Make your Mac empty the Trash on its own after 30 days

Why it happens

Moving something to the Trash doesn't free any space. The file sits there until you empty it, so the Trash can quietly grow to many gigabytes. Finder can tidy it for you by removing anything that has been in the Trash for 30 days.

How to fix it

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock so Finder is the active app.

2. Choose Finder > Settings from the menu bar, click Advanced, and tick Remove items from the Trash after 30 days.

   Finder›Settings…›Advanced›Remove items from the Trash after 30 days

3. Tired of being asked to confirm when you empty the Trash yourself? Untick Show warning before emptying the Trash in the same tab.

   Finder›Settings…›Advanced›Show warning before emptying the Trash

4. Close the window. From now on, anything that has been in the Trash for 30 days is removed for good. Newer items stay until they reach 30 days.

Still not fixed?

1. The same choice is in Storage settings, shown as Empty Trash Automatically. Turning it on there does the same job.

   macOS 26 Tahoe General›Storage›Empty Trash Automatically

   macOS 27 Golden Gate General›Storage›Empty Trash automatically

2. Need space right now? Choose Finder > Empty Trash to clear it straight away instead of waiting.

   Finder›Empty Trash…

3. If something won't leave the Trash, an app may still be using it. Quit open apps and try again. A locked item needs Locked unticked in its Get Info window (Command-I).

4. Want something back? Open the Trash, select it and choose Put Back before the 30 days are up. Once it's removed, only a backup such as Time Machine can bring it back.

5. If the box keeps unticking itself, a work or school Mac may be set up to control it, so ask whoever manages it. Otherwise, contact Apple Support.