Empty the Trash on your Mac and get the space back
Quick answer
Control-click the Trash icon in the Dock and choose Empty Trash, or click the desktop and press Shift-Command-Delete. Once it's emptied, those files are gone for good.
Why it happens
Deleting a file on a Mac only moves it to the Trash, so it still takes up space. Your Mac keeps it there in case you change your mind. Emptying the Trash is the step that really deletes it and frees the space.
How to fix it
Click the Trash icon at the end of the Dock to open it. Have a quick look through, and drag out anything you still want.
Control-click (or right-click) the Trash icon in the Dock and choose Empty Trash. Click Empty Trash again in the box that asks if you're sure.
Or use the menu: click the desktop or any Finder window, then open the Finder menu at the top left and choose Empty Trash…. The keyboard shortcut is Shift-Command-Delete.
Finder›Empty Trash…
To check the space came back, open System Settings, click General, then Storage. The bar at the top updates after a moment.
The steps are the same on macOS 26 and 27. Only the wording in Storage settings changes slightly: Empty Trash Automatically on macOS 26, Empty Trash automatically on macOS 27.
Still not fixed?
If your Mac says an item is in use, quit the app that has it open and empty the Trash again. Not sure which app? Restart your Mac, then empty it straight away.
If an item is locked, find it in the Trash, select it and press Command-I. Untick Locked in the Info window, close it, and empty the Trash again.
Files you deleted from a USB stick or external drive sit in that drive's own Trash. Keep the drive plugged in while you empty the Trash, or the space on it won't come back.
Want your Mac to do this for you? Turn on Empty Trash automatically in Storage settings. Anything that's been in the Trash for more than 30 days is then deleted for good.
macOS 26 Tahoe General›Storage›Empty Trash Automatically
macOS 27 Golden Gate General›Storage›Empty Trash automatically
If the Trash still won't empty after a restart, open Disk Utility, select your Mac's disk and run First Aid. If First Aid reports errors it can't repair, contact Apple Support.
Disk Utility›First Aid
Questions people ask
Can I get files back after emptying the Trash?
Usually not from the Mac itself. If you use Time Machine or another backup, restore them from there. Files that were in iCloud Drive may still be in Recently Deleted on iCloud.com for up to 30 days.
How do I delete a file without putting it in the Trash?
Select it and press Option-Command-Delete, then confirm. It's deleted straight away and can't be put back.
Why didn't emptying the Trash free up much space?
The files may have been small, or on another drive. Check General, then Storage in System Settings to see what's using your space.
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