Managing Storage Space on macOS Boot Volumes
This document outlines methods for freeing up disk space on the primary volume where the operating system is installed on Apple Macintosh computers.
Identifying Space Consumption
Before attempting to reclaim storage, understand where space is being utilized. macOS provides several tools for this:
- About This Mac -> Storage: Provides a visual overview of storage categories (Applications, Documents, Photos, etc.) and recommendations.
- Disk Utility: Used for advanced disk management and examining partition information.
- Finder -> Get Info: Shows the size of individual files and folders.
- Terminal (command line): Commands like `du -sh ` can be used to identify large files or directories.
Methods for Reclaiming Space
Removing Unnecessary Files
The most direct method is to remove files no longer needed.
- Applications: Uninstall unused apps. Ensure that residual files are also removed (e.g., preferences, support files).
- Documents: Archive or delete old documents, downloads, and backups. Consider moving large media files to external storage.
- Caches and Temporary Files: macOS automatically manages many of these, but manual clearing can sometimes be beneficial. Use caution, as deleting essential caches can cause instability. The "Manage..." button in the Storage window can help with this.
- Language Files: If multiple language support is installed, removing unneeded language resources can reclaim significant space. (Advanced, and requires third-party tools).
Managing Photos and Videos
These files typically consume substantial storage.
- iCloud Photo Library: Optimize storage by keeping only smaller, optimized versions locally and storing full-resolution versions in iCloud.
- External Storage: Move photo and video libraries to external hard drives or NAS devices.
- Deleting Duplicates: Use software to identify and remove duplicate files.
Managing System Files
Exercise extreme caution when modifying or deleting system files. Incorrect actions can render the system unusable.
- Deleting Old System Logs: macOS periodically cleans up system logs, but older logs can accumulate. Tools exist for managing this, but understand the potential consequences.
- Time Machine Snapshots: Local Time Machine snapshots can occupy considerable space. While important for data recovery, they can be temporarily disabled in Disk Utility or via the command line to free up space, understanding this reduces immediate recovery options. They will automatically be purged when space is needed.
Emptying the Trash
Files moved to the Trash are not actually removed until the Trash is emptied.
Recommendations
- Regularly review storage usage.
- Back up important data before making significant changes.
- Use caution when modifying system files.
- Consider using cloud storage or external storage for large files.