FileShredder Manual

Right-Click (Secondary Click) to Delete Permanently

  • Launch the app at least once to add Shred and Secure Shred to the Finder Context Menu.
  • Simply right-click on a file or folder on the desktop, in the Trash, or in any other Finder window, and select Shred or Secure Shred to delete permanently. No app relaunching is required!

Drag-and-Drop to Delete Permanently

  • To delete a file, simply drag-and-drop it onto the app icon on the dock.
  • In Preferences, configure whether secure deletion is used as the drag-and-drop action.
  • Please do not use this method to delete aliases or symbolic links. The operating system will instruct the app to delete the original files rather than the aliases or links.

Sound Notification

  • In Preferences, choose whether to play a sound or not after deletion is completed.

Secure Deletion Algorithms

  • In Preferences, select one of the three available secure deletion algorithms: 1 pass (fastest), 7 passes (medium), or 35 passes (safest).

Emergency Stop

  • Press ⌘Q to abort further deletion.
  • Note that the program cannot restore anything that has already been permanently deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between Shred (Delete) and Secure Shred (Secure Delete)?
A: While both options bypass the Trash to permanently delete files from the Mac, Secure Shred also overwrites the data on the hard drive so that it cannot be recovered whatsoever. Shred deletes much faster since it doesn't overwrite the data on the hard drive, but the files may be recoverable until your computer reuses that space on the hard drive.
Here is an analogy for comparing different methods of deletion:
  • Trash (⌘+delete) = throw items on your trash pile (you can retrieve them if you need them again)
  • Shred = shred items in a shredder (to save space, quicker than secure shred, protects against snooping, files become harder to recover as time passes)
  • Secure Shred = shred items in a shredder and then set them on fire (so they are completely destroyed)
Q: How come sometimes I don’t find Shred or Secure Shred at the bottom of the Finder Context Menu?
A: Firstly, if your selected item(s) has/have more than 4 available services, then the Mac OS automatically groups all of them under a sub-menu called Services, as shown in the picture below. To maximize the chance of Shred and Secure Shred appearing on the main pop-up, you can disable the services you do not use by unchecking them in System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Services.
Secondly, if you have selected more than 1000 files or folders, the Finder Context Menu will not show any services at all. You can instead drag them onto the app's dock icon, delete them in batches, or move them into a separate folder and shred the folder.
Q: How come sometimes when I select multiple files and drag and drop to the dock to delete, not all of them get deleted?
A: If the files have been downloaded from online and were marked by the browser as potentially unsafe (typically the case for applications, dmg files and html files), then only one of the files is sent to FileShredder for deletion due to a bug in the operating system. (The same thing happens if you drag-and-drop the files to other apps, such as the built-in TextEdit.)
One way around this is to use the Shred and Secure Shred options from the Finder Context Menu (right-click menu) to delete the files instead.
You can also pin the app to the dock (if it isn't already) and then close it prior to dragging the files. If you drag the files to the dock icon while the app is closed, then all files will be deleted.
Q: How do I assign keyboard shortcuts to Shred and Secure Shred?
A: You can assign them in System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Services. Double-click to the right of the Shred or Secure Shred option and type in your desired keyboard shortcut.
Q: How do I remove Shred and Secure Shred from the Finder Context Menu without uninstalling the app?
A: You can disable them in System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Services:

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