Have you noticed that there is not enough free storage on your MacBook’s drive? If so, do not expect that this problem will solve itself.
- How To Free Up Storage On Macbook
- How To Free Up Storage On Mac El Capitan
- How To Free Up Storage On Macbook Pro 2015
- How To Make Space On Mac
- How To Free Up Storage On Macbook Pro
Despite its many advantages, Macs are not the best when it comes to total available storage. The issue becomes even more problematic if you purchase a cheaper model with a small solid-state drive.
- You will then be greeted by the files on your Mac that are taking up the most storage from the largest in size down to the smallest in size. You can select what you would like to delete from here to free up storage on your Mac. Simply highlight the file that you would like to delete and then click on the Delete button in the lower right-hand.
- Digging deeper to free up Mac storage Daisy Disk. While using Finder and About This Mac are helpful, my favorite approach to tidying things up is with the visual drive analyzer Daisy Disk ($9.99.
Some might think that lackluster drive space is enough to avoid MacBooks altogether. Well, the reality is quite different. Apple computers continue to be quite popular, and the lack of drive space is not enough of a problem to disrupt the status quo.
To manually clear cache files on Mac: Navigate to Go Go To Folder. Type in /Library/Caches and click Go. Click-hold Option and drag the Caches folder to your desktop as a backup in case something goes wrong. Select all the files in the Caches folder. Drag them to the Trash.
There are plenty of ways to deal with storage problems on a computer. If you wish to know how to avoid cluttering your Mac and have it run optimally, the ideas below should come in quite handy.
Get Rid of Old Apps
Let’s start with applications. Since there are so many great apps on the official Mac App Store, you must have installed quite a few yourself. However, there should be some applications that you have not used for a while.
If so, do not hesitate and remove them from the MacBook. Since your goal is to free up the drive’s space, the data you no longer need should go. And in case you decide to use a deleted application in the future, you can download it later.
Keep Tabs on Language Files
Some apps come with redundant language support. Since you need only the English version and maybe one other language, keeping files that translate software into 60 or more languages makes no sense, right?
Look through the applications you have installed and make sure that there is no redundant language pack data. If you find any, do not hesitate and remove them from the system.
Avoid Malware
Cybersecurity threats may find their way into your MacBook and start consuming drive space without you realizing what is happening. In some cases, even reliable antivirus software is not enough to prevent the issue.
Be more mindful about what links you click. It might be worth installing an ad blocker browser extension to prevent aggressive pop-ups and other advertisements that might redirect you to a malware-infected landing page.
Using a virtual private network is another great piece of advice. VPNs cost only a few dollars a month, but they offer both privacy and security online.
Remove Temporary Data
According to this original post about lacking storage space to install macOS Big Sur, getting rid of temporary system storage is one of the most effective methods to free up the drive’s space.
Also, you do not need to remove this data manually. Instead, get a cleanup utility tool like CleanMyMac X. The software removes unwanted system junk automatically, saving you time.
And since you will want to get rid of app cache, plugins, extensions, old system backups, and other unnecessary data regularly, investing in such a tool is worth it.
Delete Downloads
Downloads might take more drive space than you expect. Some people forget about downloading files online and leave them in the download folder. Email attachments are a good example of this. By default, email attachments you double-click on get saved on the computer.
There are two ways to approach the download folder. The first is two remember to delete its files regularly. The second is to switch the default download location.
You could save downloaded files on the desktop. Doing so would let you notice the files and remove them when they become useless. After all, you do not wish to clutter your Mac’s desktop with random documents or shortcuts.
Invest in an External HDD
An external hard drive costs about 50 dollars at most. It is a neat investment that you can use to free up the drive’s space. Keeping data on a hard drive is quite common among Mac owners.
Another advantage of having an external HDD is the option to back up the MacBook’s data by combining the device with Time Machine.
Transfer Files to iCloud
Similar to an external hard drive, you could also transfer files to iCloud. The default service plan offers five gigabytes of storage with an option to extend it by paying a monthly fee. There are three different available plans: 50GB for one dollar a month, 200GB for three dollars a month, and 2TB for ten dollars a month.
Stick to Streaming for Media Consumption
If movies, TV shows, and music are causing you the most problems because you like to hoard media files on the computer, why not take advantage of the available streaming services?
Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu are just a few examples of streaming services that offer hours of entertainment. Subscribing to such platforms will help you free up the MacBook’s drive space and provide a more convenient way to consume media.
System cleanup in one click
Sometimes, you need to know how much storage space is on your Mac. Apple doesn’t make this info readily available because not many of us need to know about Mac storage often enough. It’s really easy to check, though – and there are even some alternatives that give you better options for managing your onboard memory!
How To Free Up Storage On Macbook
People need to check their storage space for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s just good device management; sometimes your computer is running slowly, and storage is the first culprit you think of. Ideally, about ten percent of the storage space on your Mac should be free at all times so your computer can run smoothly.
Depending on which model you have, this can be tricky to accomplish routinely. Maybe you need to delete some older apps you’re not using, or the app isn’t supported anymore. Maybe you’re just holding onto old documents you no longer need.
Whatever your use-case, here’s how to check disk space on Mac.
