How to Permanently Erase Recently Deleted Photos from Your Mac- A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Empty Recently Deleted Photos on Mac

Dealing with deleted photos on your Mac can be a hassle, especially when you realize that you’ve accidentally deleted some important ones. However, Mac users can easily empty the Recently Deleted folder to free up space and recover any deleted photos that were deleted within the last 30 days. In this article, we will guide you through the process of emptying the Recently Deleted photos on your Mac.

Step 1: Open the Recently Deleted Folder

First, you need to locate the Recently Deleted folder on your Mac. To do this, open a Finder window and click on the “Recently Deleted” folder in the sidebar. If you can’t find it, you can also use the search bar at the top right corner of the Finder window and type “Recently Deleted” to locate it.

Step 2: Review the Deleted Photos

Once you have opened the Recently Deleted folder, you will see a list of all the photos that have been deleted within the last 30 days. Take a moment to review the photos and make sure that you are ready to delete them permanently.

Step 3: Empty the Recently Deleted Folder

Now that you have reviewed the deleted photos, you can proceed to empty the Recently Deleted folder. To do this, click on the “Empty” button at the top of the Finder window. A confirmation dialog will appear, asking you to confirm the deletion. Click “Empty” again to proceed.

Step 4: Confirm the Deletion

After confirming the deletion, the photos will be moved to the trash, and the space they occupied will be freed up. If you want to ensure that the photos are permanently deleted, you can empty the trash as well. To do this, open the trash folder and click on the “Empty” button.

Step 5: Check for Recovery Options

It’s worth noting that even after emptying the Recently Deleted folder and the trash, the photos are not completely gone. If you have emptied the trash within the last 30 days, you can still recover the deleted photos using third-party data recovery software. However, if you have emptied the trash more than 30 days ago, the photos are likely gone for good.

In conclusion, emptying recently deleted photos on your Mac is a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can free up space on your Mac and recover any deleted photos that were deleted within the last 30 days. Just remember to double-check the photos before deleting them permanently, as once they are gone, they may be difficult to recover.