Mac Error -43 Operation Can't Be Completed — What It Means & How to Fix It
About Mac Error -43 Operation Can't Be Completed
Fix macOS Finder error -43 'The operation can't be completed because one or more required items can't be found' when moving or deleting files. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Here are the key things to understand: Error -43 (fnfErr) means Finder cannot locate a file that should exist at the specified path. This error appears when copying, moving, or deleting files, especially on external or network drives. Special characters in file names (colons, slashes, null bytes) can trigger this error. The file may physically exist on disk but its directory entry is corrupted or inconsistent. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.
The most common reasons this occurs include: File name contains characters that are valid on other operating systems but not on macOS (e.g., colon). File's directory entry is corrupted or out of sync with the actual file on disk. File is on an external drive with a different file system (NTFS, exFAT) with incompatible naming. Network share (SMB/NFS) returning stale file handle references. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.
To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Try deleting the file via Terminal: rm -f '/path/to/problem file' (use quotes around the path). If on an external drive, run Disk Utility First Aid on the volume to repair directory structure. For files with special characters, rename via Terminal: mv 'old:name' 'new-name' using the actual characters. For network drives, disconnect and reconnect the share, then try the operation again. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.
This article is part of our Mac Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.
Quick Answer
Why does Terminal work but Finder doesn't?
Finder has stricter file name validation and handles file paths differently than the underlying Unix file system. Terminal accesses the file system directly, bypassing Finder's validation layer.
Overview
Fix macOS Finder error -43 'The operation can't be completed because one or more required items can't be found' when moving or deleting files.
Key Details
- Error -43 (fnfErr) means Finder cannot locate a file that should exist at the specified path
- This error appears when copying, moving, or deleting files, especially on external or network drives
- Special characters in file names (colons, slashes, null bytes) can trigger this error
- The file may physically exist on disk but its directory entry is corrupted or inconsistent
Common Causes
- File name contains characters that are valid on other operating systems but not on macOS (e.g., colon)
- File's directory entry is corrupted or out of sync with the actual file on disk
- File is on an external drive with a different file system (NTFS, exFAT) with incompatible naming
- Network share (SMB/NFS) returning stale file handle references
Steps
- 1Try deleting the file via Terminal: rm -f '/path/to/problem file' (use quotes around the path)
- 2If on an external drive, run Disk Utility First Aid on the volume to repair directory structure
- 3For files with special characters, rename via Terminal: mv 'old:name' 'new-name' using the actual characters
- 4For network drives, disconnect and reconnect the share, then try the operation again