Over time, it is common for Mac computers to accumulate unnecessary files, compromising the performance and storage space of the system, and this is more noticeable when the Mac is equipped with solid state drives (SSDs). SSDs stand out for their incredible speed, however, their high price makes Macs equipped with this type of disk have less storage capacity compared to conventional hard disks.
In this article, we’ll explore four effective ways to free up space on your Mac’s data storage. The methods discussed here do not require the use of third-party software, so they may be more time-consuming and less effective. If you want a faster and simpler method, read on to discover a tool that streamlines the whole process.
While Time Machine backups are stored on external disks, macOS also stores a copy of the backup on the internal disk.
macOS is supposed to delete Time Machine backups when your Mac’s storage space is low, but that’s not always the case. Here’s how to delete Time Machine backups:
- Go to Applications > Utilities folder and launch Terminal.
- No Terminal, install: tmutil listlocalsnapshotdates
- Press Enter.
A list of Time Machine backups sorted by the date they were created will be displayed.
Then type: tmutil deletelocalsnapshots x — replacing “x” with the name of one of the listed backups and press Enter. Repeat these steps for all backups you want to delete.
Applications and programs generate a large amount of files. But when an app is uninstalled, some residual files may get “forgotten” on Mac.
To verify that these files are still present on your Mac, open Finder, click Go > Go to Folder and type ~/Library/Application Support
After pressing Enter, you will see a list of folders. Delete folders belonging to already deleted apps.
Over time, the Downloads folder becomes cluttered with all sorts of items, such as old and unnecessary installers, photos, movies, documents, and other files.
To eliminate them, access the Downloads folder through the Finder and by clicking the right mouse button, select Sort by > Size.
Larger files will be displayed at the top of the list. Send the ones you no longer need to the Recycle Bin.
If your storage is really disorganized, there is a way to solve this issue using features included in macOS.
From the Apple menu, choose “About This Mac” and click Storage > Manage.
In the presented window, you will find some options. “Store to iCloud” lets you transfer data to cloud storage, freeing up some space on your Mac. Another option lets you eliminate larger files, as is the case with video files.
Activating the “Empty Trash Automatically” option can be advantageous, especially if you forget to do it often.
In Review Files > Documents, review files saved on Mac and check the category of incompatible apps. It’s possible that it contains programs that are no longer compatible with the current version of macOS.
Managing and optimizing the storage space on your Mac is essential to keep it running smoothly. By following the steps in this article, you can identify and eliminate unnecessary files, optimize space usage, and ensure your Mac runs efficiently.
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