What’s error -36 on Mac and how can it be fixed?

While a Mac device is seen as a rather foolproof solution, it definitely has its fair share of downsides. One of them is that it can have malware, but also all kinds of errors. The error -36 is a prime example of that. In this article we will learn about what is error -36, what causes it, but also how we can fix it.

What is error -36 on Mac and how do you fix it?

Error -36 appears in Finder, and usually when you see signs like ”_” or “.” in the file name, then you will encounter this error, which can prove to be rather challenging. Finder can’t work with these files, since it sees them as corrupted. There are different reasons here as well. For example, your Mac OS version could have a bug, you might have writing or reading permission issues, or even more so, you could be using an external drive and it’s not properly connected, which is a thing to keep in mind.

Use a Mac cleanup tool

If you want to know how to fix error code -36 automatically, the best approach is to use a Mac cleanup tool. The entire role of this tool is to identify errors within your Mac and then fix them. The entire process is quick, seamless and it can provide a very good experience every single time. With that in mind, the entire process is automatic, you don’t really need to do anything. And that’s what makes it great, because you obtain a stellar value and a tremendous experience, with results being extremely good every single time.

Use the Terminal

Granted, the cleanup tool route is the simplest, easiest and most automated solution you can find. It’s possible to fix error -36 manually, but there will be issues and challenges related to that. You can enter the Terminal and in there, you want to write “dot_clean”. Then, in the Finder, go to the folder which has files you want to delete, move or copy. Drag it to the Terminal window, press Return and then you can move the files or delete them without a problem.

While it’s not the simplest thing out there, it works. That being said, for someone that doesn’t want or has no idea how to use the Terminal, that can be tricky for them. So it certainly makes a lot of sense to figure out how to use the Terminal rightfully, and then it will be totally worth it in the end.

Change file permissions

Sometimes, the issue you are dealing with has to do with file permissions.  You can go to the Finder, choose the file you want to copy and then right click to choose the Get Info panel. Here you want to check the permissions and see if they are Read & Write. That way, it will become much easier to deliver a great result and solve the problem.

Use the Disk Utility tool

Disk Utility is a tool whose focus is to manage the APFS volumes, erase disks, repair disks, test them and so on. Naturally, it’s the go-to solution if you have these permission problems, and it can work extremely well. With that being said, it’s always a very good idea to use the First Aid feature from it and if there are permission problems, those will be solved. It’s a great approach and it will totally work extremely well.

Remove the .DS_Store files

These files can be corrupted at times, which leads to the error code -36. What you can do is to enter the Terminal and write “sudo find / -name ".DS_Store" -depth -exec rm {} \”. Most likely, you will have to write your password in there, so do that and then restart your Mac. Usually, this will solve some of the issues.

Perform a Mac OS update

It’s a great idea whenever you have issues. Maybe your current OS is corrupted, or there can be some other problems. It just makes sense to figure out whether the current installation has issues. And in general, Mac OS updates tend to solve most issues that people encounter. Sure, it might not solve this, specifically, but it’s definitely a great idea to consider, so keep that in mind.

It’s always important to make sure that you follow these guidelines to try and solve the error -36 issue that sometimes appears. Solving it quickly means you can focus on other things, and it will only make the process easier. It’s a very good idea to take your time, implement this accordingly, and once you do that, the experience is very good. Rest assured there’s great value to be had if you follow these tips, as you can solve this annoying error that sometimes appears.