{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-select-many-files-to-delete-at-once","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-select-many-files-to-delete-at-once","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"finder-tools","title":"Finder tools for finding space"},"question":"How do I select lots of files at once to delete them on a Mac?","alt_questions":["select multiple files mac","shift click finder","command click select files","select all files in folder mac","delete many files at once mac","bulk delete finder"],"short_answer":"Command-click to pick individual items, Shift-click for a range in list view, or Command-A for everything, then press Command-Delete to move them to the Trash.","answer_markdown":"In Finder:\n\n- **Command-click** adds or removes single items from the selection.\n- **Shift-click** in list view selects a continuous run of items.\n- **Command-A** selects everything in the folder.\n\nThen press **Command-Delete** to move the selection to the Trash. A quick way to clear out a folder of old files is to sort by **Date Modified** or **Size** in list view first, so the candidates sit together.\n\nCheck the selection count in the status bar (**View → Show Status Bar**) before deleting, so you don't take more than you meant to.","answer_html":"

In Finder:

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Then press Command-Delete to move the selection to the Trash. A quick way to clear out a folder of old files is to sort by Date Modified or Size in list view first, so the candidates sit together.

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Check the selection count in the status bar (View → Show Status Bar) before deleting, so you don't take more than you meant to.

","answer_text":"In Finder:\n\n- Command-click adds or removes single items from the selection.\n- Shift-click in list view selects a continuous run of items.\n- Command-A selects everything in the folder.\n\nThen press Command-Delete to move the selection to the Trash. A quick way to clear out a folder of old files is to sort by Date Modified or Size in list view first, so the candidates sit together.\n\nCheck the selection count in the status bar (View → Show Status Bar) before deleting, so you don't take more than you meant to.","tags":["finder","select","delete"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-sort-files-by-size-in-finder","question":"How do I sort files by size in Finder?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-sort-files-by-size-in-finder"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-show-free-space-at-the-bottom-of-finder-windows","question":"How do I show how much free space is left at the bottom of Finder windows?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-show-free-space-at-the-bottom-of-finder-windows"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I select lots of files at once to delete them on a Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Command-click to pick individual items, Shift-click for a range in list view, or Command-A for everything, then press Command-Delete to move them to the Trash.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I select lots of files at once to delete them on a Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-select-many-files-to-delete-at-once"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-select-many-files-to-delete-at-once","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I select lots of files at once to delete them on a Mac?","alternateName":["select multiple files mac","shift click finder","command click select files","select all files in folder mac","delete many files at once mac","bulk delete finder"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In Finder:\n\n- Command-click adds or removes single items from the selection.\n- Shift-click in list view selects a continuous run of items.\n- Command-A selects everything in the folder.\n\nThen press Command-Delete to move the selection to the Trash. A quick way to clear out a folder of old files is to sort by Date Modified or Size in list view first, so the candidates sit together.\n\nCheck the selection count in the status bar (View → Show Status Bar) before deleting, so you don't take more than you meant to.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-select-many-files-to-delete-at-once"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Finder tools for finding space

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How do I select lots of files at once to delete them on a Mac?

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Short answer: Command-click to pick individual items, Shift-click for a range in list view, or Command-A for everything, then press Command-Delete to move them to the Trash.

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In Finder:

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  • Command-click adds or removes single items from the selection.
  • Shift-click in list view selects a continuous run of items.
  • Command-A selects everything in the folder.
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Then press Command-Delete to move the selection to the Trash. A quick way to clear out a folder of old files is to sort by Date Modified or Size in list view first, so the candidates sit together.

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Check the selection count in the status bar (View → Show Status Bar) before deleting, so you don't take more than you meant to.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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