How to free up space on a Mac: every way, ranked

Where do I start?

Storage in System Settings shows what’s using your disk, largest category first.

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click General in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
2. Click Storage, and wait while macOS adds up each category.
3. Look at the biggest categories. Many open with the info button (ⓘ), where you can select files and click Delete, or click Show in Finder to look first.

Your own order may differ. If Photos leads, start with step 3 below; if Documents leads, start with step 1.

Every way to free up space, ranked

These are ranked by how much space each usually gives back, biggest first. The sizes are the example Mac’s in the pictures: 89.52 GB available of 994.66 GB.

1. Delete large files you don’t need

A few big files often take more space than everything else together.

1. In Storage, click the info button (ⓘ) next to Documents.
2. Click Large Files, then click Size to sort, biggest first.
3. Select a file you don’t need and click Delete. Click Show in Finder first if you’re not sure what it is.

Deleting that one video takes this Mac from 89.52 GB to 137.72 GB available: from 91% full to 86%. How to find large files on a Mac, safely covers checking files before you delete them.

2. Move big files and libraries to an external drive

Files you want to keep, but don’t open every day, can live on another drive. Apple suggests moving your Photos library or iMovie library, because media takes a lot of space. Copy the files to the drive, open one or two there to check them, then delete the originals and empty the Trash. “Your disk is almost full”: what to do first walks through it step by step.

3. Turn on Optimize Mac Storage in Photos

If you use iCloud Photos, your Mac can keep smaller versions of your photos when space is limited, with the full-size originals in iCloud.

1. Open Photos.
2. Choose Photos > Settings, then click iCloud.
3. Select the iCloud Photos checkbox, then select Optimize Mac Storage.

To keep every original on your Mac again, select Download Originals to this Mac. Your photos count against your iCloud storage plan.

4. Store Desktop and Documents in iCloud

At the top of Storage, Store in iCloud stores files from your Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud Drive, and keeps only recently opened files on your Mac when space is needed. If iCloud Drive is already on, you can set the same thing in iCloud Drive’s own settings:

1. Open System Settings and click your name in the sidebar.
2. Click iCloud, then click Drive. Make sure iCloud Drive is on.
3. Turn on Optimize Mac Storage, then click Done.

Apple says that when space isn’t needed, the full contents of iCloud Drive stay on your Mac. So this frees space only once your disk gets tight.

5. Clear the Downloads folder

Downloads fills up quietly: installers, disk images (.dmg) and attachments you opened once. Choose Go > Downloads in Finder, sort by size, and delete what you’ve already used. Keep installers for apps you may need to reinstall.

6. Remove old backups, apps and app data

Several Storage categories open with the info button (ⓘ), where you can select items and click Delete:

• iOS Files: backups and firmware for iPhone and iPad. If your devices back up to iCloud or you have newer backups, older ones can go.
• Applications: apps you’ve installed. Delete the ones you no longer use.
• Messages: conversations and their attachments.
• TV, Music, Books and Podcasts: purchases you can download again later.

In Mail, choose Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail, then Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items. If other people once had user accounts on this Mac, delete the ones no longer needed.

7. Empty the Trash

Files you move to the Trash still take up space until you empty it. Open the Trash in the Dock, look through it once, then click Empty. On this Mac, that’s 6.88 GB back.

8. Let Storage keep space free from now on

The recommendations at the top of Storage keep space free on their own:

• Optimize Storage: removes Apple TV movies and shows you’ve already watched, and keeps only recent email attachments on your Mac when space is needed.
• Empty Trash automatically: erases items that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days.

You can also compress files you keep but rarely use, and expand them when you need them.

What doesn’t free up much space?

• Deleting System Data. You can’t. Apple says macOS manages its contents. What is System Data on a Mac? explains why it grows and shrinks.
• Clearing caches by hand. When space is needed, macOS already clears caches and logs that are safe to delete, such as interrupted downloads, staged updates and Safari website data. Caches you delete yourself are usually created again. How to clear cache on a Mac, and when not to explains when it’s worth it.
• Buying more iCloud storage on its own. An iCloud plan is space in iCloud. Space comes back on your Mac only when Photos, iCloud Drive or Store in iCloud move files there.

Still not enough room for a macOS update?

Starting up in safe mode clears some system caches, which macOS creates again as needed. Apple says this can free enough space for a task such as installing an update. “Your disk is almost full” has the steps for Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

Questions people also ask

What takes up the most space on a Mac?

Usually your own files: videos, photo libraries and projects in Documents or Photos. Storage in System Settings lists every category by size, so the biggest one is the place to start.

Is it safe to delete files in Downloads?

Usually, once you’ve used them. Installers and disk images (.dmg) are safe to delete after the app is installed, unless you may need to reinstall it.

Does deleting apps free up space?

Yes. In Storage, click the info button (ⓘ) next to Applications, select an app you no longer use and click Delete. Some apps also keep large data elsewhere, so check their own settings too.

How much free space should I keep?

Apple doesn’t give one number. Keep enough for macOS updates and your biggest regular job. How much free space should a Mac have? explains why.