Free up storage space on Mac
Find out what to do if your Mac startup disk is almost full, or you don't have enough storage space to download, install or copy.
Find out how much storage space is available
Your Mac can show you how much storage space is being used by various categories of files, such as Applications, Photos, Mail and Messages.1 It can also show you how much space is available for additional files.
macOS Ventura or later: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then click Storage on the right.
Earlier versions of macOS: Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, then click Storage.
As you follow the steps in this article to free up storage space, this storage information will update automatically.
Optimise storage space
Your Mac can optimise storage by using iCloud to automatically make more storage space available when needed.2 And you can use built-in utilities to quickly find and delete files, apps, books, films and other items that are taking up space, then delete the items you no longer need.
macOS Ventura or later: Find out how to optimise storage space
Earlier versions of macOS: Find out how to optimise storage space
Move or delete files
If you have another storage device, such as an external drive connected to your Mac, you can move files to that device. Media files, such as photos and videos, can use a lot of storage space, so you can take steps such as these:
You can also delete files that you no longer need. For example:
Delete music, films, podcasts or other media, especially if it’s media that you can stream or download again as needed.
Delete files in your Downloads folder. Open this folder from the Dock or by choosing Go > Downloads from the menu bar in the Finder.
If you use the Mail app for your email, choose Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail from the menu bar in Mail. Also choose Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items.
If you use your Mac to back up your iPhone or iPad, you can delete old backups.
Uninstall apps that you no longer use.
If your Mac is set up for multiple users, delete users Or ask them to follow the steps in this article after logging in to their user account.
Check the Users folder on Macintosh HD for any undeleted data belonging to deleted users, as well as any shared files that you no longer need to share.
If you don't want to delete certain files, you may be able to save space by compressing them. Then expand them when you need to use them again.
Have you emptied the Bin? When you move a file to the Bin, its storage space won't become available until you empty the Bin.
System Data and Other are broad storage categories that contain many types of file (both Apple and third-party) that don’t fall into any of the other storage categories. The steps in this article apply to all storage categories.
Storing files in iCloud will use storage space in your iCloud storage plan. If you’ve reached your iCloud storage limit, you can buy more iCloud storage directly from your Apple device or make more iCloud storage available. iCloud storage starts at 50GB for $1.49 (AUD) a month. Find out more about prices in your region.
