Member Avatar for waterprincess

accidently clicked a button twice, resulting in MAC read the command as in download the file.

forced to quit the process, but the file is now on desktop, can not be moved nor deleted, the message says the file is currently used by another task right now, such as moving, copying etc.

how do i delete this file ? please help :cry:

please email solution to

thanks

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Dani AI

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A short expert note that builds on the earlier replies from , , , and : the usual restart/safe-boot and Disk Utility suggestions are good first steps, but when a normal reboot does not clear the “file in use” condition (as reported by ) a targeted diagnostic approach is safer than blindly forcing removal.

Non‑destructive checks (no Terminal required): use Finder -> Get Info on the stubborn file. In the General area look for a Locked checkbox and in Sharing & Permissions make sure the account has Read & Write (authenticate with the padlock if necessary). Inspect Activity Monitor for obvious downloaders, browser helpers or background utilities that may still be touching the file. If the file sits on a network share, check the server side for locks.

A reliable way to see which process actually holds the file is to list open handles and then stop that process. From Terminal (diagnostic, read‑only first):

lsof /path/to/file

The output shows the process name and PID. Quit the named app in Activity Monitor or stop the PID from Terminal:

kill PID
# if a normal stop fails (use very cautiously):
kill -9 PID

Avoid killing critical system processes (kernel_task, launchd, WindowServer, etc.). If Finder itself appears to be holding the file, relaunching it often helps:

killall Finder

If the lock persists because a background service immediately restarts, remove the file from outside the running session (log in as another admin user, boot from an external drive, or mount the disk in Target Disk Mode on another Mac) and then delete it. Identifying the locking process first makes removal safe and avoids collateral damage from forceful deletions.

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All 10 Replies

Member Avatar for Zachery

accidently clicked a button twice, resulting in MAC read the command as in download the file.

forced to quit the process, but the file is now on desktop, can not be moved nor deleted, the message says the file is currently used by another task right now, such as moving, copying etc.

how do i delete this file ? please help :cry:

please email solution to

thanks

try restarting ?

Member Avatar for sasha

I have had what sounds like a similar problem before where I could not eject or trash a file. I have had luck with shutting down the machine and re-starting.

Member Avatar for Zachery

I have had what sounds like a similar problem before where I could not eject or trash a file. I have had luck with shutting down the machine and re-starting.

if it comes down to it boot into safe mode and remove the file , problem solved :)

Member Avatar for waterprincess

restart the Mac didnt work :cry: :cry: :cry:

Member Avatar for waterprincess

if it comes down to it boot into safe mode and remove the file , problem solved :)

for MAC OS X into safe mood ?

how do u do that ?

Member Avatar for Zachery

for MAC OS X into safe mood ?

how do u do that ?

lmao i really thought i was in the windows section >.< sorry

Member Avatar for romm

accidently clicked a button twice, resulting in MAC read the command as in download the file.

forced to quit the process, but the file is now on desktop, can not be moved nor deleted, the message says the file is currently used by another task right now, such as moving, copying etc.

how do i delete this file ? please help :cry:

please email solution to

thanks

Try repairing permission using the disk utility, then reboot, if the file is still being used after reboot, i would think it is being read by an item in your startup items. Check you startup items in you 'accounts' preferneces.

Member Avatar for yellow

It's very important to carefully follow these directions:

Open /Applications/Utilites/Terminal
Type in:

sudo rm -f

Please note, there is a space after the -f, then from the Finder, click and drag the file that you cannot remove into the Terminal window. The absolute path to the file will then be automagically added to the command. Hit return. Enter your admin password.

Bye bye file that won't go away.

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

OS X does have a "safe mode". It is triggered with a keyboard sequence, of which I need to go look up and get back to you with.

Christian

Member Avatar for yellow

OS X does have a "safe mode". It is triggered with a keyboard sequence, of which I need to go look up and get back to you with.

Boot holding down Shift.

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