re using macOS Catalina or later, you can also search for Terminal using Spotlight (Cmd + Space) and then open it.
Step 2: Run the Command
Once the Terminal is open, you need to run a specific command to disable the secure empty trash feature. Type the following command and press Enter:
“`
defaults write com.apple.finder EnableEmptyTrashSecurely -bool false
“`
This command tells the Finder to stop using the secure empty trash feature.
Step 3: Restart the Finder
After running the command, you need to restart the Finder to apply the changes. You can do this by closing all open Finder windows and then opening a new Finder window. Alternatively, you can use the following command in the Terminal to force the Finder to restart:
“`
killall Finder
“`
Step 4: Verify the Changes
To ensure that the secure empty trash feature has been disabled, you can check the preference settings. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Finder. In the Finder window, look for the “Secure Empty Trash” option and make sure it is unchecked.
Conclusion
Turning off the secure empty trash feature on your Mac can help improve performance and save disk space. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily disable this feature and enjoy a faster and more efficient Mac experience. Remember to exercise caution when deleting files, as turning off secure empty trash may make your deleted files more vulnerable to recovery.
