
MacOS users have the benefit to read and write to most formatted volumes. What this means is that your Mac can read/write most things, from the memory card in your camera to networked Windows machines. On some rare occasions, however, when trying to copy files, Mac users (often photographers) may encounter “error code -36”, which completely halts the copy process and sends users to the shores of Google.
[REWIND: HEDGE FOR MAC | BACKUP AND VERIFY FILES QUICKLY, AND WHY VERIFYING YOUR FILES IS IMPORTANT]
The errors that occur with a Mac are mostly few and far between, but when they occur one thing is for certain, the error is most definitely vague. The error, known as ‘-36’, or “The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “FileName” can’t be read or written. (Error code -36)”; happens when you’re trying to copy files from one location to another, like say a memory card to your hard drive.
Although it could happen to any file, the main cause is to do with invisible .DS_Store files. The “dot-underscore” are companion files that Mac OS X’s HFS+ filesystem creates for files when they get moved to FAT16 or FAT32 volumes, AKA thumb drives. These hidden files contain extra information, like which holds metadata like icon images and files. The problem can arrive when moving files from a Windows-compatible volume to a Mac and then back again, resulting in the dreaded “Error Code -36″.
If you run into Error Code -36 on a Mac, there’s usually a simple solution thanks to a handy command line tool called “dot_clean.” To use dot_clean, you’ll want to point it at the directory which is being copied and throwing the Error Code 36 – it’s as easy as drag and drop.
- Launch the Terminal (Applications -> Utilities) and type– dot_clean –and a single space.
- Drag the flash drive or memory card icon to the terminal window, and the /path/folder will be generated
- Press ‘Enter’. The hidden ‘._’ files should be merged with their host files, and you can now copy files to the flash drive or memory card.
The dot_clean command goes through all the files in a selected directory and tries to merge all the ._DS Store files with their corresponding resource files.
[RELATED: WHAT IS THE NEW APPLE FILE SYSTEM (APFS) & WHY DOES IT MATTER? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW]
Later this year macOS High Sierra will bring a host of new features to Apple users, and one big change will come in the form of the Apple File System replacing the decades old HFS+ system. Not only will the will the new system make file transferring blazingly fast, but Apple has also said that it will fix many issues with the aging HFS+ system.
Justin Heyes
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Can this be done with the entire contents from an internal hard drive ikon which uses a different OSX? Trying to copy desktop files and documents from a corrupted disk.
Never once had an issue with my Mac since I went full Mac household in 2008. Pretty well versed in Finder and never had an issue till I upgraded to Big Sur. Now I have to spend most of the night just getting my files to copy over Vice editing. Thank god I don’t have any clients/jobs right now. There is obviously some issue with the update. Should not have to do this (terminal thing) every single time I import files. And it does t work every time either. Sometimes takes several attempts. Fix it now Apple.
This is a truly terrible article. Following the dot_clean directions simply returns a line reading “: is a directory” and nothing is done. What a worthless article.
I’m trying to copy files (mostly Adobe PSD/AI/INDD) from my computer to my workplace’s server. I get this error more often than not, but not always. I don’t want to run Terminal and mess with the work server. Any solution for this?
This hasn’t worked for me…. anyone any other solutions?
Is it safe to run the
dot_clean on the photolibrary file?
I’m trying to back up my photos library file to an external HD and I get this error message. Any fixes? For some reason my file is titles ‘Photos Library_1.photoslibrary.’ Should I drop the ‘_1’
Damn, I tried this and my image files disappeared. Ok I got them back. Had to remount the drive. whew..
When I try to perform dot_clean, I get this:
“Failed trying to change dir to”
“Bad Pathname: Not a directory”
Are there any help pages on here that don’t use jargon and geekspeak?… I couldn’t understand a bloody word of what’s being given as advice… Idiots like me, who aren’t computer literate (or twelve year olds) are the ones most likely to need advice. Please someone give that advice in plain English..
I did the dot_clean on Terminal but now I can’t see or browse to the external hard drive(s). What have I done lol!>!? How do I reverse or find the external drives now? When I unplug the USB it says “Disk not unmounted properly” so I know Mac is connected, but I can’t browse to them anywhere. Help please, thanks!
On October 30, 2018, the MacBook Air underwent a major design change in harware but not in Mac Error Code 43, which had created a havoc. It had dropped the USB Type-A ports, MagSafe, and the SD card slot in favor of two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack
I am transferring iphoto files from one hard drive to another. Does this work the same as a memory card or flash drive?
This is not working for us and I am SO frustrated!! We are a photography company and chose the 27″ iMac (late 2013) because it was supposed to make editing a breeze. To a point that’s true but copying the files to a thumb drive is impossibly aggravating – even if the files have never touched windows. error code -36 is a constant even when I try the dot_clean process.
Does anyone have any other solutions?
Hey Tammy Shaw, I copy my files to and from my Mac to multiple drives using Hedge. Since incorporating it into my workflow, I haven’t come across the error code -36 issue.
https://slrlounge.com/hedge-for-mac-backup-and-verify-files/
i use an easier one… http://dsstoreremover.wordpress.com
What a minute – there’s an error message on a Mac?!?! I thought nothing ever went wrong on Macs, EVER!
The key is “copying to and from Windows” :) haha… NEVER EVER
thank you thank you….after one hour, you guys gave me a simple solution :D… others say file was corrupted and to replace it, like I go out and take the same pictures and videos agin…duh! …. THANK YOU
Thanks Justin I will try it out
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. Here are the steps to use the dot_clean utility.
Maybe you’ll find some help here.
https://www.errorsolutions.tech/error/mac-error-code-36/
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. Here are the steps to use the dot_clean utility.
Maybe you’ll find some help here.
https://www.errorsolutions.tech/error/mac-error-code-36/
thank you thank you….after one hour, you guys gave me a simple solution :D… others say file was corrupted and to replace it, like I go out and take the same pictures and videos agin…duh! …. THANK YOU
Thanks Justin I will try it out
This is not working for us and I am SO frustrated!! We are a photography company and chose the 27″ iMac (late 2013) because it was supposed to make editing a breeze. To a point that’s true but copying the files to a thumb drive is impossibly aggravating – even if the files have never touched windows. error code -36 is a constant even when I try the dot_clean process.
Does anyone have any other solutions?
Hey Tammy Shaw, I copy my files to and from my Mac to multiple drives using Hedge. Since incorporating it into my workflow, I haven’t come across the error code -36 issue.
https://slrlounge.com/hedge-for-mac-backup-and-verify-files/
i use an easier one… http://dsstoreremover.wordpress.com
What a minute – there’s an error message on a Mac?!?! I thought nothing ever went wrong on Macs, EVER!
The key is “copying to and from Windows” :) haha… NEVER EVER