If you want to delete one locked file, move it to the trash, and when you click 'Empty Trash.' or press 'Shift + Command (Apple) + delete,' make sure you hold down the Option key.

To delete a locked file, the process is pretty simple. Both of these methods for locking files can cause a lot of consternation, though! Deleting or Changing a Locked File This is a simple method of copy-prevention, as you are unable to move the files to another volume on your Mac. Well, if you lock the file (click on the file and choose 'File > Get Info.' or press 'Command (Apple key) + I'), then you won't be able to modify or delete the file without a warning appearing.Īnother common practice is for certain programs to contain locked files in them and sometimes there are tons of them. Let's say you have five or six versions of a document you're working on, but you want to make absolutely sure you don't delete or change the original.

For one, locking a file makes it unchangeable. There are a few different reasons why someone would want to lock a file. Well, I will answer those questions, and much more, after the break. Quite often, I am asked one of two related questions: 1) 'Why can't I delete this pesky file? My Mac says the file is locked, and I can't delete it unless I do something special!' or 2) 'Gaa! I can't copy  to my flash drive or another hard drive because it's locked-help!'