How to Delete Files from a Toshiba External Hard Drive on Mac?

Handling an external storage device such as Toshiba external hard disk on a Mac OS computer system is generally not a difficult task for anyone. But there are situations when some files are unable to be deleted, permission errors are thrown at you, or you require erasing the entire disk before selling or disposing of it. No matter what you wish to accomplish, whether it’s removing a couple of folders, increasing your storage space, or formatting the disk in its entirety, this comprehensive guide will take you through every single detail.

Understanding the Basics: Why Mac File Deletion Works Differently

On Macs, the operating system deletes a file by sending it to the Trash folder, from which it remains until you empty the Trash yourself. In general, when using an external storage device via USB or Thunderbolt, the same rules apply. When you select a file on the Toshiba external hard drive, right click and choose “Move to Trash” or press Command + Delete.

But unlike the internal disk, on the external one, there may be hidden directory files or you may need to empty the Mac’s Trash while the external disk is connected. If you see that the capacity of your Toshiba hard drive has not changed after the deletion of some files, always remember to Empty Trash.

Method 1: Standard Deletion via Finder

Should your Toshiba external hard drive be formatted with a Mac compatible file system such as exFAT, FAT32, or APFS, deleting files and folders becomes quite easy:

1. Connect the Drive: Simply connect your Toshiba external hard drive to your Mac using the USB port and any cable or adapter necessary.
2. Open Finder: Tap the Finder application icon in the Dock to open a Finder window.
3. Find Your External Hard Drive: Navigate to the Location tab from the left side bar to see your Toshiba external hard drive.
4. Choose the Files to Delete: Simply navigate through the directories of the drive and select the files/documents/media that need to be deleted.
5. Delete the Files: Once you have selected the required files/documents/media, right click on them to move to trash. Alternatively, you can simply drag the items to the trash icon in your Dock.
6. Empties the Trash: To free up the disk space, click and hold the Trash icon in your Dock and select Empty Trash. Make sure your Toshiba hard drive is still connected.

Method 2: Troubleshooting Read-Only Issues (Handling NTFS Formats)

Most of Toshiba’s external hard disk drives are initially formatted using NTFS (New Technology File System), which guarantees full compatibility of the drive with a Windows computer. Although macOS can support NTFS file system without problems and even allow reading the content of such disk drives, the operating system does not support write permissions.

In case your computer shows an error notification regarding the lack of permissions to make changes to files, or if the “delete” button appears inactive, you have probably run into the NTFS read-only issue. There are several options for solving this problem:

Option A: Repartition and Reformat the Drive (Erase Everything)

However, if there is no need to exchange the drive back-and-forth with Windows computers using additional software, erasing the disk and making it compatible either with Mac OS or other operating systems can be considered the best option.

1. Launch the Finder program and go to Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility.
2. At the upper-left corner of the screen, click on View and then choose Show All Devices.
3. Select the Toshiba external hard drive from the hierarchy of devices in the left sidebar panel (not just a volume underneath).
4. Click on the Erase icon in the top toolbar.
5. Type in a new name for your hard drive.
6. Select the proper format:
   1. APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) formats: Ideal for use on Mac computers exclusively.
   1. exFAT format: Suitable if you plan to exchange this drive between Mac and Windows computers.
7. Select GUID Partition Map scheme.
8. Click on Erase to clear all the data on the hard drive and create a new file system.

Method 3: Using Terminal for Advanced Deletion

macOS Terminal is an excellent option for tech-savvy individuals who are comfortable working in a command-line interface and need to forcefully delete some files or clean up storage drives.

Warning: Be very careful using Terminal. Typing wrong commands may lead to the loss of data from your computer’s hard drive.

Step 1: Open Spotlight (Command + Space). Then type Terminal and hit Enter.

Step 2: Enter the following command: diskutil list.

Step 3: Search the identifier of your Toshiba external hard drive (disk2, disk3, etc.).

Step 4: There are several command options you can use in order to delete files or folders forcefully or you can use Disk Utility instead.

Ensuring Complete Data Sanitization

Standard deletion will only move your files to the trash and quick format only removes file pointers while the actual content still remains intact through data recovery tools. In case you are about to sell, give away, or dispose of your Toshiba external hard drive, standard deletion will not guarantee privacy protection. It will require a reliable data wipe solution.

Introducing Powerful Automated Approach

In terms of securely wiping out sensitive data and completely sanitizing external hard drives and other external storage devices in a way that they cannot be recovered anymore on a Mac computer, there are professional-grade utilities that offer the best security. One such advanced software application is MacMister Data Wipe Software for Mac.

By combining native macOS disk management tools with specialized utilities like MacMister Data Erasure Software as discussed above, you can maintain total control over your digital storage, protect your personal privacy, and keep your Toshiba external hard drive running efficiently.

Epilogue

In the write-up, we have explored different methods to fix “how to delete files from a Toshiba external hard drive on Mac”. You may choose a suitable solution and resolve the issue within seconds. For any queries contact MacMister Support.