---
name: "trash-empty"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "trash-cli"
version: "0.24.5.26-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/trash-empty"
---

# trash-empty(1)

Empty for Command line trash utility.

## NAME

trash-empty - Empty for Command line trash utility.

## SYNOPSIS

**trash-empty** \[*arguments*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Permanently remove any trashed file and trashed directory. This command is a part of the trash-cli package that provides a command  line interface trashcan utility compliant with the FreeDesktop.org  Trash Specification. It remembers the name, original path, deletion date, and permissions of each trashed file.

## ARGUMENTS

- To remove all trashed files, use 'trash-empty' without arguments.

  - To remove files that have been in the trash for more than a given number of

  days, use 'trash-empty x', 'x' representing the number of days.

## EXAMPLES

```
$ date
Tue Feb 19 20:26:52 CET 2008
$ trash-list
2008-02-19 20:11:34 /home/einar/today
2008-02-18 20:11:34 /home/einar/yesterday
2008-02-10 20:11:34 /home/einar/last_week
$ trash-empty 7
$ trash-list
2008-02-19 20:11:34 /home/einar/today
2008-02-18 20:11:34 /home/einar/yesterday
$ trash-empty 1
$ trash-list
2008-02-19 20:11:34 /home/einar/today
$ trash-empty
$ trash-list
<none>
```

## BUGS

Please, report bugs to https://github.com/andreafrancia/trash-cli/issues

## IF YOU WANT SAY THANKS

Tweet (to @andreafrancia or #trash-cli) or donate 1, 2 or 5 euros using paypal: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=\_s-xclick&hosted\_button\_id=93L6PYT4WBN5A

## CREDITS

Trash was written by Andrea Francia \<andrea@andreafrancia.it\>. The original version of trash-empty was contributed by Einar Orn Olason \<eoo@hi.is\>. The first version of manual pages was written by Steve Stalcup \<vorian@ubuntu.com\>  and was modified by Massimo Cavalleri \<submax@tiscalinet.it\>.

## SEE ALSO

[trash-put(1)](/trash-put/1.md),  [trash-list(1)](/trash-list/1.md),  [trash-restore(1)](/trash-restore/1.md),  [trash-rm(1)](/trash-rm/1.md), and the FreeDesktop.org Trash Specification at  https://specifications.freedesktop.org/trash-spec/trashspec-1.0.html.\

Both are released under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.