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 how much storage space is being used by various categories of files, such as Applications, Photos, Mail and Messages.¹ It also shows 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 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:

• Move your Photos library

• Move your iMovie library

You can also delete files 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 you no longer use.

• If your Mac is set up for multiple users, delete users who no longer need access to your Mac. 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.