The Tech Grandkid · thetechgrandkid.com/guides/mac-storage-full/
Your Mac is full. Here's how to make room.
When a Mac runs low on space, it can slow down and refuse updates. Here's how to see what's taking up room and clear some of it.
This page is for you if
- A message says your disk is almost full
- An update won't install because there's no room
- The Mac feels slow and storage is nearly full
Before you start
Things you delete may be gone for good. Make sure your important files are backed up, or copy them to an external drive first.
Do these steps
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Step 1: See what's using space
Click the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click General, then click Storage.
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Step 2: Look at the suggestions
Under the bar, Apple suggests ways to save space. Click the More Info button next to a kind of file to see what's there.
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Step 3: Empty the Trash
Files you delete sit in the Trash at the end of the Dock until you empty it. Open the Trash and empty it to get that space back.
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Step 4: Clear your Downloads
In the Finder, choose Go, then Downloads. Move anything you don't need to the Trash, then empty the Trash again.
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Step 5: Clean up Mail
In the Mail app, choose Mailbox, then Erase Junk Mail. You can also choose Erase Deleted Items.
Good to know
- Remove apps you don't use, and move big files like old videos to an external drive.
- Old iPhone or iPad backups saved on the Mac can take a lot of room. Apple's page shows how to delete them.
Check it with the source
We wrote these steps from these official pages. If your screen looks different, the official page is always right.
- Apple: Free up storage space on your Mac https://support.apple.com/en-us/102624
Still stuck?
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