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After deleting a user account, I cannot empty my trash
Where: Macintosh · Users · Jack · Trash
The operation can’t be completed because the item “Application Support” is in use.
The operation can’t be completed because the item “Library” is in use.
The operation can’t be completed because the item “Jack” is in use.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.0
Hi Jack_YH.
You're approaching the point where backing the Mac up via Time Machine and then erasing and restoring from that backup without restoring the errant user directory may be the only supported path. But before you undertake that process, try this.
Take the Jack folder that is still in the Trash and drag it to the desktop. In a perfect world, the item called Library will exist as a folder inside of that and then the item called Application Support will exist as a folder inside of the Library folder. If the items in the trash do not currently nest this way, then assemble them that way on the desktop. Then, drag the Jack folder with the other two folders inside of it to Macintosh HD > Users.
Once that is done, reboot the Mac and then check at System Preferences > Users and Groups and see if it appears as user account which you can delete via that pane.
If that is also not effective, then you'll want to:
1) Back the Mac up using Time Machine if you have not already done so.
Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support
2) Boot the Mac using macOS Recovery.
About macOS Recovery - Apple Support
3) Once booted to Recovery, use the Disk Utility app to erase the volume called Macintosh HD.
Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
4) Reinstall macOS.
How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support
When you reboot after all of that, the system should treat things as if this were a new Mac just being set up. When the Setup Assistant asks about restoring data, choose the Time Machine backup. You should get a window which allows you to customize what data gets restored. Next to the line for Users, you should see small triangle. Click that and you'll see all of the user accounts that the system believes to exist with checkboxes for each one. Just don't click Jack user account and it should be ignored when data is being restored.
The first set of steps has only a small chance of doing the trick here. But it is way less time intensive and far less intrusive and is the best path to take if you're just trying to get to a place where those files can be deleted from your Mac.
Cheers.
Hi Jack_YH.
You're approaching the point where backing the Mac up via Time Machine and then erasing and restoring from that backup without restoring the errant user directory may be the only supported path. But before you undertake that process, try this.
Take the Jack folder that is still in the Trash and drag it to the desktop. In a perfect world, the item called Library will exist as a folder inside of that and then the item called Application Support will exist as a folder inside of the Library folder. If the items in the trash do not currently nest this way, then assemble them that way on the desktop. Then, drag the Jack folder with the other two folders inside of it to Macintosh HD > Users.
Once that is done, reboot the Mac and then check at System Preferences > Users and Groups and see if it appears as user account which you can delete via that pane.
If that is also not effective, then you'll want to:
1) Back the Mac up using Time Machine if you have not already done so.
Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support
2) Boot the Mac using macOS Recovery.
About macOS Recovery - Apple Support
3) Once booted to Recovery, use the Disk Utility app to erase the volume called Macintosh HD.
Erase and reformat a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support
4) Reinstall macOS.
How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support
When you reboot after all of that, the system should treat things as if this were a new Mac just being set up. When the Setup Assistant asks about restoring data, choose the Time Machine backup. You should get a window which allows you to customize what data gets restored. Next to the line for Users, you should see small triangle. Click that and you'll see all of the user accounts that the system believes to exist with checkboxes for each one. Just don't click Jack user account and it should be ignored when data is being restored.
The first set of steps has only a small chance of doing the trick here. But it is way less time intensive and far less intrusive and is the best path to take if you're just trying to get to a place where those files can be deleted from your Mac.
Cheers.
Hello Jack_YH welcome to Apple Support Communities. It appears you are having some difficulty deleting some files after deleting a user account on a Mac.
Did you follow the steps outlined here or did you just try to delete the folder for that user via the Finder?
Delete a user or group on Mac - Apple Support
Try the steps outlined here.
If you can't empty the Trash on your Mac - Apple Support
Cheers.
Thank you for your instruction!
I tried the first set of steps, but I was not able to drag it because my mac told me that the operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items.
I believe that the second method will be effective, but for me, currently it can be a quite challenging project... maybe I will try it in the future!
Anyway, thanks a lot for your kind help!
First thank you for your kind help!
However, I did not follow those steps outlined. I just tried to delete the folder for that user via the Finder after deleting the useless user. I guess that why I am stuck in this situation...
I tried both safety mode and macOS Recovery Disk Utility, but the results are the same:
The operation can’t be completed because the item “Application Support” is in use.
The operation can’t be completed because the item “Library” is in use.
The operation can’t be completed because the item “Jack” is in use.
Thanks again for your help but it seems that currently the folder still does not want to leave my trash bin easily.
Hi Jack_YH.
In order for the deletion of a user to be "clean," the process in that first article has to be followed. Try going to System Preferences > User & Groups and see if that user is still listed. If it is, highlight it and use the minus sign (-) at the bottom of the sidebar to remove it. You may or may not get a prompt about keeping or removing the home directory for that user. If prompted, choose the option to delete.
Cheers.
Thank you for your answer!
However, it seems that the user is not listed. I cannot find it in User & Groups. Now I understand that not following the process in the first article caused my problem.
Maybe it's time for me to embrace the fact that the folder is going to stay in my trash bin for a long time. No matter what, thanks for your help!
After deleting a user account, I cannot empty my trash