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How To Check Storage on Mac
It’s actually really simple to check your device’s memory! Here’s how:
- On the menu bar, click the Apple logo in the top left
- Select ‘About this Mac’
- Select ‘Storage’
This is the easiest method for how to see storage on Mac – but you can go deeper! If you need a closer look at your Mac’s memory use, there are a few ways to go about it.
From the Storage screen, you can select ‘Manage,’ which takes you to a new window. Applications, Documents, Photos, and other sections can be found on the left of this window, and a detailed view of those files on the right.
You can also use Finder! To do so, open Finder, go to the View menu item in the menu bar, and select ‘Show toolbar.’ You’ll see a new bar at the bottom of the Finder window showing the number of items for the section you have selected on the left-hand pane and the total amount of storage your Mac has available.
Check out how to use Time Machine.
Disk Utility is another resource. Open Disk Utility, and it will launch into a view of the volume(s) on your Mac, which also shows how much space is used, and how much is free. (Keep in mind Disk Utility is meant for power users who want to manage their storage, and is a bit of overkill for most users.)
How To Manage Storage in macOS
There are also easy ways to manage the files or applications taking up room on your Mac.
In Finder, select the category from the left side pane, then the application or file you want to delete. Right-click on that file or app, select ‘delete,’ and it’ll be removed. From the System Information menu, simply select the file or app you want to get rid of, and select the ‘delete’ button on the bottom right of the window.
But these two methods often don’t solve the issue! One clever way to better manage the storage on your Mac is to use cloud storage options like iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. Apple’s iCloud is woven into your AppleID, and using it is a very straightforward approach; it’s automatically added to the storage options for your Mac!
But iCloud is not the only solution for cloud storage on Mac. If you have something else, CloudMounter is the easiest and best way to manage all your cloud storage containers. It lives in your menu bar for easy access, and shows all your cloud storage options in Finder. It helps your Mac treat cloud storage as a local disk, making access and managing files really simple!
Best of all, CloudMounter uses 256-bit encryption, so your documents are always safe.
If all the menus and file size jargon of Apple’s Finder and System Information options is confusing, we’ve got a great solution for you. iStat Menus is a handy app that also lives in the Menu Bar, and gives a graphical overview of CPU and GPU use in real-time, network connections, and memory use. Instead of dipping and diving through Apple’s hierarchal menus, you can just click on iStat Menus to get the same information in a much better interface!
iStat Menus also allows you to keep the data surfaced directly on your menu bar. Instead of clicking the icon, you can choose to have things like CPU or memory usage as icons so the information is always available in real-time. Awesome!
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Probably the best (and definitely the most powerful) option for managing your Mac’s memory is CleanMyMacX. Like iStat Menus, it has a drop-down window from the menu bar showing details like CPU or memory use, as well as which apps may be kicking your Mac into overdrive.
CleanMyMacX really shines when you open it up. The app scans your system and identifies unused files, random system junk, mail attachments – and also manages your trash bins. It scans for malware, checks for privacy leaks, optimizes your system for speedy performance, and does routine maintenance.
That’s a lot, but we’re not done! An option within CleanMyMacX named ‘Space Lens’ is a lot like Apple’s Finder, only better looking and much easier to use. Here you’ll see all your applications and files divided into sections, and broken into sub-menus. You can also manually delete apps or files.
‘Large & Old Files’ is a feature in CleanMyMacX which – you guessed it – finds large files and files you haven’t touched in a long time. The goal is to help you identify which files might be worth deleting, or at least shuffling off to cloud storage. It even tells you how long it's been since you used a file!
How To Free Up Storage On Mac El Capitan
But let’s be honest: most of the space on your Mac is probably taken up by apps. And chances are, you don’t want or need most of those apps anyway. This is where CleanMyMacX shines bright! Under the ‘Applications’ menu, you can update and manage apps and extensions with ease.
The ‘Uninstaller’ option is a lot like the ‘Large & Old Files’ option, just for apps. It shows you which apps are old, which may be abandoned (32-bit apps are no longer supported on Mac!), and which are just plain unused. It even shows you how large the apps are, letting you do the quick math on which will free up the most space when deleted.
How To Free Up Storage On Macbook Pro 2015
To get rid of apps or files, simply select them from the CleanMyMacX menu, and select the ‘Uninstall’ or ‘Delete’ option at the bottom of the window. It’s that easy!
Keep your Mac in top shape
Checking and managing the storage on your Mac is simple. While viewing your Mac’s storage is easy to do without having a separate app, there are good reasons to have something beyond Apple’s own options to manage your Mac’s memory.
Apps often have files and folders embedded deep in your Mac’s memory, which don’t always go away when you simply delete the app from Apple’s menus. Sure, you got rid of the main offender, but many apps (like those from Adobe) have nuisance files that linger long after you delete the app.
Similarly, moving an app to the trash bin doesn’t actually delete it. The ‘Trash’ app is little more than a place you put apps you don’t want; it doesn’t delete them. You have to manage your trash bin separately, which can balloon out of control.
CleanMyMacX is a great bet for handling it all. It’s smarter at deleting files, folders, and apps, and gives you a much better view of what may be occupying your Mac’s storage. It also removes associated files for apps you delete.
There’s no silver-bullet solution, though! We also like CloudMounter for those with multiple cloud storage solutions, and iStat Menus is really sharp at surfacing the right data when you need it. Best of all, all three options are available for free as part of a 7-day free trial for Setapp, along with dozens of other great apps.