How to Reclaim Disk Space on macOS

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Check storage allocation

   Navigate to the Apple Menu and select System Settings. Choose General from the sidebar and click Storage. Review the bar chart to identify which categories, such as System Data or Applications, are consuming the most space.

   Note: Click the 'i' icon next to any category to view individual file details.
2. 2 min

   Empty the Trash automatically

   In the same Storage menu, locate the Empty Trash Automatically option. Toggle the switch to On. This ensures files moved to the Bin are purged after 30 days, preventing forgotten accumulation.

   Note: Manually emptying the trash is required immediately to see instant storage recovery.
3. 1 min

   Remove unused applications

   Within the Storage menu, select Applications. Sort the list by size and identify high-capacity apps that are no longer required. Click the 'i' icon and select Delete to remove the application and its associated support files.

   Note: Use AppCleaner or similar utilities for complete removal of leftover preference files.
4. 1 min

   Clear system cache files

   Open Finder, select Go from the menu bar, and press the Option key to reveal the Library folder. Navigate to ~/Library/Caches and delete the contents of the folders to clear temporary system data.

   Note: Do not delete the actual folder structure, only the contents within.
5. 1 min

   Offload files to iCloud

   Under the Recommendations section of the Storage menu, select Store in iCloud. This moves your Desktop and Documents folders to the cloud, retaining local copies only when storage space is needed.

   Note: Ensure you have enough iCloud storage capacity before enabling this feature.