Finder error code -43 macOS Origin: Platform & cloud OSI layer 7 · Application Last updated 5 Nov 2026

macOS: The operation can't be completed because one or more required items can't be found. (Error code -43)

Finder tried to act on an item that is gone, renamed, or an alias/symlink pointing nowhere.

Exact message you may see The operation can't be completed because one or more required items can't be found. (Error code -43)Error code -43Finder error -43 file not foundOne or more required items can't be found (error code -43)
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Seen on: macOS

Meaning

Usually a broken alias, a file removed mid-operation, or a name with unusual characters on a shared/external volume. Refresh the folder, reselect the item, remove dead aliases, or use Terminal (ls -la, cp -R) to see the real problem. Also try rebuilding Finder prefs: remove ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist.

Common causes

  • Broken alias or symbolic link
  • Item deleted/moved during the operation
  • Special characters in file names on SMB/exFAT
  • Network share disconnected
  • Corrupted Finder preferences

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Refresh/reselect the item and retry
  2. Delete the broken alias and relink
  3. Reset Finder: defaults delete com.apple.finder && killall Finder

Detailed fix by platform

macOS

  1. ls -la@ path and file path to inspect aliases/links

How to diagnose

  1. Item — Exists?
  2. Alias — Broken?
  3. Volume — Still mounted?

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: Platform & cloud. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

Finder error code -36 — macOS: The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "x" can't be read or written. (Error code -36) (macOS)Finder error code -36Homebrew Cask: It seems there is already an App at — Homebrew: Error: It seems there is already an App at '/Applications/Chrome.app' (macOS)Homebrew Cask: It see…Item is locked / cannot be deleted (chflags uchg) — macOS: The operation can't be completed because the item is locked / rm: Operation not permitted (uchg flag) (macOS)Item is locked / cann…Read-only file system (macOS system volume) — macOS: mkdir: /data: Read-only file system / touch: /usr/bin/x: Read-only file system (macOS)Read-only file system…Volume failed to unmount / disk not ejected because in use — macOS: diskutil: Unmount of disk2s1 failed: at least one volume could not be unmounted / The disk wasn't ejected because one or more programs may be using it (macOS)Volume failed to unmo…Your Command Line Tools are too outdated — Homebrew: Error: Your Command Line Tools (CLT) are too outdated. Update them from Software Update / Please update to the latest macOS (macOS)Your Command Line Too…zsh: bad CPU type in executable — macOS (Apple Silicon): zsh: bad CPU type in executable: ./tool (macOS)zsh: bad CPU type in …Finder er…

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