Resolved Unable to delete old OS X installers from SSD.

[ixxx69]

I'm running Ventura on an Mac mini 2018, though I think this issue predates Ventura. This was an issue a year or two ago and I just couldn't deal with it at the time, but now I really need the drive space back.

A while back I was setting up macOS VM's, and I downloaded or copied over from a backup drive the installer apps for Mojave and Catalina. Now I can't delete them.

If I try to empty trash, I get error that "The operation can't be completed because the item "Install macOS Mojave.app" is in use.

If I try to bypass the trash, same issue.

If I try terminal command sudo rm -R, errors out with "Permission denied".

I've tried deleting from safe mode.

I've tried booting from an install flash drive and running disk utility on the SSD. No errors.

There's got to be some utility that will erase the files?

 

[DeltaMac]

Do you have anything important on that SSD (or everything else is already backed up somewhere else)?
Erase the SSD.

Or, if you really don't want to erase that SSD, you should be able to delete those installers after disabling SIP.

 

[ixxx69]

Disabling SIP did the trick. Thank you!

(I of course re-enabled SIP after deleting the files)

 

[bogdanw]

(I of course re-enabled SIP after deleting the files)

(Of course, because having SIP disabled gives your Mac cancer )

For future reference, there is another way described by @markfc here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/please-help-me-delete-these-two-files.2399921/post-32419948
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[ixxx69]

(Of course, because having SIP disabled gives your Mac cancer )

For future reference, there is another way described by @markfc here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/please-help-me-delete-these-two-files.2399921/post-32419948
​

Wow, amazing coincidence on the timing of that thread. I just assumed it was a unique issue, that something had gotten corrupted. I never imagined it was a known thing with those installers.