MacOS -36: File Copying Error and Solutions for Finder Issues

The -36 error in macOS typically occurs when trying to copy files or folders, often resulting in the message, The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in ‘filename’ can’t be read or written. This error is commonly caused by corrupt files, hidden system files, or permissions issues.

One of the first things to try when facing the -36 error is to check for hidden system files.

Press Command + Shift + . in Finder to reveal hidden files, which could include .DS_Store or .AppleDouble files.

These files sometimes cause conflicts when copying, so you should delete them before retrying the operation.

If this doesn't resolve the issue, use Disk Utility to check for disk errors.

Open Disk Utility and select the drive you're copying from, then click “First Aid.” This process will attempt to repair any file system issues on the drive.

If you're copying from an external drive, check whether it’s formatted correctly.

Non-Mac-compatible file systems like NTFS may cause issues when writing files to the drive.

Consider reformatting the drive to a compatible format such as exFAT or HFS+ if needed (note that this will erase all data, so back up your files first).

Another potential fix is to use the Terminal to manually copy the file using the cp command, which bypasses Finder's limitations.

Open Terminal and type cp -r /path/to/source /path/to/destination to copy the files directly.

If the issue persists despite all these steps, restarting your Mac and attempting the file transfer again may resolve any temporary glitches in the system.