How to Free Up Storage on Your Mac

Seeing a “Mac storage full” message can be frustrating, especially when you are trying to save a document, download a photo, or install an update. The good news is that you can usually find what is taking up space and make room without deleting anything important.

Your Mac includes a storage overview that shows how much space is being used and what kinds of files are taking it up. We will use that first, then look at a few sensible ways to clear space while keeping your personal files safe.

What you’ll need

• Your Mac and a few minutes.
• An external drive or cloud storage account if you want to keep copies of large files somewhere else.

Step 1: Check what is using your Mac’s storage

Before deleting anything, take a look at the storage overview. It groups the space being used into categories, which can help you decide where to start.

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Choose System Settings.
3. Click General in the sidebar.
4. Select Storage.
5. Wait for your Mac to calculate the space being used. You may see categories such as Applications, Documents, Photos, and macOS.

The bar or category list gives you a general picture of what is taking up room. Select a category or click its information button, if shown, to see available options.

Good to know: The exact categories and recommendations can vary with your Mac, macOS version, and the apps you use. Older macOS versions may show storage tools in About This Mac instead of the current System Settings layout.

Step 2: Review large files and downloads

Large files are often the easiest place to make a noticeable difference. These might include old videos, installers, duplicate downloads, or documents you no longer need.

1. Open Finder from the Dock.
2. Click Downloads in the Finder sidebar. If you do not see it, choose Go from the menu bar, then Downloads.
3. Look through the files and identify items you recognize and no longer need.
4. To see file sizes, choose View from the menu bar and select as List. You can click the Size column heading to sort by size.
5. Move only the files you are sure you no longer need to the Trash.

You can also look in your Movies and Documents folders for large files. Take a moment to open unfamiliar items before deciding whether to remove them.

Careful: Do not delete files just because their names look unfamiliar. Some may belong to an app or be needed for your work. If you are unsure, leave them where they are until you can identify them.

Step 3: Remove apps you no longer use

Apps can take up a surprising amount of space, particularly creative, video, or games software. Removing an app you no longer use can free some of that space.

1. Open Finder.
2. Select Applications in the sidebar. If it is not listed, choose Go from the menu bar and then Applications.
3. Look for apps you recognize and no longer use.
4. If you are confident you do not need an app, drag it to the Trash, or select it and choose File then Move to Trash.
5. Empty the Trash only after checking its contents.

Some apps have their own uninstallers or instructions. If an app came with an uninstaller, or its developer provides removal steps, use those rather than deleting files from system folders yourself.

Tip: Avoid removing apps that came with macOS or anything you do not recognize. If you might need an app later, check whether you can download it again and whether you have the sign-in details or license information.

Step 4: Review the storage recommendations

The Storage screen may offer suggestions to help reduce the amount of space used. Read each suggestion before turning it on, because some options change where or how your files are stored.

1. Return to System Settings.
2. Choose General, then Storage.
3. Look for the recommendations shown on your Mac. Depending on your setup, you may see options related to iCloud, optimizing storage, or automatically emptying the Trash.
4. Select a recommendation to read what it does.
5. Turn on only the options you understand and want to use.

For example, Empty Trash Automatically can remove items that have been in the Trash for a set period. Store in iCloud can keep some files in iCloud and make them available when needed, but it uses your iCloud storage and may require an internet connection to download files again.

Good to know: iCloud storage and Mac storage are different. Paying for more iCloud space does not automatically increase the physical storage inside your Mac.

Step 5: Empty the Trash and check the available space

Moving a file to the Trash does not usually free its space immediately. You need to empty the Trash to remove those items from your Mac.

1. Click the Trash icon in the Dock.
2. Look through the contents carefully. Make sure there is nothing you want to keep.
3. If you are certain, click Empty or choose Finder then Empty Trash from the menu bar. The exact wording may vary.
4. Return to System Settings, choose General, then Storage.
5. Give the storage overview a moment to update and check whether more space is available.

If you want to keep a file but remove it from your Mac, copy it to an external drive first and check that the copy opens correctly. You can also use a cloud storage service, but make sure you understand whether the file is being stored online, downloaded to your Mac, or both.

Troubleshooting: Still seeing “Mac storage full”?

The storage bar has not changed. Your Mac may need a little time to recalculate. Close and reopen the Storage screen, or restart your Mac and check again.

I deleted files but still have very little space. Check the Trash, Downloads, and large video files. Also look at the Applications and Documents categories in Storage to see whether another area is using the space.

System Data is taking up a lot of room. System Data includes different files used by macOS and apps, such as caches and temporary files. Its size can change over time. Do not try to clear it by deleting random folders from the Library or system locations; that can cause problems.

I need more room for an update. Start with files you can identify, such as old downloads and videos, then empty the Trash. If you still do not have enough space, check Apple’s guidance for the particular macOS version and update you are installing.

A little more room to work

When your Mac says storage is full, start by checking System Settings > General > Storage rather than deleting files at random. A careful review of downloads, large files, and unused apps can often make enough room for the things you need.