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How to free up space on Mac

Start with the tools Apple already gives you, then clear the usual suspects: big forgotten files, old installers, iPhone backups and a full Trash.

Updated · 4 min read

Short answer

Open Apple menu ▸ System Settings ▸ General ▸ Storage to see what is using space. Turn on the recommendations that suit you, then click the Info button next to Documents to list large files and downloads. Delete old iPhone backups in the Finder, and empty the Trash, since deleted files keep using space until you do.

A full disk makes updates fail and apps stall. The good news is that most of the space usually goes to a few big things, and macOS can show you which ones. Work through these steps in order. The early ones are the safest.

See what is using space

  1. Choose Apple menu ▸ System Settings.
  2. Click General in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
  3. Click Storage on the right.
  4. Wait for the bar to fill in. It shows categories such as Applications, Documents, Photos and System Data.
  5. Click the Info button next to a category to see what is inside it. Only categories with an Info button let you select and delete files.

On macOS Monterey 12 and earlier, the path is different: choose Apple menu ▸ About This Mac, then click Storage.

Turn on Apple's recommendations

Near the top of Storage settings you'll see a few suggestions. Each one is optional.

  • Store in iCloud moves your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive, photos and videos to iCloud Photos, and Messages attachments to iCloud. When space runs low, only recently opened files stay on the Mac. This needs enough iCloud storage.
  • Optimize Storage removes Apple TV movies and shows you've already watched, and keeps only recent email attachments on the Mac when space is needed.
  • Empty Trash Automatically erases items that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days.

macOS also clears caches and logs that are safe to delete when it needs room, so you don't need a “cleaner” app for those.

Find and delete large files

Big videos, disk images and old project folders add up fast. Storage settings can list them for you.

  1. In Storage settings, click the Info button next to Documents.
  2. Click the button for large files. There is also a button for downloads, and a File Browser that shows how much space each folder uses.
  3. Click Size at the top to sort, biggest first. Last Accessed shows what you haven't touched in a while.
  4. Select a file you don't need and click Delete. To look first, click Show in Finder.

Clear out the Downloads folder

Downloads quietly collects years of installers, zip files and one-off PDFs.

  1. In the Finder, press ⌥ ⌘ L to open Downloads. You can also choose Go ▸ Downloads.
  2. Switch to List view and click the Size column to sort.
  3. Look for installers (often .dmg or .pkg files) for apps you've already installed, and zip files you've already opened.
  4. Select what you don't need and press ⌘ Delete to move it to the Trash.

While you're at it, check Mail. Choose Mailbox ▸ Erase Junk Mail and Mailbox ▸ Erase Deleted Items.

Delete old iPhone and iPad backups

If you ever backed up an iPhone or iPad to your Mac, those backups can be very large.

  1. Connect the device with a cable and open a Finder window.
  2. Select the device in the sidebar. Trust the device if asked.
  3. On the General tab, click Manage Backups.
  4. Control-click a backup you no longer need and choose Delete.
  5. Click OK.

Keep at least your most recent backup unless the device also backs up to iCloud.

Empty the Trash

Files in the Trash still use space. You only get it back once you empty it.

  1. Click the desktop so the Finder is active.
  2. Press ⇧ ⌘ Delete.
  3. Confirm. Items are removed for good, so check the Trash first if you're unsure.

What about System Data?

System Data (called Other on older versions) is a catch-all for Apple and third-party files that don't fit another category. You can't open it like a folder, and you shouldn't delete things from inside the system by hand. If you need a quick bit of room for something like a macOS update, Apple notes that starting up in safe mode clears certain system caches. Restart normally afterward.

Where FileShelf's Clean Up fits

FileShelf is a Mac file library with a Clean Up view. It looks through the folders you connect and groups likely clutter: forgotten downloads, old screenshots and installers. You review each group, move what you don't want to the Trash, and press ⌘ Z if you change your mind.

To be clear about its limits: it only sees folders you choose. It can't see or clean System Data, app caches or iPhone backups. And like any app that uses the Trash, you still need to empty the Trash to get the space back.

Review forgotten downloads, old screenshots and installers in one place, with ⌘Z undo.

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