This was taking 33GB of temporary files. Here’s how to remove it:

How to Remove /private/var/folders/.../com.apple.desktopservices.ArchiveService on macOS

If you’ve stumbled upon the file path /private/var/folders/zj/3xvqfbhd56g45jj4bcsgvjfr0000gp/T/com.apple.desktopservices.ArchiveService and are wondering how to remove it, you’re not alone. This file is a temporary system file used by macOS’s Desktop Services, and while it’s usually harmless, sometimes users want to delete it—whether for cleanup, troubleshooting, or freeing up disk space.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to safely remove this file and other temporary system files.

Step 1: Check If the File is in Use

Before attempting to delete the file, it’s a good idea to check if it is currently being used by a process. Open Terminal and run:

lsof | grep ArchiveService

If any processes are using the file, you may need to stop them before proceeding.

Step 2: Manually Delete the File

Once you confirm it’s not in use, you can try deleting the file with the following command:

rm -rf /private/var/folders/zj/3xvqfbhd56g45jj4bcsgvjfr0000gp/T/com.apple.desktopservices.ArchiveService

If you encounter a “Permission denied” error, try running the command with sudo:

sudo rm -rf /private/var/folders/zj/3xvqfbhd56g45jj4bcsgvjfr0000gp/T/com.apple.desktopservices.ArchiveService

You’ll need to enter your administrator password when prompted.

Step 3: Clear macOS Temporary Files

To remove other unnecessary temporary files, you can clear the entire /var/folders/ directory (which macOS uses to store system and user cache files). Run:

sudo rm -rf /private/var/folders/*

This will remove all temporary files from the system. To avoid potential issues, it’s recommended to restart your Mac afterward so macOS can regenerate any necessary system files.

Step 4: Restart Finder and System Services

If the file keeps reappearing, try restarting Finder and other macOS services:

killall Finder
killall Dock

Alternatively, a full system restart should resolve any lingering issues.

Final Thoughts

While temporary files like com.apple.desktopservices.ArchiveService are typically managed by macOS, sometimes manual cleanup is necessary, especially if you’re running low on disk space or troubleshooting system performance. Regularly clearing cache files and restarting your system can help keep your Mac running smoothly.

Would you like to automate this cleanup process? Let us know in the comments!

Did you find this guide helpful? Share it with others who might need it!