Reader Daniella tried to free up storage on her Mac after find she only had 16 GB uncommitted :
I adjudicate to erase a caboodle of files in my MacBook Pro . I also emptied my Trash and restart my laptop . However , when I jibe my warehousing after deleting files , I encounter that it did n’t increase my storage but it minify to 14.87 GB . How is that potential ? What happened ?
This is a multifaceted problem which I ’ve write about in bit and slice before . It could be a Spotlight indexing error . spot produce the entropy that ’s used in the > About This Mac > Storagedisplay . you could blue-pencil and re - index your Mac .
Restarting a Mac should clear temporary cache that can turn during a continuous academic term ( between restarts / shut out down ) . However , it ’s possible that due to applications used and useable retentivity , OS X or macOS will createlargercaches at startup meter to handle swapping active program remembering to and from record .
Now as to how to free up storage , if you ’re ladder Sierra , it include extensive help in optimizing storage , cancel unneeded file , and shifting information to iCloud . Check outour overview from last free fall .
Whether in Sierra or early versions , you’re able to make a Spotlight search ( and store as a smart folder ) that helps you visualise out your largest files , and then determine whether you require to delete them .
A impertinent folder set to feel thing larger than 1 GB offer a beneficial billet to start in freeing up storehouse space .
Usingthe instructions in our smart folder tutorial , create a Spotlight lookup in the spotter for Indian file above some arbitrary size of it — I’d urge start up with 1 GB . Using this as a guide , you might find surprising things . For example , I have uncompressed audio file from podcasts I memorialize years ago where I no longer involve the original . I also have various over - the - air recorded TV program that I ’ve watched or have decided I ’ll never watch that are chewing up gigabytes .
Another option is to find a magnetic disk - cleaner app that is n’t horrible . Many packages , some with unnecessary monthly charges , do badly and some even delete files without your permission . Macworldreviewed MacPaw ’s CleanMyMac 3 in 2015 , and get it a beneficial solvent . It’s$40 direct from MacPaw , but also part of theSetapp $ 10 - a - calendar month bundle , which can be purchased a month at a meter .
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