How to Free Up Space on Mac: The Complete Checklist

Use Apple’s built-in storage recommendations

The top of the Storage pane lists recommendations. From macOS 15 Sequoia to macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple documents three (Apple: optimise storage space):

• Store in iCloud keeps Desktop and Documents files in iCloud Drive, photos in iCloud Photos and messages in iCloud. When space is needed, only recently opened files stay on the Mac. This uses your iCloud storage plan, so check you have room there.
• Optimize Storage (Optimise Storage on a Mac set to UK English) removes Apple TV films and shows you have already watched, and keeps only recent email attachments on the Mac when space is low.
• Empty Trash automatically (Empty Bin automatically in UK English) erases items that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days.

Some older guides mention a Reduce Clutter button. Apple’s current guide no longer lists it. On recent macOS versions the same job is done in the Documents category: click its Info button to see large files and downloads, sort by Size or Last Accessed, and use File Browser to see which folders are biggest (Apple).

Apple also notes that, when space is needed, macOS clears caches and logs that are safe to delete, such as temporary database files, interrupted downloads, staged macOS and app updates, and Safari website data (Apple).

Empty the Trash and clear Downloads

This is the safest place to start. Apple is clear that deleted files don’t free up space until you empty the Trash (Apple Support).

1. Open your Downloads folder in the Finder and sort by size (View > as List, then click the Size column).
2. Drag old installers (.dmg, .pkg), archives (.zip) and anything you have already filed elsewhere to the Trash.
3. Check the Trash for anything you want to keep, then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Emptying the Trash can’t be undone. Two other “bins” hold deleted items too:

• Photos: deleted photos sit in Recently Deleted for 30 days before Photos removes them (Apple: Photos). You can delete them sooner from that album.
• Mail: choose Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail, then Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items (Apple Support).

Uninstall apps you no longer use

The Applications category in Storage settings lists your apps by size. Dragging an app to the Trash removes the app itself but often leaves its support files, caches and preferences in your Library folder.

Our guide on how to uninstall apps on Mac covers the built-in uninstall routes and where the leftovers live. While you are there, remove login items for apps you no longer want starting with your Mac.

Delete old iPhone and iPad backups

If you have ever backed up an iPhone or iPad to your Mac, those backups live in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. Apple lists old device backups as one of the things to delete when you need space (Apple Support).

Delete them from the Finder’s device window or from the iOS Files category in Storage settings, not by hand in the folder. A backup can’t be recreated once the device is wiped or gone, so only delete backups for devices you no longer own or have backed up elsewhere. Full steps: how to delete old iPhone backups on Mac.

Clear caches safely

Caches are files apps save to load things faster next time. They live mainly in ~/Library/Caches and apps rebuild them as needed, so clearing old ones is safe. Clearing every cache at once gains little for long, because apps write them again the next time they run.

The safe approach is to clear caches that are old or belong to apps you have removed, and leave the rest. Never delete the whole ~/Library folder or anything under /System. Details and a safe/not safe list: how to clear cache on Mac.

Browsers keep their own large caches. Clear them from inside the browser so it can rebuild cleanly. In Safari, Develop > Empty Caches removes the cache and keeps your logins, while Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data removes cookies and site data. In Chrome, Command-Shift-Delete opens Delete browsing data. Full steps:

• How to clear Safari cache on Mac
• How to clear Chrome cache on Mac

Streaming services store data too. Spotify has a Clear cache button under Settings > Storage in its own app (how to clear Spotify cache on Mac). Hulu has no Mac app, so its data lives in your browser: remove just hulu.com’s site data and keep your other logins (how to clear Hulu cache on Mac).

Find large and old files

A handful of big files usually matters more than thousands of small ones. Old video exports, virtual machine images, disk images and project archives are common culprits.

In Storage settings, open Documents with its Info button and sort by Size. For Finder searches and Terminal commands, see how to find large files on Mac.

Files you want to keep but rarely open can go to an external drive. Apple suggests moving your Photos or iMovie library this way, and compressing files you rarely use (Apple Support).

