Secure Remove is intended for files you deliberately want to make difficult to recover through ordinary means. It is not appropriate for routine cache cleaning.

Before adding files

Verify the full path, preview the file, close applications using it, and confirm a backup is unnecessary or intentionally destroyed. Check synchronized folders and other devices for additional copies.

Confirm the selection

  1. Open Privacy → Secure Remove.
  2. Add the intended files only.
  3. Review names and paths again.
  4. Remove any uncertain item.
  5. Read the final warning.
  6. Confirm.

Storage limitations

SSDs, wear leveling, copy-on-write file systems, snapshots, backups, and cloud services can retain data outside the selected file’s current blocks. No application-level operation can promise erasure of every historical copy in every location.

After removal

Remove unwanted backups, cloud versions, exports, and message attachments through their own services when appropriate. Respect legal, organizational, and retention requirements.

If the operation fails, do not weaken major macOS security protections. Inspect the error, ownership, volume state, and permissions.