How to Free Up Storage on a Mac Without Deleting What You Need
A full drive is one of the most common reasons a Mac starts to feel sluggish. macOS needs free space to run updates, swap memory and store temporary files. When the drive is nearly full, apps slow down, updates fail and you may see warnings that your startup disk is almost full.
The good news is that you can usually free up a lot of space without deleting anything important. Here's how.
See what's using your space
Start by finding out what's actually filling your drive. On recent versions of macOS, open System Settings, choose General, then Storage. You'll see a bar that breaks down storage by category, such as Applications, Documents, Photos and System Data, along with recommendations.
On older versions, go to the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, then click Storage.
Look for the biggest categories first. That's where you'll get the most space back.
Use the built-in recommendations
The Storage page offers several options:
- Store in iCloud: Keeps files and photos in iCloud and downloads them when you need them. Useful if you have enough iCloud storage and a reliable internet connection.
- Optimize Storage: Removes TV shows and movies you've already watched from your Mac.
- Empty Trash Automatically: Permanently deletes items that have been in the Trash for 30 days.
Review each option before turning it on, so you understand what it changes.
Clear the Downloads folder
The Downloads folder quietly collects installers, disk images, zip files and documents you opened once. Open it, sort by size and delete anything you no longer need. Installer files (ending in .dmg or .pkg) are usually safe to delete after you've installed the app.
Find large files
In the Storage page, click the information button next to Documents to see large files. You can also open a Finder window, use the search field, and filter by file size. Look for old video exports, archives and project files you've already backed up elsewhere.
Remove apps you don't use
Apps can take up a lot of space, especially creative apps and games. In the Storage page, click the information button next to Applications to sort by size and see when you last used each one. Delete apps you no longer use. You can reinstall App Store apps later if you need them.
Check old iPhone and iPad backups
If you've backed up an iPhone or iPad to your Mac, those backups can be large. You can manage them from the Storage page or from Finder when the device is connected. Delete backups for devices you no longer own, but keep at least one current backup of any device you still use.
Understand System Data
System Data, sometimes shown as Other, includes caches, logs, temporary files and some app data. macOS manages much of it automatically, and it often shrinks after a restart or after freeing up other space. Avoid deleting files from system folders manually. If System Data stays unusually large, restarting and making sure macOS is up to date are good first steps.
Move big libraries to an external drive
Large photo libraries, video projects and music libraries can live on an external drive. A fast external SSD works well for active projects. Before moving a library, make sure it's backed up, and follow the app's instructions for moving its library so it keeps working.
Empty the Trash
Deleted files stay in the Trash and still use space until you empty it. Right-click the Trash in the Dock and choose Empty Trash once you're sure you don't need anything in it.
Back up before you clean up
Before deleting anything, make sure you have a current backup. Time Machine with an external drive is the simplest built-in option. A backup protects you if you delete something by mistake.
Plan ahead for your next Mac
If you're always running out of space, it may be time to choose a Mac with more storage. On Macs with Apple silicon, storage can't be upgraded after purchase, so pick a size with room to grow. See our MacBook Air and MacBook Pro pages for more.
Need extra Macs for a project?
If you need Macs with plenty of storage for a short-term project, editing job or event, see Apple rentals at Rentacomputer.com. Rentals ship nationwide with prepaid return labels. Request a quote to get started.
