Using Disk Utility to Make Significant Space on your Mac:
Using Finder to Clear “System Data” on a Mac:
Please be assured that these files won’t cause any issues or result in data loss, as they are unwanted files stored in your Mac’s System Data. This should make a significant empty space on the Mac. Once cleared, please check the storage again and see the difference it made!
Observing the Space Taken Up by System Data:
Check the System Data storage in System Settings:
1. Go to: Settings
2. Click: General
3. Click: Storage
4. View: System Data (Far-right end of storage bar)
Screenshots of Photos Taken:
- Screenshot 1: Before "System Data" is Cleared...
118.28 GB of Used Storage is Shown:
- Screenshot 2: After "System Data" is Cleared...
15.96 GB of Used Storage is Shown, with "System Data" is NO LONGER SHOWN!
------------
Steps to Take in Detail:
I. Start with Creating a Time Machine Backup of your Mac:
IMPORTANT:
Back Up your Mac First: Be certain you create a Time Machine Backup of your Mac to an external hard drive. That way you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong during or after performing this.
Once backed up...
II. Clear the System Data:
First...
Open the "Library" Folder in the Finder App:
1. Click: the Desktop
2. Choose: “Go” from the menu bar
3. Hold Down: option key
4. Click: Library
Photo:
then...
Customize the Finder App Window:
1. Expand: the folder (by clicking ">" on the far-right end of the folder name
2. Click: View menu
3. Select: “as List”
4. Hover Over: Sort By
4. Select: "Kind"
Photo:
then...
Clear the "System Data" in the Library Folder:
Perform the following, in the order provided...
- Clear the “Cookies” Folder:
1. Locate: the “Cookies” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
- Clear the “Developer” Folder:
1. Locate: the “Developer” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
- Clear the “Containers” Folder (Leave .plist Files):
Note: Please do NOT remove or delete any files whatsoever that end with the .plist extension, as they’re related to your Mac system. This is where apps store files, as they’re not allowed to write data anywhere on the system.
1. Locate: the “Containers” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
- Clear the “Group Containers” Folder:
This is where Apps Store files that can be shared with and between other apps
1. Locate: the “Group Containers” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
- Clear the “Logs” Folder:
This is where macOS and third-party apps save log files
1. Locate: the “Logs” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
- Clear the “Developer” Folder:
1. Locate: the “Developer” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
- Clear the “Messages” Folder:
1. Locate: the “Messages” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
.
- Clear the “Mobile Documents” Folder:
1. Locate: the “Mobile Documents”
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
- Clear the “Screen Recordings” Folder:
1. Locate: the “Screen Recordings” folder
2. Move: its contents to the Trash
3. Empty: the Trash
Once deleted...
III. Observe the Empty Space Using Disk Utility:
Check the storage again in Disk Utility and see the difference it made!
1. Go to: Settings
2. Click: General
3. Click: Storage
4. View: Far-right end of storage bar -- System Data is No More!