# How to Delete Files with the Delete Key on Mac

Updated: November 12, 2026

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URL: https://sindresorhus.com/guides/delete-files-delete-key-mac

Select the file in Finder, and press Command+⌫ to move it to the Trash. The ⌫ key alone does nothing in Finder. To delete with only ⌫, like on Windows, use [Supercharge](https://sindresorhus.com/supercharge).

## With Supercharge

1. Open the settings of [Supercharge](https://sindresorhus.com/supercharge), and click “Tweaks”.
1. In the “Finder” section, turn on “Move files to Trash with ⌫ (Delete) instead of Command+⌫”.
1. Select a file in Finder, and press ⌫. The file moves to the Trash.

It also works with the Backspace key of external keyboards. It cannot be on together with the Supercharge setting that goes back to the previous folder with ⌫.

## Without an app

- **Move to the Trash:** Select the files, and press Command+⌫, or choose “File › Move to Trash”. You can also drag them to the Trash in the Dock.
- **Delete at once:** Press Option+Command+⌫. The files do not go to the Trash, so you cannot get them back.

[Apple’s keyboard shortcuts.](https://support.apple.com/102650) Command+⌫ is easy to learn, and it protects you from deleting a file by accident. Supercharge is for when your fingers expect ⌫, like when you also use Windows.