A productive routine starts with an efficient Mac. Keeping the MacBook optimized is essential for handling daily tasks without experiencing slowdowns. If you notice a decrease in performance, it may be due to the Mac’s storage being nearly full.
When it goes down to less than 20% of the drive's capacity, the system can significantly slow down. This article explores effective methods for freeing up disk space on a Mac to enhance its performance.
Before deleting any files, it's important to check the current state of your Mac's storage. Understanding what is taking up space on your drive can help you make informed decisions. To check your storage, go to the Apple menu, select "About This Mac," and then click on the "Storage" tab. The storage on your Mac is divided into several categories:
Documents: This category includes files, downloads, and other documents.
Apps: Applications, app extensions, and plug-ins.
System Data: Temporary files, caches, and app localizations.
macOS: Storage used by the macOS operating system.
Other folders: Media files like Photos, Music, and Podcasts.
Note: This information can be found by clicking the Apple icon, selecting "About This Mac," then "More Info," and scrolling down to "Storage Settings”.
After analyzing how space is utilized, the next step is to reclaim that space with minimal effort. Below are several effective techniques for managing space, both manually and automatically, to ensure that systems are maintained efficiently and productively.
System junk, which includes outdated files, browser caches, application localizations, and old backups, can significantly take up space on your Mac. Tools like CleanMyMac, which is Apple-notarized, make it easy to clean up this junk and can free up between 2 to 5 GB of hard drive space. Additionally, browser caches in Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox can be removed automatically, potentially freeing up another 1 to 3 GB of space.
Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.
Safari: Tap Safari > Settings > Advanced, and toggle on the Show Develop menu. Then tap Develop > Empty Caches.
Firefox: Click Settings > Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Cookies and Site Data. Then click Clear Data.
Media files such as photographs and video clips can occupy significant storage space on a Mac. Users can free up space by transferring these files to either iCloud or an external storage device.
Individuals can store photographs in iCloud using the following options: Apple Menu > About This Mac > More Info > Storage Settings. The options are stored in the Cloud. Click and select to upload the desired files.
Alternatively, drag the photo library from the Pictures folder to the external drive and delete the original files on the Mac for backup.
Note: The user can also opt for CleanMyMac in order to erase duplicate photos; this will help reclaim more space
One of the best ways to quickly free up space on your Mac is by uninstalling unnecessary applications. You can remove apps either from the Trash or the Launchpad, but doing so may leave behind leftover files and configuration data, along with logs.
For a more thorough uninstall, third-party tools like CleanMyMac have proven effective. They not only erase the application itself but also eliminate any leftover files. Cleaning up unused applications can free up to 30 GB of space from your Mac in a single operation.
To free up additional space on your device, start by cleaning out the Downloads folder, as it often contains installers, documents, and other files that are no longer needed. Open the folder, right-click on the unwanted files, and move them to the Trash.
Next, use Command + F to search for large files and sort them by size. This will help you identify files, such as application installers and ZIP archives, that can be deleted. Tools like CleanMyMac's "Large & Old Files" feature can effectively assist in locating and removing these large files.
Compression is an effective method for reducing file size without losing any data. macOS offers a convenient built-in tool for compressing files, so there's no need for third-party software.
To compress files, open Finder and navigate to your Documents folder. Then, control-click on a folder (or select multiple folders) and choose "Compress." Once the files are compressed, you can transfer them to an external drive to free up additional space on your Mac.
Old iPhone backups stored on your Mac can take up a significant amount of space. To remove them, follow these steps: Open Finder, then select "Go" from the menu, and click on "Go to Folder." Enter the following path: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. From there, you can move the backup files to the Trash or delete them permanently if you no longer need them.
Implementing this step will help users reclaim valuable space on their Mac and improve its performance. Regular maintenance and effective storage management are essential for keeping your Mac running optimally. By using tools like CleanMyMac to simplify the process or opting for manual methods, you can free up space, which not only enhances your Mac's speed but also provides ample room for important files and memories.