Why Is Duplicate Detective Failing to Delete Some Files?

Troubleshooting steps when Duplicate Detective cannot remove certain files.

If Duplicate Detective is unable to delete certain files, it is typically due to file permissions or access restrictions on your Mac.

Common Causes

Insufficient Permissions

Your macOS user account may not have permission to modify or delete the file in question. This is common with files in system directories or files owned by other user accounts.

File Is In Use

If another application currently has the file open, macOS may prevent it from being deleted until that application releases it.

File Is Locked

Some files are marked as locked by the operating system or by a user, which prevents them from being moved or deleted.

Full Disk Access Not Granted

Duplicate Detective may need Full Disk Access to delete files in certain protected locations. Without it, the app can find but not remove some files.

How to Resolve

  1. Check the file in Finder. Right-click the file in Duplicate Detective and select the option to reveal it in Finder. Try deleting it manually to see if the same error occurs.

  2. Unlock the file. Right-click the file in Finder and select Get Info. In the info panel, look for the Locked checkbox. If it is checked, uncheck it and try deleting the file again through Duplicate Detective.

  3. Close other applications. If the file is in use by another app, close that app and try again.

  4. Grant Full Disk Access. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access and make sure Duplicate Detective is listed and enabled. You may need to restart the app after granting this permission.

  5. Check folder permissions. In Finder, right-click the parent folder, select Get Info, and review the permissions listed under Sharing & Permissions at the bottom of the panel. Make sure your user account has Read & Write access.