I tried to upgrade to Big Sur IOS; got an error message; not enough storage on my 2019 MacBook Air. This does not seem right since I only have standard apps on the laptop; most large files are in the cloud. MacBook has about 120GB and Big Sur needs 30GB. Wow. Am I missing something?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15
To run the installer Big Sur—Press release states that you will need 35.5 GB of free storage when upgrading from High Sierra or newer, and 44.5 GB when upgrading from an older versions.
After the install the macOS only takes up ~ < APFS Volume Macintosh HD 14.9 GB >
See used and available storage space on your Mac
How to free up storage space on your Mac - Apple Support
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206996
User tip: "Other and What Can I Do About It ?"
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5142
Thin local snapshots :
ref: https://eclecticlight.co/2020/04/09/where-did-all-that-free-space-go-on-my-apfs-disk/
Try something like OmniDiskSweeper for a GUI to get a good look at itemized file size and location:
OmniDiskSweeper http://www.omnigroup.com/more
Are you basing your storage available on performing a Get Info on your desktop Macintosh HD and reviewing the Available from that panel? Big Sur requires 35 GB when upgrading from High Sierra to Catalina, and 45 GB for earlier operating systems.
There is no Big Sur IOS. It is Big Sur. IOS, and its variants are what is installed on iPhones/iPads/AppleTV and Apple Watches. Big Sur needs 35 GB when upgrading from Catalina.
Big Sur
