Input may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. I tried out a bunch of options to get the job done - read on for my favorites. Or, to really be safe, only delete files you know you don’t need.) (If you’re not sure whether or not it’s okay to delete some unknown file, we’d recommend Googling it to see what it’s used for. Here’s the best thing you can do: Download an app to visualize your disk space, find which files are eating up your drive, then work on deleting them. The Storage Management pane is at best an overview of the massive clutter that’s collected in your Mac. You can save space by optimizing storage, the notification tells you, along with the choice of either closing the notification (temporary bliss) or “managing” your space (eternally frustrating). Then expand them when you need to use them again.ĭid you empty the Trash? When you move a file to the Trash, its storage space doesn't become available until you empty the Trash.When the dreaded notification pops up in the upper right of your Mac screen, it can feel maddening: Your disk is almost full. If you don't want to delete certain files, you might be able to save space by compressing them.

Check the Users folder on Macintosh HD for any shared files that you no longer need to share.

If your Mac is set up for multiple users, delete users that no longer need access to your Mac. Or ask them to follow the steps in this article after logging in to their user account. Also check the Users folder on Macintosh HD for any undeleted data belonging to deleted users.

If you use your Mac to back up your iPhone or iPad, you can delete old backups.

Also choose Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items.

If you use the Mail app for your email, choose Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail from the menu bar in Mail.

Delete files in your Downloads folder. Open this folder from the Dock, or by choosing Go > Downloads from the menu bar in the Finder.

Delete music, movies, podcasts, or other media, especially if it's media that you can stream or download again as needed.

You can also delete files that you no longer need.

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:

Clean disk on mac