[TonyLopez]

Restarting usually solves the problem. But the quickest way is to Relaunch the Finder. Bring up the Finder (command/option/escape), then highlight Finder & then Relaunch the Finder. Then you can Empty the Trash. This works for me every time & seems the quickest way.

[milehighmarketing]

I had 103,000 files in my trash, and trash would not empty (system would hang).

I tried a few of the tricks mentioned here and on other forums, but what worked for me was to simply:

-move everything out of trash into another folder

-select a few hundred files/folders (I found if I did more than about 1,000 files at a time my system would crash {hang on the deleting part})

-delete them

-empty trash

-rinse & repeat until all files are deleted and trash is empty

BTW, the Trash It! script didn't work for me.

[adamscottgerber]

Could someone please tell me how to empty the trash in iPhoto when it just wont empty? My iPhoto trash can displays 5 files inside but when I go into the iPhoto trash their isn't anything displayed. I use CCleaner and Onyx on a monthly basis but even these apps can't clean it out for me....

[jmp00001]

[jmp00001]

tried the trash script but when asked for the password, keyboard went dead an terminal app would not type. I even tried copy/pasting my password. zilch

[binkerman]

Quote

tried the trash script but when asked for the password, keyboard went dead an terminal app would not type. I even tried copy/pasting my password. zilch

Had the same experience. I hit enter anyway (with seemingly blank password) and Terminal finished the job. Success - trash emptied! Give it a try

[andywild]

Your keyboard is working fine. When it asks for your password in terminal, it just doesn't display the characters you are typing. This must be a security type thing. I thought the same thing at first. But just type the password anyway and press enter and it should work.

[jillbaedke]

Bless you! My trash has been hung up for months! I just followed your simple terminal steps and I now have an empty trash folder. Want to weep for joy! Thanks!