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NOTE: The Secure Empty Trash process takes slightly longer than a normal emptying of the Trash because the files and folders are overwritten several times to make them unrecoverable.Click OK to start the secure deletion process. You will see a warning message alerting you that the files will be deleted.From the menubar, choose Finder > Secure Empty Trash.Click once on the Trash icon to open the Trash folder and make sure you are ok with permanently deleting all files and folders in the Trash.Drag the files or folders you wish to securely delete to the Trash, located at the far right end of the Dock.To Secure Empty Trash on a spinning hard drive: If it is SSD, you can only secure your files via File Vault.If it is Rotational, you can use the Secure Empty Trash below, or encrypt via File Vault.It will either say Rotational (spinning hard drive), or SSD.
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Click either System Report or System Info.Click on the Apple logo in the menubar and select About this Mac.To check if your computer has a SSD or spinning hard drive (MacOS 10.11 or earlier): If you are using a Mac that is running macOS version 10.10 or earlier, and it has a spinning hard drive (typically all desktop Macs and most laptops that have a CD/DVD drive), you can either also use File Vault, or continue to follow the directions below to use Secure Delete when emptying the trash.
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