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Mac is a great platform that can do a lot of different things. But sometimes there may be mistakes in these options. Error code 36 is one of the rare errors. If you came here to learn how to Fix Mac Error Code 36, we will tell you how to do that and give you more information. Finding a solution is always easier when you know where the problem comes from.
So, we always tell people to find out what’s going on first before moving on to solutions. But this time, I’d like you to go straight to the solutions, since Error Code-36 can only be caused by a problem with the files’ directory and where they should be. we can also explain the complicated reasons why, but that won’t help because not everyone is a genius at Computer Science. Even if you don’t know why the error is happening, you can use the solutions I’m giving you to get rid of it.
What is error code 36?
Let’s talk about what the error message means before we tell you what to do when you see it. Error code -36 has to do with things you do in the Finder, like move, copy, or delete files. It usually means that some or all of the data in the file can’t be read by the Finder. And the error message will tell you which file is causing problems, which is helpful. When you look at the file name, you may notice that it starts with a ‘.’ and ends with a ‘_’. One file that might cause the error is ‘.DS_Store’. This ‘.’ means that the file is hidden in the Finder. And the error code -36 means that you can’t read or write to the file.
How to Fix Mac Error Code 36
Run disk utility to check the health of the drive
- From the Apple menu, Launch Finder > Go > Utilities and open Disk Utility
- Select the drive that is causing issues and click First Aid (located on the first aid tab)
- Run the Verify Disk utility to scan the drive.
- Wait for the task to complete and you will get a summary of the media. If any errors are encountered
Check the file permissions you are trying to copy
- Use Finder to locate the file(s) you are trying to copy from (the source)
- Click on Get Info
- Look for the Locked Files option, and make sure it is unchecked
- Locate the Sharing and Permissions tab and select Everyone (making sure read/write permissions are enabled)
Reviewing read/write permissions
- Right-click on the problematic drive/folder/file, and select Get Info from right-click menu.
- Expand the Sharing & Permissions section in the window that shows up.
- If the permission settings are greyed-out, click the Padlock icon, type in your password, and click OK to unlock those settings.
- See if the profile you are currently using has read and write permissions for this drive/folder/file – if it doesn’t have both types of permissions, click on the current permission type, and change it to Read & Write. Also do the same with the Everyone entry in the Sharing & Permissions section.
- If, after you do this, the error still keeps popping up, go back to the Get Info window, click on your main Mac Profile in the Sharing & Permissions section, click the three dots below the table, and select Make *Profile Name* the owner. After that, close all windows and try to transfer the files again.
Use Terminal to move/copy your data
- Open the Terminal from your Utilities folder.
- Type the following command, where the first location path is where the file/folder is currently located and the second path is where you want to move it to:
- % mv *Current file/folder location* ~*Target File/Folder location*
- If you want to copy a file/folder rather than move them, use the next command instead:
- % cp -R *Current file/golder location*
- After the file/folder is copied, go to the location where you want them to be pasted, right click in that location, and select Paste Item.
FAQs
If you don’t add the path next to the dot_clean command or the path is incorrect, the dot_clean command will not work. Instead of typing in the path manually, simply drag the folder or file that failed to copy or move next to the dot_clean command.
The problem is observed when folders from a Windows-compatible volume get moved to a Mac and then back again. The dreaded “Error Code -36″ message is the result. If you are experiencing this problem, you can run a simple dot_clean utility to remove the hidden “dot-underscore” files from your flash drive or memory card.
Error Code 36 appears when the system cannot read/write the data of a file and prevent it from deleting, copying, or transferring, and there can be the following potential reasons for creating error code 36 on your Mac: The external drive is not connected correctly or corrupted itself.
Make sure the Mac is online and functionally connected to the internet. Some Mac users have encountered the Installation Failed error because their Mac has dropped an internet connection, or because of a DNS issue.