How to delete non-deletable .app-files from Time Capsule using Terminal?

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Level 1

38 points

How to delete non-deletable .app-files from Time Capsule using Terminal?

Hi,

I have an old Time Capsule up and running (like a shine - still, after all these years!), and I'm using it mainly for keeping files safe as a back-up drive actually. So I have old installers of Mac OS X, downloaded .DMG-files, and a reasonable collection of movies that I downloaded over torrent and such things.

Now, the problem I'm dealing with right now is, I do have some old leftover .app-files, and somehow, I can't find a good correct way to delete them. When removing it my Mac's tell me it has something to do with permissions for it, which I checked, but then again, can't find or change these permissions, and that's where I'm kind of stuck in the process of trying to get rid of those files.

I think I might need a stronger method to get rid of these files, so not just the Finder, since I can't figure out how to get it deleted by the Finder. Perhaps some kind of terminal command that'll remove the folder with the app-files in it, or some kind of app that remove these things directly from the Time Capsule? I don't know, I've tried several things right now, but nothing seems to work for me.

I've got 2 iMac's connected to it (an old El Capitan model attached to it and an old Big sur iMac).

And, there's a MacBook Pro in my collection running Sonoma on it. Maybe the difference in OS versions might have something to do with the Time Capsule? Just saying since I've no clue...

Hopefully someone knows a way to help me out with it!

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.7

Posted on May 11, 2025 02:11 PM

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Answer 1

coengi Author

Level 1

38 points

May 15, 2025 09:22 AM in response to MrHoffman

I know about the anti-malware and it's better to get apps from the app store (or by trusted developers directly from it's website). To get this clear, I only use Popcorn Time to "download" the movie-files by using the torrent-app Transmission - while using the continuously scanning anti-virus app from Bit Defender. Usually I don't get infected files from Popcorn Time itself, but these files I'm stuck with are from previously outdated Popcorn Time apps. I honestly didn't know which one to pick since the first I downloaded wouldn't start so tried all the previous versions as well. And know I'm sitting here with these leftover outdated downloaded files.

Torrents aren't as bad and infected with dirty malware or things as people might think, it's just that you need to know what you can use and what not if you pick the torrent to download and get the content it gives you. Sometimes I'll use torrent-sites as well to look for older software versions for my older Mac's, for various reasons actually, but most of the time, the apps I'm then looking for, are living in the App Store and the developer updated the app to support only newer versions of MacOS, so that the only given option left is looking for older versions of that specific app on the web. Which are then mostly uploaded to a torrent-site...

Although,

This was the message the terminal gave me when I tried your terminal comment:

Hope this screenshot might be helpful to overcome these ****** Popcorn Time files

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Answer 2

May 11, 2025 02:26 PM in response to coengi

If those files are part of the Time Machine backups, they cannot be deleted directly.

Direct modifications can corrupt the Time Machine backup, too.

If part of the Time Machine backups, those files can deleted through Time Machine, by reverting those files to their original locations, and then selecting the folder where the files were originally located, entering Time Machine, and selecting delete all from the pop-up.

Torrents are one of the best available ways to acquire Mac malware, too. Cracked apps and keygen tools can and variously do target those that are downloading the cracked apps and keygen tools. They’re a great way to spread malware. Some of the versions of Popcorn Time were triggering anti-malware checks in recent macOS versions, too.

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Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

157,302 points

May 11, 2025 03:50 PM in response to coengi

Unless you have a need to retain any of those files on yourTime Capsule, you should use the Erase function via the AirPort Utility to erase the entire drive. However, if you do need to retain them for some future use, the use the Archive function first, and then follow that up with the Erase one.

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Answer 4

coengi Author

Level 1

38 points

May 13, 2025 05:20 AM in response to MrHoffman

Alright thank you for your fast reply. I know torrents can be infected with malware, so I don't download torrents that much. I do have Bit Defender Virus Scanner Plus installed from the app store to be sure I won't get infected if there would be a virus or something in it.

I actually use my Time Capsule for storing both files in it and back-ups over Time Machine, but the files I'm trying to delete aren't from a Time Machine back-up. These files are just downloaded from the web and moved to the Time Capsule into a folder. I hope you can help me get rid of these files

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Answer 5

May 13, 2025 07:56 AM in response to coengi

You’re probably stuck with those files, as Apple made Time Machine hard to delete as part of the built-in anti-malware.

You can post the following for one of the representative files, using Terminal:

ls -aled@ /pah/to/file.app

Enter the first part ls ␠ -aled@ ␠ where ␠ is a space, and then drag one of the files into Terminal window to get the path added to the command, and then press return. Post the output,

BTW; Adding anti-malware isn’t particularly effective for the sorts of stuff arriving via torrent. Or in general. Tends to add to the trouble. Not remove it. It is, however, a fairly predictable (and potentially problematic) choice..

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

153,610 points

May 16, 2025 07:22 PM in response to coengi

I answered your question a few days ago: How do I remove these app-files?

Briefly stated, erase the TC.

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How to delete non-deletable .app-files from Time Capsule using Terminal?

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