How do I 100% delete files from my Exchange (former employer) off my Mac finder

Razzman79 20 Reputation points
2026-01-24T18:31:19.3+00:00

I retired, so my former employer deleted my web access to my OneDrive files. They're all sitting on my Mac and I wanna not see them again. Every time I read a response it starts with "here's how to reduce file size". If I move files to the Trash, ultimately, the process is blocked by some error telling me I can't delete these files. I don't want to completely delete OneDrive from my Mac because I have a personal OneDrive as well. Although, maybe that's the path. If I do that, can I rebuild my Personal OneDrive?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | MacOS
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Answer accepted by question author
Randy Baroja 20,810 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-01-26T04:12:24.94+00:00

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out. Here's additional solutions you can try that go beyond the ones that are listed.

If OneDrive is running, macOS may think the folder is "in use" and block deletion, so the easiest fix is to fully quit it first. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the top menu bar, select the gear, then choose Quit OneDrive. To be safe, open Activity Monitor and search for OneDrive, OneDrive Finder Integration, and OneDrive Updater, then force-quit anything still running. Once OneDrive is completely closed, try deleting the folder again.

Hope that these help, and let me know if you need further assistance or have questions. You can leave a comment below.

Thank you,

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-24T18:31:27.52+00:00

    To delete files from your former employer's Exchange account that are still showing on your Mac, you can try the following steps:

    1. Check Permissions: Ensure that the files are not checked out or locked by another user. This can prevent deletion.
    2. Empty the Trash: If you're moving files to the Trash and encountering errors, make sure to empty the Trash after moving them there. Sometimes, files can remain in the Trash if they are locked or in use.
    3. Use Finder: Open Finder, navigate to the files you want to delete, and try to delete them directly. If you receive an error, it may indicate that the files are still linked to your former employer's account.
    4. Unlink OneDrive: If the files are part of the OneDrive for your former employer, you might consider unlinking that account. You can do this by going to the OneDrive icon in the menu bar, selecting Preferences, and then unlinking the account. This action will not delete your personal OneDrive account, but it will remove the former employer's files from your Mac.
    5. Rebuild Personal OneDrive: After unlinking, you can set up your personal OneDrive again by signing in with your personal account. This will allow you to sync your personal files without the interference of the former employer's files.

    If you continue to experience issues, you may need to check for any retention policies or permissions that might be preventing the deletion of these files.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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