If you are an iMac user, you might have noticed that files you delete don’t immediately disappear from your computer. Instead, they are moved to the Trash, where they continue to take up space on your hard drive until you empty it. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to properly empty the Trash on your iMac.
Step 1: Locate the Trash Icon
The Trash icon is usually located at the far right end of the Dock, which is the bar of icons at the bottom of your screen. It looks like a small waste bin and is easily identifiable.
Step 2: Open the Trash Folder
Click on the Trash icon in the Dock to open the Trash folder. This will display all the files and folders that you have deleted from your iMac.
Step 3: Review Contents
Before emptying the Trash, it’s a good idea to review its contents one last time to make sure that you want to permanently delete these files. You can do this by scrolling through the items in the Trash folder.
Step 4: Emptying the Trash
To empty the Trash, simply right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and select “Empty Trash” from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can also click on “Finder” in the top menu bar, then select “Empty Trash” from there.
Step 5: Confirm Deletion
A confirmation dialog box will appear asking if you are sure you want to permanently delete all items in the Trash. Click on “Empty Trash” to confirm and proceed with deleting all files.
Step 6: Wait for Deletion Process
Once you confirm deletion, your iMac will start emptying the trash. The process may take a few moments depending on how many files are in the trash folder and their sizes.
Step 7: Verify Emptying
After the deletion process is complete, verify that your trash is now empty by checking if there are no more items in it. You can do this by reopening the trash folder or looking at its icon in the Dock (it should appear empty).
By following these simple steps, you can effectively free up space on your iMac’s hard drive by permanently deleting unwanted files and folders from your computer’s trash bin.
