Delete large, old files that you don’t need, including cleaning up Downloads folders, reviewing and deleting useless content in Movies, Music, and Photos, and clearing the Trash (can be pressed to enable immediate emptied); 2. Use the built-in storage management tool in macOS (accessed through "About Native" > "Storage Space" > "Manage"), enable iCloud storage, optimize storage, automatically clearing the Trash and reducing clutter to identify and clean up large files and duplicates; 3. Clean up system junk and cache files, including user cache (~/Library/Caches), log files (~/Library/Logs), and old iOS device backups (located in ~/Music/iTunes Backups or ~/Music/Finder Backups), be careful to delete only the content rather than the entire folder; 4. Completely uninstall infrequently used applications, use AppCleaner or manually delete applications and related support files (such as entries in Application Support, Preferences, and Caches), and remove the installation package (.dmg file); 5. Manage Photos and Messages applications that occupy a lot of space, enable the "Optimize Mac storage space" function, and set the message retention time to 30 days or 1 year, and manually delete large attachments; in addition, it is recommended to migrate infrequently accessed files to external hard drives or cloud storage services such as iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox to free up local space. Regular maintenance can effectively keep the Mac running smoothly.

Running out of disk space on your Mac can slow things down and make it harder to save new files. The good news is there are several effective ways to free up space—many of which don't require any third-party tools. Here's how to reclaim valuable storage.

1. Delete large and old files you no longer need

One of the quickest ways to free up space is removing large files that are taking up room but aren't essential.

• Check Downloads folder : This is often a dumping ground for installers, zip files, and documents. Sort by size or date and delete what you don't need.
• Review Movies, Music, and Photos : Look for duplicate or low-quality videos, old podcasts, or music files you no longer listen to.
• Empty the Trash : Files deleted from Finder go to the Trash, but they still take up space until you right-click Trash > Empty Trash .

Pro tip: Hold Option while right-clicking the Trash icon to see “Empty Trash Immediately” — this skips the confirmation.

2. Use built-in Storage Management tools

macOS includes a helpful tool that breaks down what's using your storage and offers cleanup suggestions.

• Go to Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage > Manage .

  

• You'll see four key recommendations:

  • Store in iCloud : Move files to iCloud and keep only recent or frequently used ones on your Mac.
  • Optimize Mac Storage : Automatically removes watched movies and TV shows, and manages email and photo storage.
  • Empty Trash Automatically : Turns on auto-emptying of Trash after 30 days.
  • Reduce Clutter : Browse through files sorted by size and date, and delete what's no longer needed.

This tool is especially useful for identifying large files and duplicates across your system.

3. Clear system junk and cache files

Over time, macOS and apps build up cache files, logs, and temporary data that can take up gigabytes.

• User cache : Navigate to ~/Library/Caches (press Cmd Shift G in Finder and type that path). You can safely delete contents of most folders here.
• Log files : Go to ~/Library/Logs and clear out old logs if needed.
• iOS backups (if you used iTunes) : These can be huge. Go to ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Backups (or ~/Music/Finder Backups on newer macOS) and remove old device backups.

?? Be careful not to delete entire folders—just their contents, and only if you're sure.

4. Uninstall unused apps and remove leftovers

Deleting apps from the Applications folder doesn't always remove all associated files.

• Properly uninstall apps : Use a tool like AppCleaner (free) to drag an app in and delete it along with its support files.
• Or manually check:
  • /Applications
  • ~/Library/Application Support/
  • ~/Library/Preferences/
  • ~/Library/Caches/

Also, remove old app installers (.dmg files) and uninstall apps you haven't used in months.

5. Manage Photos and Messages

These two apps often silently eat up space.

• Photos : If you have "Optimize Mac Storage" off, your full library lives on your drive. Turn it on via Photos > Preferences > iCloud .
• Messages : Go to Messages > Preferences > General and set "Keep messages" to 1 year or 30 days instead of forever. Also delete large attachments manually.

Bonus: Use external storage or cloud services

If your drive is still tight, consider offloading files:

• Move old projects, photos, or videos to an external hard drive.
• Use iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox to store files you don't access daily.

Basically, freeing up space on Mac comes down to deleting what you don't need, cleaning hidden junk, and using built-in tools wisely. A little maintenance every few months can keep your Mac running smoothly.

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