How to Delete Downloads on Mac

When you download a file, it is saved to your computer (or another device) and sits there until you do something with it. Some programs give you the option to open the file when they download it, while others make you locate the file manually before you can do anything with it. If you’ve downloaded a game or application, or if you’re storing files that are unnecessary for the time being, then there are several ways to delete them from your computer.

Delete the file using Finder

If you saved a copy of the file on your desktop, you can delete it through Finder. To do so, open Finder on your Mac and click the desktop to select it. Then press and hold the Command key, and press the Delete key on your keyboard. The file should disappear immediately.

Erase the file using Disk Utility

To erase the file, open Disk Utility and select the hard drive where the file is located. Click on the partition name and then click on the Erase tab. For a single file, choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) from the Format drop-down menu. Click the Erase button. Now that we’ve destroyed the file, the selection of macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina will change.

Erase the file using Terminal commands

If you're still having trouble, you can remove the files using Terminal. Type in the following commands to remove the files and restart your Mac. You'll need to enter your admin password when prompted.rm -rf /Applications/ emails /Library/Preferences/Emails.bak rm -rf /Users/ username /Library/Preferences/Library.bak rm -rf /Users/ username /Library/Preferences/Info.plist rm -rf /System/Library/CoreServices/HashBasedLockEx.bak rm -rf /Users/ username /Library/Preferences/Notifications. After removing everything, restart your PC and you should have the problem gone.