For developers: Xcode DerivedData and simulators

If you build apps with Xcode, ~/Library/Developer can become one of the largest folders on your Mac. DerivedData holds build products and indexes that Xcode recreates on the next build, so it is safe to clear. Old simulator data and archives need more care, because archives keep the debug symbols for builds you shipped.

Step by step: how to clear Xcode DerivedData.

System Data: what you can and can’t remove

System Data is the category most people ask about. Apple describes it as files that don’t fit the other categories, mostly managed by macOS: logs, caches, virtual memory files, temporary files, fonts, app support files and plug-ins. You can’t manage its contents from Storage settings, and its size changes with the state of your Mac (Apple).

What you can do is shrink the parts that belong to you: old caches, iPhone backups, developer data and app leftovers. The full breakdown is in Mac System Data storage explained.

Purgeable space explained

Purgeable space is space macOS can free up when needed by removing files from your Mac. You can’t delete purgeable files yourself; macOS removes them as needed (Apple: Disk Utility).

This is why two numbers can disagree. Available space includes both free space and purgeable space, so it can be higher than the space that is truly empty. To see both figures, open Disk Utility, select your startup disk and click the Info button.

How much space does a macOS update need?

Apple does not publish a single free-space figure for every macOS update. If the update says your Mac doesn’t have enough storage space, Apple’s advice is to free up space and try again (Apple: if an error occurred while updating).

Apple also suggests one temporary trick: start up in safe mode, which clears certain system caches that macOS rebuilds later. That can give you enough room to finish a task that needs space only while it runs, such as installing a macOS update. Restart normally to leave safe mode (Apple Support). Software Update in System Settings can also use less space to download and install than other methods (Apple).

Mac storage full after deleting files?

If you deleted files and the number barely moved, one of these is usually why.

The files are still in the Trash

Space comes back only when you empty the Trash. Check Photos’ Recently Deleted album and Mail’s deleted items as well.

Time Machine local snapshots

If you use Time Machine, macOS saves a local snapshot of your startup disk about every hour and keeps it for 24 hours. A file you deleted can still be held by a snapshot. Your Mac counts snapshot space as available storage and deletes snapshots as they age or as space is needed (Apple: local snapshots). If an installer still refuses to run, see how to delete Time Machine snapshots on Mac.

Purgeable space is counted as available

If your Mac says space is available but an app disagrees, the gap is often purgeable space that macOS hasn’t cleared yet. See the purgeable section above.

Storage settings haven’t caught up

If the numbers look unchanged right after a big clean-up, close System Settings and open Storage again, or restart your Mac, before you judge the result.

Mac storage full for no reason

If nothing obvious is large, open Documents > File Browser in Storage settings, or use the Terminal commands in how to check storage on Mac, to find which folder is growing. Look for one folder that is far bigger than you expect, then work down inside it.

The faster way: MacWipe

MacWipe does most of this checklist in one place. Storage shows what is taking up your disk. Smart Scan covers caches, logs, the Trash, app leftovers and browser data in one pass, and its default rules pick user caches and app logs only once they are older than 7 days. Apps uninstalls an app with its leftover files. Files lists large and old files by size and age with a Quick Look preview. Developer finds Xcode build folders and caches, and lists iPhone backups without ever pre-selecting them.

You see every item and why it is safe before anything is removed. Caches and logs are deleted (apps rebuild them); other items, such as app leftovers, go to the Trash. MacWipe runs on macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon and Intel.

Download MacWipe

FAQ

What is taking up all the space on my Mac?

Open System Settings > General > Storage and look at the largest category. Click its Info button to see the files inside. If System Data is largest, see Mac System Data storage explained.

Why is my Mac storage full when I have nothing on it?

Hidden items count too: iPhone backups, caches, app support files, mail attachments and Time Machine local snapshots. Most of these sit in your Library folder or in System Data, which is why the Finder doesn’t show them.

Is it safe to delete System Data on a Mac?

Not directly. Apple says you can’t manage that category’s contents. You can safely reduce it by clearing old caches, removing old device backups and uninstalling apps with their leftovers. Never delete files under /System.

Does emptying the Trash free up space on a Mac?

Yes. Files you delete stay on the disk until you empty the Trash. Turn on Empty Trash automatically to have items older than 30 days removed for you.