How to Fix Mac Error Code -36: Step-by-Step Solutions

Working on your Mac is smooth sailing on a normal day but on a rough day… you might see a cryptic message like “The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data can’t be read or written. (Error code -36).” This Finder error pops up when you are trying to move or copy even between drives. The good news here is that there are many recommended ways that can help you fix it.

So let’s dive right in and get your Mac back on track!

Methods to Fix Error Code 36 on Mac

Below we shall explore each workaround in simple friendly steps. We’ll cover everything from quick checks like a restart to deeper fixes like using Terminal commands or Disk Utility. Let’s do it in the below order:

Method 1: Relaunch Finder and Restart Your Mac

Sometimes just the simplest fixes work. Since the error itself suggests that the Finder app is struggling to operate, we will go ahead and restart the application as well as restart the machine itself. Let’s start troubleshooting with the basics and move ahead:

• Open the Activity Monitor by navigating to Applications > Utilities.

• Here, select Finder, press the Close button. Then just “Force Quit” the app. Now go ahead and restart the Finder app from the Dock or Applications.

• After that… just go to the Apple menu and hit Restart to reboot your Mac.

This shall clear those temporary glitches which cause the error.

Method 2: Update macOS and Applications

Many issues stem from outdated software as well so updating is always recommended.

• Go to Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences) > Software Update. Install if there is an available macOS update and then let your Mac reboot.

• Update apps from the Mac’s App Store as well… just to be sure everything is running smoothly.

So keep your Mac fully up to date… not just macOS, but all the applications too, if applicable. This ensures you have all the latest fixes and can often cure mysterious errors.

Method 3: Use the Terminal dot_clean Command

The dot_clean command is a built-in tool in all Mac devices and it merges hidden metadata files with their parent files. This merging removes those problematic hidden files that cause Error -36. Note that this one is only helpful when you are copying files from an external drive that are formatted as exFAT or FAT32. To do this, go ahead and follow the steps below:

• In Finder, navigate to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

• Here, type dot_clean with a space at the end but do not press Return. First go to Finder, locate the folder that you were trying to copy when this error occurred. Drag that folder right onto the Terminal window with the command. This shall fill in the folder path for you. Now press Return.

• The command will merge any “._” files in that folder. When it finishes, try the file operation again.

This often clears up hidden file conflicts. If it doesn’t work, make sure you dragged the exact folder into Terminal as the path must be correct for dot_clean to do its job.

Method 4: Check and Fix File/Folder Permissions

Error -36 can maybe happen when your Mac account doesn’t have permission to read/write the file. To fix permissions:

• In Finder, right-click the file or folder that triggered the error and choose Get Info.

• In the Info window, under “General,” make sure the Locked box is unchecked.
• Then expand Sharing & Permissions at the bottom. Ensure your user (or “Everyone”) has Read & Write access. If not, click the lock icon to make changes, then set it to Read & Write.

• Close the window.

When the disk permissions on Mac are fixed you can try to copy the file or move the file again. This should fix the problems you have with getting to the file. It might also fix the error with the file.

Method 6: Run Disk Utility’s First Aid

Disk errors or corruption on your Mac’s drive can also cause those data read/write failures. To repair your disk, follow:

• Open Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.

• In the sidebar, select the top-level drive or volume that’s giving the error (your internal disk or the external drive).
• Click the First Aid button and then Run. Let it complete the check and repair process. Run this process on the volumes listed below the top-level disk as well.

• If errors were found, Disk Utility will attempt to repair them.

Once done, close Disk Utility on MacBook and try the file operation again. First Aid can fix file system issues that underlie error -36.

Method 7: Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts your Mac with only essential system software and does a quick disk check. To do this:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears. Here select your startup disk then hold the Shift key and click Continue in Safe Mode.
• On Intel Macs, hold the Shift key until you see the login window. (“Safe Boot” appears in the menu bar).

• Log in and let the Safe Mode startup finish. It runs a disk check during boot.
• Then restart normally (no keys) and log in as usual.

Many users find that Safe Mode clears caches and repairs minor startup disk issues, effectively resolving error -36. It’s a handy one-time step to try if nothing else fixes the problem.

Method 8: Reformat the Drive (if Applicable)

If Error -36 is coming when you are using an external drive, it might have been formatted in a non-Mac file system in the past. macOS can read NTFS drives but inherently it can’t write to them natively. So when you try to copy any kind of files to NTFS, it might trigger this error sometimes. So reformat it using these steps:

• In Disk Utility, find and select your drive from the left navigation bar.
• Now click Erase. In the window that shows up, select APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) in the Format column.

• After reformatting, try copying your files again.

We advise using APFS (For Macs) or exFAT (for interoperability between Mac and Windows) in case of Macs for compatibility. Ensuring the drive uses a macOS-compatible file system eliminates format-related errors.

Method 5: Delete Corrupted .DS_Store Files

Hidden .DS_Store files store folder display settings. If one is corrupted, it can block file operations.

You can remove these files via Terminal:

• Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

• Enter the command:

• Press Return and let Terminal do the work.

This will search for and delete all .DS_Store files on your Mac. When it is done, turn your Mac off and then back on again. Then try to copy or move the files again.

Warning: This command deletes all the .DS_Store files so it can affect protected locations and may cause unintended system changes. If you want to be safe… limit it to just the specific affected folder instead by using the command “find /path/to/folder -name ".DS_Store" -delete”.

What if I lose Access to my Important Files?

If you’ve tried all of the above methods we listed and still you can’t copy or access your files, the data might be corrupted or damaged. This actually goes beyond those simple fixes. In such a case, you should use a specialized Mac data recovery tool. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is one such software that can scan a drive deeply and recover lost or inaccessible files of yours. Many users on the Apple Support Community also recommend it, saying it “helps you scan your drive and recover your lost data”. A tool like Stellar Data Recovery for Mac can image the drive and extract files when normal copying fails. It’s user-friendly user interface in there so even a non-expert can run a scan easily and restore files without risking further damage. Trying a recovery software can often save the day when error -36 has put your data at risk.

What Causes Mac Error Code -36?

Mac error code -36 usually appears when Finder encounters a low-level input/output (I/O) issue while reading or writing file data.

• Corrupted metadata files
• Damaged .DS_Store files
• File system corruption
• Incorrect permissions
• Faulty external drives
• Unsupported drive format

In most cases, the error is triggered by either hidden file corruption or underlying disk inconsistencies that interrupt normal file operations.

How do I Prevent Code -36?

Although this error can appear out of nowhere, a few proactive habits for system maintenance can reduce the risk of the error for real. Here are those habits:

• Keep macOS updated regularly.
• Always eject external drives properly.
• Run Disk Utility First Aid periodically.
• Avoid force shutdowns during file transfers.
• Try not to interrupt external drives while you are transferring files.
• Always use Apple’s original cable or the ones from high-quality recognised brands.
• Use Mac-compatible file systems (APFS, exFAT).

Follow the preventive steps above and you shall maintain your file system integrity. This in turn will minimize read/write conflicts that actually lead to error -36.

Conclusion

Mac error code -36 is normally linked to metadata corruption, disk errors or maybe some permission conflicts. Good for you… it is quite fixable through the systematic troubleshooting and disk maintenance that we have discussed here for you. With our suggested preventive care and timely action, you can actually keep your Mac running smoothly without such recurring and frustrating file operation failures.