Mac storage guides
How to free up disk space on Mac
Check available Mac storage, locate large folders and remove files you no longer need with a deliberate cleanup workflow.
If a download or update will not fit, first measure the free space on the disk you are using. Then identify files you can do without. A large scan result is a starting point for review, not a list of files that are safe to delete.
Check the disk before cleaning
On macOS 13 or later, open System Settings → General → Storage. Note the available space on your startup disk. For an external disk, make sure you are checking that disk instead.
Apple: check Mac storage ↗Scan a location you recognize
Choose a familiar location such as Downloads with FindSpace’s folder picker. When the scan finishes, expand subfolders in the folder view. Results cover only locations macOS allows the app to read.
Review what takes up space
Search names and paths in the large-file list and use size filters to narrow candidates. Inspect them with Quick Look or Finder. Distinguish replaceable installers or exports from active work and your only backup.
Confirm removal, then measure again
Select only reviewed items and confirm moving them to Trash. Review the Trash in Finder before emptying it, then recheck actual free space in the app’s space overview. Emptying the Trash permanently deletes its contents.
Apple: files and the Trash ↗What to check next
Use the change in actual available disk space to judge the result, rather than adding up selected file sizes. If space is still tight, scan the next large folder and repeat the review.
Keep an independent backup of anything you may need. Do not remove unfamiliar system or application files simply because they are large.